I want a Phd, now what?

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 13, 2009

Advice about what? What are your specific questions? Giving us a little more information will help us to address your specific issues.

As a general piece of advice ... I would advise you to investigate schools very thoroughly before you make such a huge investment. 100% online schools at the PhD level are not very common and not very prestigous. Most of the schools that are sufficiently well-established to have earned a good reputation require at least a little "on campus" activity. You need to consider all of that as you make your choices.

Also ... and this is huge ... what career path are you pursuing? What is your research interest? etc. It's very important at the doctoral level to have a good match between your career and research interests and the program's focus and faculty strengths. That match is much more important at this level than at lower levels of education.

So what are your particular career and research interests? Clarify those and then look for a school with a good reputation that is well-matched for you. If you do some searching of this site, you will find some threads that deal with these issues that might help you in your deliberations.

Good luck with your search.

llg, PhD, RN

aec rn bsn · Sep 13, 2009

Right now I'm in the beginning stages of my journey. At first I wanted to get my DNP but then after some research, I realized it is more clinically based and I am more interested in research. I have been looking at schools and so far the only way that I can accomplish the goal of obtaining the degree is if I did online schools. I just graduated at Kaplan University for my BSN and this is online which was very convenient for me.

Regarding the area of research that I want to do...there is not one area that sticks out to me...but if I had to pick one it would be mental health. Thank you for mentioning that 100% online schools are not that prestigious, gives me something to think about. I've been looking at University of Arizona, I would have to pay out of state, but it is online. I haven't even looked at the aspect of faculty matching my area of interest, thanks for the advice.

Regarding the career path, to be quite honest, I don't know all the directions that a PhD can get me and this is where I need help. I know that I can teach, conduct research, but what other kind of jobs will I be able to get? All PhD holders: how hard is it to get a job? What's the availability? What kind of jobs are out there for PhD holders, salary, etc? Also, what's the typical day for a nurse researcher?

I will be investing a huge amount of family time and money, I want to make sure that I have a clear idea of what's waiting in the end. All answers are appreciated.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 13, 2009

I would think that any major university that has had a PhD program for a while would be OK as far as prestige goes. While I am not familiar with the particular program, I would guess that Univ. of Arizona is just fine. You may find some of the larger state schools DO have online PhD programs that require no presence on campus at all -- and they are probably OK. It's just that a lot of those programs require that you come to campus for a couple of things, even though most courses are online. Just be sure to investigate that as you search -- and avoid those programs that are not associated with a "known" school.

PhD programs are geared towards developing researchers and faculty members. So, if that's not what you want to do, then it's probably not the right degree for you. For information about careers as a faculty member, search those threads here. You'll find a lot of threads here about faculty life and compensation. Pay attention to the compensation issues. PhD faculty members can sometimes make less than nurses with Master's Degrees working for hospitals -- and the work hours are not as nice as they may seem from the outside looking in.

I work for a hospital in the Staff Development department. It involves doing a lot of odd jobs -- such as teaching classes to the staff, heading the research and evidence-based practice committee, running our extern program, and being the Magnet program co-coordinator. I do a lot of odd jobs that are stressful as I frequently find myself in the middle of conflicting opinions and problems. For example: The hospital wants to pursue Magnet, but is not willing to spend much money on it. Everyone knows we need to get some research and evidence-based practice going, but no one wants to actually do it -- and everyone complains about not having enough time or resources to get the job done. Schools want one thing: staff wants another. etc. etc. etc. I frequently find myself caught in the middle of these problems and it is quite stressful.

But I do make more money than most local faculty members. I teach an ocassional class at a local school to build my skills in that arena and earn a little extra money. My plan is to keep my hospital job for as long as I can ... and then try to find a faculty job (either full time or part time, depending on the specifics) when I am ready to semi-retire and can afford to lower income.

Getting faculy jobs ranges from easy to almost impossible depending on what you are looking for. If you just want to teach undergraduate clinicals in med/surg -- there are usually plenty of those available. Also, there are usually lots of opportunities for adjunct faculty (horrible pay, no benefits, no security) and/or full time, but non-tenure track, appointments for people to teach undergrad clinicals. However, the opportunities for tenure-track positions and/or to teach things other than undergrad clinicals are fewer and much further in between.

Keep in mind that local job markets vary greatly. What is your MSN in? Perhaps you should get a teaching job with your MSN and get a first-hand look at the academic job market in your area. If you don't have a MSN, I'd advise getting one and working in Master's level roles to give you experience with advanced roles and graduate education before making the huge committment to a PhD program. You can give teaching a try, staff development, admin, CNS, etc. at that level before you make the big PhD leap. That information will help you to make a good choice at the doctoral level.

I hope that helps a little.

aec rn bsn · Sep 14, 2009

llg- Thank you so much for your advice...gave me so much to think about, stopped me right in my tracks! I need to slow down and think about a lot of the things you mentioned!

