Any PhD's here?

marachne · Jun 13, 2009

I haven't seen any anywhere else on AN.
Considering going for the PhD myself, so I was wondering...

There is at least two: llg, and, I assume UVA Grad Nursing who is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services at the University of Virginia. There are several of us who are on the road -- personally, I am in dissertation phase (data collection), BBFRN and VickyRN have both, I believe just finished their first year in a PhD program. Did you know there is a graduate forum? While it is dominated w/people pursuing masters there are also some PhD (and DNP) threads. Do you have specific questions, or are you just musing the possibility at this time?

Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN · Jun 13, 2009

Did you know there is a graduate forum? While it is dominated w/people pursuing masters there are also some PhD (and DNP) threads. Do you have specific questions, or are you just musing the possibility at this time?

Didn't know we had PhDs on the graduate thread.

Mostly just musing...although after reading about the salaries I'm not so sure about the PhD (also seems to be some geographic limitations).

dianacs · Jun 13, 2009

I am working on it now.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 13, 2009

Hi, Joe.

I got my PhD in 1997 and I work for a children's hospital doing staff development, running a summer nursing student extern program, being the liaison between the hospital and all the local schools of nursing, chairing the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Commttee, and assorted other odd projects. I've recently been doing some preliminary work getting us started on a Magnet journey. I also teach part time at a local university.

I'll be online a lot this weekend (as usual) and would be happy to partcipate in a discussion of PhD-related topics.

llg

Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN · Jun 13, 2009

Hi, Joe.
I got my PhD in 1997 and I work for a children's hospital doing staff development, running a summer nursing student extern program, being the liaison between the hospital and all the local schools of nursing, chairing the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Commttee, and assorted other odd projects. I've recently been doing some preliminary work getting us started on a Magnet journey. I also teach part time at a local university.
I'll be online a lot this weekend (as usual) and would be happy to partcipate in a discussion of PhD-related topics.
llg

Thanks! I'm always interested to see what other directions one can take nursing. I'll be around (after I get done with graduation).

marachne · Jun 13, 2009

Thanks! I'm always interested to see what other directions one can take nursing. I'll be around (after I get done with graduation).

Joe, you talk about salaries, and it's true that (depending on where you are) starting academic salaries can be less than you get bedside but:

It can range fairly far, and if one moves up into more administrative roles (dean, associate or vice deans, department heads) it can be commiserate. The rise is not necessarily as quick or as direct, but I'd say there are lots of opportunities for growth. Not to mention that there are still tenure-track positions out there, and has the potential for a fair amount of job security.

You also talk about geographic limitations, and I'm wondering what you mean? Reports state that the need for instructors is even greater than for bed-side nurses. So, while you can't just pick any town, you probably have a fair range of options of where to wind up. That said, if what you want to do is be in a large, research-based institution, you are more limited because there's just fewer of them.

In terms of non-academic positions, as llg pointed out, there are hospital-based positions, not only in education but in administration, and in some systems, like the VA, there are even research positions.

The other place that I think is really important, and that more people are thinking about are positions of leadership and policy. There are those who say we need to have an office of the National Nurse. I'm not sure about that, but I do wish that more of the health policy advisers were nurses rather than physicians! I do know of nurses at the state level who do head up these kinds of departments, but the more our voices can be heard, I think the better for the country.

Hope that gives you a few ideas, and yes, I think probably any of us who have spoken up would be happy to talk to you about our experiences.

miriam

marachne · Jun 13, 2009

I am working on it now.

dianacs, hi! I'm sorry I had forgotten about you -- how is it going?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 13, 2009

I am now a rising 2nd year PhD (in nursing) student, besides working fulltime (as faculty). BBFRN, llg, and marachne have been a source of strength and encouragement for me.

marachne · Jun 13, 2009

I just started a thread over in the graduate student forum for people to talk about how their year went -- please come share!

GenuineHope · Jun 13, 2009

I've considered PhD, but I must complete my Graduate program for FNP first. I am divorced and must work, so the process is slow. I am currently 9 hours into the 44 hour program, but my motivation for excellence is very high.

I've been working nights on a Med-surg unit and am seeking a position that will allow more "sanity" on a daily basis. :bow: I really do appreciate normal hours of sleep.

Yesterday I interviewed for a position as the Clinical Documentation Specialist. I have been searching the Net to discover as much as I can. It sounds like a position maybe I should jump on. Is anyone familiar with that type of position and how it will blend with my desire for an advanced degree?

~Ann :nurse:

Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN · Jun 14, 2009

You also talk about geographic limitations, and I'm wondering what you mean? Reports state that the need for instructors is even greater than for bed-side nurses. So, while you can't just pick any town, you probably have a fair range of options of where to wind up. That said, if what you want to do is be in a large, research-based institution, you are more limited because there's just fewer of them.

That is the type of institution that I would be referring to: The large universities, with a focus on research and tenure-track positions. I don't want that sort of limitation; I had to deal with that in my previous field of biology research. One of the primary attractions of nursing for me was the ability to relocate anywhere. And while I like the research part of things, I have to say I'm not as excited about teaching classes. I've done it before and it's OK, but not really something I'd want to be a major part of my career. And those starting salaries matter, as this is a one-income household and I have loans to pay...

Which leaves the hospital positions that llg mentioned. While I would prefer to avoid management roles, I could do something like staff development. But I wonder how many of those positions there are, and whether I really need to get a PhD to do something like that.

Of course, part of the problem is that I haven't worked as an RN yet so there's a lot that I'm just not familiar with. I had a long clinical on a tele unit and found it boring, but I might find other units more interesting.