PhD help! Nursing or public health?

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

Hi everyone, I'm applying this fall to PhD programs and I'm having a hard time deciding between nursing and public health. Ultimately I want to be in academia, either in public health or nursing. I know people with a PhD in public health often get faculty positions in nursing schools but I haven't seen nurses get faculty positions in schools of public health, so that's something to consider in terms of keeping my options open. I think my interests align better with public health (social determinants of health, health equity, etc.), but those are also topics I could study within nursing. I like that the public health PhD programs seem to be a little bit heavier on research methods, statistics, etc. because I want to make sure that when I'm done with my PhD I'm really well prepared to do excellent research and get grants. On the other hand, public health programs, particularly the top ones, seem to be much harder to get into because they get so many more applicants for fewer spots. I think that nursing is also often looked at as less prestigious, and even though I don't buy into that line of thinking it stings and bothers me that others feel that way, but maybe I should shake it off and disregard it. Has anyone else been torn between nursing and public health? How did you decide? I'd also love to hear from others who are applying to PhD programs this fall! Thank you!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you should first decide what type of job you want and who you want to teach -- nursing students or public health students? Then you will have your answer. If you are still unsure about the direction of your career and what discipline you want to be a member of, then perhaps you should wait a while longer and figure that out before investing.

One path is not "better" than the other. It's more a matter of which discipline you would like as your "academic home." What one feels more like home to you?

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

I think you should first decide what type of job you want and who you want to teach -- nursing students or public health students? Then you will have your answer. If you are still unsure about the direction of your career and what discipline you want to be a member of, then perhaps you should wait a while longer and figure that out before investing.

One path is not "better" than the other. It's more a matter of which discipline you would like as your "academic home." What one feels more like home to you?

Thanks for your reply! Do you have any tips for deciding which feels more like an "academic home"? I think part of why I'm confused is that a lot of people with PhDs in public health and psychology are faculty researchers at the school of nursing research center where I've been doing research, so it seems like there is a lot of overlap. I think I could be very happy teaching either nursing students or public health students, but I would much prefer to teach classes that are not clinical or practice related. I would probably love teaching a nursing research or public health nursing course or a course on social determinants of health or health equity. Do you think that means I lean toward one discipline over another?

[Null]

It sounds like you have already realized that a PhD from either nursing or public health should adequately prepare you for research into the areas of social determinants of health and health inequity. Essentially, a PhD in either nursing or public health is training you to become a social scientist and as such, the difference really lies in the underlying theoretical lens that defines the respective field of study.

I disagree that public health necessarily have more statistics courses. In my PhD program, the statistics courses were attended by both nursing and public health students. However, I public health concentrations in bio stats or epi would naturally be heavier in this subject matter than anything you would likely find in nursing.

Regarding rigor, realize that there are nursing PhD programs in this country that vary significantly in both rigor and content. I was surprised to learn when I started that there are nurses with nursing PhDs doing bench science at some programs. It really does vary.

You might also want to consider future sources of funding as you embark on your doctoral journey. Are you more apt to want to pursue funding from the NINR and other nursing organizations?

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

Thank you so much! That is extremely helpful!!! I really appreciate your input. It's really great to hear that if I were to choose a nursing program well, I will be getting a very thorough and rigorous education. Do you have any recommendations for schools that I should look into? In terms of funding, I haven't looked into external funding much yet. It looks like it's common for nursing PhD programs to fund for the first two years, and it seems like many public health programs fund for 4-5 years. I suppose I better start researching some funding opportunities in case I end up in a program that doesn't have excellent funding! Thank you again very much for your help!

[Null]

I don't think I could really recommend any particular program. The program you select should ultimately fit you and your future goals. There are nursing programs that are fully funded for the duration of your education. There are other programs that will cover tuition through assistantships if they are available. I will offer that I selected a small state R2 university that offered an incredibly student centric environment. When I was completing my MSN I was given some advice from one of my faculty who obtained her PhD from a large private R1 university. She suggested that if she were to do it over she would have chosen a smaller school because of the atmosphere and faculty. I am very happy with my selection. Ultimately, the faculty will make or break your experience. You will get an opportunity to interview during the application process. It is great chance to ask questions of the faculty and get a sense of how the school will nurture your development as a student and junior researcher.

I would suggest steering clear from for-profit institutions for the obvious reasons.

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

Thank you! You've been extremely helpful! It's good to know that I should consider R2 universities too, or at the very least some of the smaller and friendlier R1 universities. Thanks!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree that it is almost impossible to recommend a particular school to a stranger on the internet. My recommendation is to narrow down your area of interest for you dissertation a bit. What exactly do you want to study? Who is currently doing great research in their area? Perhaps you would like to do your research under the guidance of that researcher -- or as a member of that researcher's team. A lot of people pick their programs that way. They don't so much "pick the program," they pick the research team they want to join -- and go to whatever school that researcher is associated with.

That same approach might help you decide on a discipline as well. Look at who's doing research in the field that interests you and join their team -- be it nursing or public health.

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

Thank you! That's a helpful way to look at it. I appreciate your insight!

[InquisitiveAPN]

Just curious if OP has a MPH?

Anyone else?

Seems like you could fit more topics into PH over nursing. Could try the DrPH if available.

[saheckler, PhD, RN]

Just curious if OP has a MPH?

Anyone else?

Seems like you could fit more topics into PH over nursing. Could try the DrPH if available.

I unfortunately don't have my MPH. I definitely don't want the DrPH because that is more practice-related than research-related, and I really want to move away from practice and into research. I think you are probably right that public health would include more topics, at least in terms of my own interests. I think I've decided to apply to public health PhD programs, and then I'll apply to three nursing PhD programs as well (I found three that are a good fit for my research interests). Thank you all!

[InquisitiveAPN]

Can you matriculate to doctoral public health programs without training? The MPH or MSPH seem to be the entry level credential in that field from whenceforeth one chooses public health specializations, eh research.

Maybe you could be like Kate Winslet in Contagion!