Any RNs have a Phd and don't know what to do with it?

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently finished my PhD in Public Health and have been an RN for several years. I am now searching for my dream job! I ain't no spring chicken either! Just wanted to know what some of you are doing with your credentials.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

When I got my PhD many years ago, I realized that teaching for a university was not a good fit for me because my clinical specialty (NICU) is not taught in academia. My MSN-level jobs had been as NICU CNS and Staff Development Specialist. So I went back to that and took a job similar to the one I had left to go to school full time -- a job as a NICU Staff Development Specialist.

Over a couple of years, I managed to work that into a position with the same hospital as a hospital-wide Nursing Professional Development Specialist. I work on a lot of special projects and help people with research, EBP, and quality improvement projects. I also teach one course per semester at a local university. There are other people who make more money than I do, but I have a very flexible schedule and I do the type of work I like to do. That's not a bad way to earn a living.

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Have you considered going into research? A nurse buddy of mine recently completed her DNP with an emphasis in public health nursing (great new program through the Colorado School of Public Health) and is now working as a research coordinator for a major metropolitan STD clinic.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

What would your dream job be? What were your hopes and dreams when you decided to get the PhD?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Over a couple of years, I managed to work that into a position with the same hospital as a hospital-wide Nursing Professional Development Specialist. I work on a lot of special projects and help people with research, EBP, and quality improvement projects.

My hospital has nurses like you. Nurses like you help the rest of us grow our profession! :) Thank you for what you do on here and offline! :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
My hospital has nurses like you. Nurses like you help the rest of us grow our profession! :) Thank you for what you do on here and offline! :)

Thank you! It's usually a pretty thankless job.

llg

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Hi, yes, I tried the Clinical Educator role with much disappointment. They always, and I mean ALWAYS, pulled me to the floor. It was exhausting! I was the backup when a nurse called in. Completely unfair.

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Hi, yes, I tried the Clinical Educator role with much disappointment. They always, and I mean ALWAYS, pulled me to the floor. It was exhausting! I was the backup when a nurse called in. Completely unfair.

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Actually, I am in Clinical trial research. It seems pretty interesting. It's keeping me engaged.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

What about being the clinical director of a community clinic?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Hi, yes, I tried the Clinical Educator role with much disappointment. They always, and I mean ALWAYS, pulled me to the floor. It was exhausting! I was the backup when a nurse called in. Completely unfair.

That happens a lot with lower-level clinical educator roles. But at higher levels, it rarely happens. Once you get PhD after your name, 2 additional factors come into play:

1. People assume you are making too much money and such a scarce resource that they don't want to waste such a scarce resource on direct patient care that requires only an Associate's Degree (not that the money thing is true).

2. Staff nurses and front line managers assume that anyone with a PhD must be clinically incompetent. So they don't want you anywhere near the bedside. How often do you see PhD's at the bedside?

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Specializes in Neurosurgery, Neurology.

2. Staff nurses and front line managers assume that anyone with a PhD must be clinically incompetent. So they don't want you anywhere near the bedside. How often do you see PhD's at the bedside?

Haha. Rarely, but I know a nurse in our neuro ICU has his PhD, teaches part time and does research. The editor (IIRC) of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing is also a PhD that does research and works as a clinical nurse in a neuro ICU.

Wish it was similar to medicine, where attendings many times maintain clinical practice and a research practice.

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