Can anyone recommend a few good DNP or PhD programs?

marachne · Oct 15, 2008

Hello!
I am interested in completing my DNP or my PhD (I am actually leaning towards the PhD, as I want it to teach). Anyway, does anyone have any advice on this? Programs I can complete from a distance are probably good. I have kids and a family, and will be working full time as an NP - so I am worried about the do-ability of any of the programs! So personal experiences would be GREAT!

Before you get much further, you may want to think through a couple of things:

1) Which way do you really think you're leaning?

A school could have a good DNP program and not a great PhD program or vise versa

2) What are you interested in?

Esp for a PhD you want to go someplace that has faculty w/your interests

3) Is moving an option or not?

It makes a big difference as far as you options.

Sorry to be vague, but it may help you think about the options.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 16, 2008

http://www.capella.edu/schools_programs/education/phd/nursing_education.aspx

I hear Capella's PhD program is very good.

UVA Grad Nursing · Oct 16, 2008

Jeepgirl:

I second Marachne's advice --- what precisely do you want to research. Having a good match between your interests and faculty resources is the most important thing to look at for doctoral education (whether DNP or PHD). When you are reading nursing literature in your specialty area, whose articles fascinate you? Who is doing funded research in the areas that interest you? A PHD program is about being mentored as a researcher --- look for an existing research team that you might be able to join.

A second thing to consider is funding. What programs will provide you with resources/tuition/scholrship/etc. Nursing faculty are needed despirately, and you should be able to find a program that will cover your expenses. There is a NIH-funded program called the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. With this, schools of nursing apply for loan funds for graduate students that will be forgiven up to 85% if you became a fulltime nursing faculty at any school in the country. About 100 gradaute programs have some NFLP funds --- ask schools if they have these funds and will they guarantee you these monies if you enroll. You should not have to pay for the PHD out of your own pocket.

Third, you also mention you want to be a faculty and so are seeking a PHD. DNP-prepared individuals are also needed as faculty -- - who better to perform clinical teaching. My University is hiring both DNPs and PHDs as faculty, and they will have different expectations. PHD faculty, since they are prepared to be researchers, are expected to submit research grants and perform funded research. DNP-prepared faculty will teach more and are not expected to do funded research. Since my University is a Research Intensive university, at present only PHD prepared faculty are in tenure-track positions. I would encourage you to look at both types of programs, and see what best suits your interests, goals, and aspirations.

There are a number of doctoral progams out there. AACN listed 130 doctoral programs in nursing in their latest update

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS/pdf/DOC.pdf

Google these, and check out faculty research interests and $$. Aim for the best program for you -- and what is best for you will not be the best for a co-worker.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 16, 2008

I agree with the above posts. Picking a doctoral program is more about "fit" than anything else. You have to be able to work closely and be mentored by your faculty. The best programs are about a lot more than just taking a certain number of courses and graduating. They are based on mentoring relationships that build on the coursework to help you grow to a higher level of knowledge and practice as a nursing leader.

When I was looking for a PhD program many years ago ... (before anything significant in my search was online) .... I wrote to about 20 of the top schools and looked closely at their written materials ... then talked to people in programs that interested me ... and narrowed it down to my top choice over a period of about a year. I suggest you do the same online. Visit the websites of a couple dozen schools to first get a feel for what is offered, how they differ from each other, etc. Then start focusing in on more detail about the ones that seem to fit your career goals, nursing practice area of interest, and personal situation the best.

Seeing the curricula of several program side-by-side is a good way to get a feel for the variety that is available -- and to see how the culture of different schools vary. As you get a feel for that range of possibilities and the variabililty in different programs, you will start to identify what questions to ask. You'll start to realize what appeals to you and what does not. etc.

Good luck to you!

marachne · Oct 17, 2008

A couple of follow-up comments on llg and UVA Grad nursing:

About fit -- just to tell you my experience (which did not involve a lot of searching, but proves the point, none-the-less).

I went back to school to become an RN as a second career. While in my undergrad program, we were courted by the PhD program, specifically, the gero department. They had the wherewithal b/c they are a John A. Hartford Center for Gerontological Excellence -- clearly a strong department. They also had several faculty whose focus was end-of-life, as was mine. I became interested specifically in family caregivers at EOL b/c there were faculty where those two interests converged. But one of the things that made me decide to go down this path that I had had no intention to go down was the fact that I was so impressed w/the gero faculty and realized that time spent learning from and being mentored by them would be invaluable (and it didn't hurt any that I could see that the culture in the department was one of mutual support and encouragement -- the sense created by the then director of our department was "it's not the people, it's the work that's important." Very much not what I expected from academe). So yeah, you have to go some place where you can find people you want to work very closely with, IMO

It is a sad fact that unlike other doctoral programs, that often come with built-in funding for its students, it is harder to find money to cover a PhD program in nursing. You want to know what kinds of things are out there and how hard the school works to find funding for its students.

