PhD Nurses

In academia, the PhD outranks the EdD. It is the top-of-the-line degree for academic work. If you want an academic career and have the opportunity to get a PhD, then that is what you should do.

What you are finding out, though, is that the PhD is a research degree -- not a teaching degree. The focus of the PhD degree is on the development of knowledge within your specialty. It's not a degree that "teaches you how to teach." That is true in every discipline. PhD's in chemistry learn to do chemistry research ... PhD's in English do research in English ... etc., etc. etc. Learning how to teach is something that is generally done through seminars, experience, and osmosis. That's one of the weaknesses in our system of higher education in general. The best research biochemist doesn't necessarily make the best teacher of biochemistry. But that's the way a biochemist becomes a college professor -- by studying and doing research in biochemistry.

In nursing, we are lucky in that there are Master's level courses (and even majors) that focus on how to teach nursing. There is now even a certification in nursing education. You can take those courses as electives or as part of a program leading to an MSN in nursing education. Then, you can get your PhD in nursing focusing on whatever research area interests you. That combination gives you the best of both worlds. It is the route I would recommend.

Get your MSN in whatever field interests you the most -- and pick up the certification in nursing education along the way. Then get a PhD in nursing to move up the ladder.

llg, PhD, RN

If you want to be a consultant in the legal field, you'll need to get some credentials in that specialty. As I am not in the legal field, I don't know what they would be exactly. I suggest you talk to someone who has the type of job you seek and find out what credentials would be most beneficial for legal work. It might be a law degree ... or a paralegal degree. I don't know.

Most consultants I have worked with have had Master's Degrees plus several years experience in the field developing practical expertise that they are now ready to share with others. For example, management consultants have several years of experience in nursing management positions, etc.

A PhD will open doors in academia ... for you to teach college. Some of the larger hospitals also hire PhD's to engage in research and other scholarly activities. I do a little of both. My primary job is in the Staff Development Department of a hospital and I do a little teaching for a local university on the side.

What type of nursing experience do you have?

I like automony, flexibility and the ability to branch off into different areas. That was one reason why I went to school for nursing. I might have to speak with a professional career councelor that has seen many different backgrounds and who can make an assessment as to what I would be best at and also utilize my skills optimally!

You'll also need to spend some time actually doing nursing to find out which patient populations interest you, which aspects of nursing come easily for you, etc. As you do you clinical rotations in school, you'll have an opportunity to "get a feel" for a variety of different clinical areas. Pay attention to how you feel about working in each type of environment and which environment and patient populations seem a more natural fit than the others.

Some of the best decisions are made, not only with your brain, but also with your heart and the rest of your body. Pay attention as you do your clinical rotations and that will help you decide where to start your career. Then, after you get a little clinical experience, you can choose a path for career advancement that builds on those initial experiences.