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 14, 2009

You're welcome. I have no regrets about getting my PhD -- but I don't know anyone who has the idyllic life that is often depicted in movies and on TV that have doctorally prepared characters. As withstaff nursing, reality is much different than the fantasy. The difference between getting a PhD and a BSN is that a PhD often requires a whole lot more money and committment. So, don't rush into anything without investigating thoroughly -- and in particular, investigate your inner self and the career path that will best meet your needs.

vonsteve · Sep 20, 2009

I too have been looking at PhD programs over the past 2 years. My youngest child will graduate from highschool Spring 2010, and I am wanting to start a PhD program Fall 2010. I have a MSN (educational emphasis) and am board certified in Gerontology. I work at a CAH in acute care, and teach at a university. I want to continue to teach in college, and would like to work further in the gerontological arena (I would do my research in this area). I do not want to obtain my FNP or DNP. My hurdle is, my GRE is over 5 years old, and I am struggling with my GRE prep. I have been using every spare hour to prep with online help, numerous books, and computer programs over the past month, and I am not doing well, and am getting discouraged. A friend of mine is working on her DNP through a college in Florida, NOVA, she was not required to take a GRE. This friend loves the college and her courses, yet it is very expensive. I have looked online for other PhD programs that do not require a GRE, and I am not finding much.

So, my question is, what should I do? I really do like the three colleges I have spent hours investigating, yet I am really unsure of the GRE, my math skills have so not been used for 20+ years... :sniff:

Thanks in advance for any advice!

p.s...I am not a young girl 40+...

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 20, 2009

So, my question is, what should I do? I really do like the three colleges I have spent hours investigating, yet I am really unsure of the GRE, my math skills have so not been used for 20+ years...
Thanks in advance for any advice!
p.s...I am not a young girl 40+...

You should work on your deficiencies and then take the GRE's. Right now you are sitting around worrying about them without knowing what your score would be if you took. Maybe hire a tutor from a local college or take a GRE prep course from a learning center. If you have problem, fix it. Then take the actual test and see what you score. If your score is too low to get accepted by a university, then get more tutoring etc. and try again. Put one foot in front of the other and move forward until you succeed.

Any decent PhD program will require you to master statistical analysis -- whether it is in a brick and mortar school or online. So find yourself some resources and tackle the problem. It won't go away and you can't get around the math requirement. So in your shoes, I would be finding myself a course to take, a tutor, or something like that to prepare myself to score well on the GRE and to perform well in statistics class. If there is not a learning center or something like that nearby ... perhaps a local college would let you enroll in a class or two as a special student to re-take an undergraduate math course that would help you learn the material and sharpen your skills.

Good luck to you.

vonsteve · Sep 20, 2009

Thanks for the advice and encouragement! My daughter told me the same thing..I am now going back to my books. I have already signed up to take the GRE 10-24-09, so please send all your "smarts," my way!

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 20, 2009

Thanks for the advice and encouragement! My daughter told me the same thing..I am now going back to my books. I have already signed up to take the GRE 10-24-09, so please send all your "smarts," my way!

It sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulder. Nice work there, Mom. :yeah:

Good luck!

calinp · Sep 26, 2009

I was interested to read this entire thread. I'm working on applications right now for a Ph.D. program in 2010. I went to the same school for both undergraduate and graduate school. I knew early in the process that I wanted to go on for doctoral study and research, but I had to work through both programs and was pretty burned out by the end of my master's. I'm now four years post-master's and have three years of practice under my belt. It has taken me that entire amount of time to get back to a place where I am ready to head back into the academic fray.

The GRE was a bit of a mental block more than an actual one. I studied for it for a long time, and I was so certain that the math would trip me up. But the studying really did improve my scores and while my analytical writing score wasn't I wanted (I still question the validity of those essays) my other scores were fine. So keep studying, this is a do-able test. (Hopefully I won't eat my own words by getting turned down from programs because of that analytical writing score!)

Also, finding programs that "fit" your research interest is sooooo important. I was a bit intimidated by the idea of contacting faculty and discussing this, but as I have talked with faculty, I have become more personally focused on my own research interests and what drives me. And at least one school that I thought I might apply to has dropped to the bottom of my list because of this issue.

So I have one application in and a few more to finish! I wish everyone who has commented on this and is thinking about applying luck, and for anyone lurking, if you're applying talk to me! I need support!

UVA Grad Nursing · Sep 27, 2009

I definitely underscore the importance of a match of your research interests with those of the faculty who are eligible to be mentors to PhD students.

I enrolled in a PhD program that was geographically convenient to me. I completed the coursework with relative ease (an occasional A-). I also was fortunate to have the tuition fully covered. When I enrolled, there was no one in the general field that I wanted to focus my dissertation. My advisor encouraged me to hang tight and thought that someone in my subfield would be hired before I reached the dissertation stage. That did not happen.

Other faculty encouraged me to join their studies/subfields, but my heart was not in it. Personal issues (divorce, death of parent) arose, and I ended up dropping out of the PhD program.

I wish I had gone to a school where there was someone doing what I wanted study. Not only would I have had an effective mentor, but s/he would have guided me better, shared databases, and given me encouragement to develop as a scholar in the field that still interests me 15 years after I left my PhD program.

Don't be like me. Do not neglect the "fit"