Besides the Nurse Faculty Loan Program., there are things like GAAN Nursing Scholarships, also a fed program, and T32s, which are funds that SON get to dispurse as they choose to. Another NIH program are individual grants called F31s -- the school you go to should be able to tell you how many of their students have successfully applied for F31s, and what kind of support they give to people trying to get funding.

Good luck!

UVA Grad Nursing · Oct 17, 2008

Marachne:

Wise words. In one of my other 'hats', I am also the founding chair of AACN's network for graduate admissions/financial officers. Different schools approach doctoral aid in different ways. Let me give you an example of what I do in my role as Assistant Dean.

I realize that the Standard Operating Procedures of this forum is to provide info (and not to recruit people to any one program). The following is meant as a point of information that some schools really do care. My University is strongly committed to PhD education (in all departments/schools/disciplines), and I provide all PhD students with full scholarship to cover the coursework period (2 years for MSN-PhD, and 3 years of aid for BSN-PhD). This covers the coursework period when tuition is higher. Student then have F31s or use NFLP loans to cover the continuing "research fees" until they graduate. I also offer all PhD students with Teaching Assistant positions which come with a stipend and health insurance in exchange for teaching 1 undergrad clinical per week).

I also have a supplemental award to provide those who receive F31s with an additional support from the University.

Prospective PhD students should find my counterparts (deans, directors, etc) and sit down and talk about the details.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 17, 2008

Marachne:
Wise words. In one of my other 'hats', I am also the founding chair of AACN's network for graduate admissions/financial officers. Different schools approach doctoral aid in different ways. Let me give you an example of what I do in my role as Assistant Dean.
I realize that the Standard Operating Procedures of this forum is to provide info (and not to recruit people to any one program). The following is meant as a point of information that some schools really do care. My University is strongly committed to PhD education (in all departments/schools/disciplines), and I provide all PhD students with full scholarship to cover the coursework period (2 years for MSN-PhD, and 3 years of aid for BSN-PhD). This covers the coursework period when tuition is higher. Student then have F31s or use NFLP loans to cover the continuing "research fees" until they graduate. I also offer all PhD students with Teaching Assistant positions which come with a stipend and health insurance in exchange for teaching 1 undergrad clinical per week).
I also have a supplemental award to provide those who receive F31s with an additional support from the University.
Prospective PhD students should find my counterparts (deans, directors, etc) and sit down and talk about the details.

We have add'l F31 support, & assistantships, but no PhD student scholarships- which would be wonderful. We need that help as much as undergrads, so that's awesome that your program offers that! I know I am killing myself right now, working full time, and doing this program. It's do-able, but harder than anything else I've ever done.

marachne · Oct 18, 2008

I have seen my program go from fair to middling to really trying hard to get as much funding for as many students as possible. Again, this is part of what can make a good program, because they are more likely to attract good students, and your student colleagues are also a part of the mix. I think it is fair to ask how current students are funded, and how the school helps with students getting their own funding such as F31s.

One good example from my school for people with a gero interest, is that we have collectively earned 1/3 of all the John A Hartford Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity scholarships and fellowship that have been awarded. I know it is both because of the caliber of our faculty and how well they work with the students on their applications.

And while F31s carry their own prestige, things like the BAGNC and the American Cancer Association funding also has the advantage of connecting you with leaders who can be influential in your future career.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Oct 20, 2008

I hear Capella's PhD program is very good.

That's a name I haven't heard in a while:

http://www.capellauniversity.org/

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 20, 2008

That's a name I haven't heard in a while:
http://www.capellauniversity.org/

Wow- that's scary stuff. I have a friend in their PhD program, and she loves it. I will definitely FW this link to her. Do you know the story behind this?

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Oct 21, 2008

Do you know the story behind this?

No, not really. I was checking into them about 4 years ago and found this site. Needless to say, I went to St. Elsewhere. Could be a deal where grassroots meets critical mass--that is the when the wrong student(s) are hosed in sufficient numbers. It would appear, however, this may be a bit more, or the site participants need to have their meds adjusted.