PhD with Teaching Focus

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Good Morning,

I'm looking for Nursing PhD Programs where the focus is more on teaching and careers in education, versus intensive research.

Does anyone recommend any specific schools, or how to search for them? Ideally, I would like to be in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Thank you!!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I've never heard of any -- but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist. The PhD is a research degree, not a practice degree. The DNP is the practice degree du jour. I have heard that there are a few DNP programs focusing on teaching. But for PhD programs, the quality of their research is how they are judged -- and research is front and center in almost all programs.

Have you considered getting a DNP instead?

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Have you considered getting a DNP instead?

The DNP is not an education focused degree at most schools either - it's clinical/practice focused so not going to give a background in curriculum development, teaching methods or practice, etc.

The Ed.D. with nursing focus is going to be the degree that has the most background for teaching how to teach. Off the top of my head Columbia University offers this degree, and I think Vanderbilt does as well, not sure about other schools.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
The DNP is not an education focused degree at most schools either - it's clinical/practice focused so not going to give a background in curriculum development, teaching methods or practice, etc.

The Ed.D. with nursing focus is going to be the degree that has the most background for teaching how to teach. Off the top of my head Columbia University offers this degree, and I think Vanderbilt does as well, not sure about other schools.

My DNP is education focused, but correct, there are only a few of them.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
The DNP is not an education focused degree at most schools either - it's clinical/practice focused so not going to give a background in curriculum development, teaching methods or practice, etc.

The Ed.D. with nursing focus is going to be the degree that has the most background for teaching how to teach. Off the top of my head Columbia University offers this degree, and I think Vanderbilt does as well, not sure about other schools.

Yes, I know that. But some DNP degrees are focused on the practice of Nursing Education and some are focused on Nursing Administration. A DNP focused on the practice of Nursing Education may suit the OP well as she does not appear to be very interested in a research career.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to Doctoral programs

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

See PhD Education - American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Doctoral programs in nursing are aimed at preparing students for careers in health administration, education, clinical research, and advanced clinical practice. Basically, doctoral programs prepare nurses to be experts within the profession, prepared to assume leadership roles in a variety of academic and clinical settings, course work and research, students are trained as researchers and scholars to tackle complex health-care questions. Program emphasis may vary from a focus on health education to a concentration on policy research. The majority of doctoral programs confer the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, but some award the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS or DNSc.), the Doctor of Science in Nursing (DSN), the Nursing Doctorate (ND), and the Doctor of Education (EdD).

Nursing Education EdD Programs are what you are searching for ... Grad School Hub lists 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Nursing Education that provides outline of these type of programs you could use as a guide in your program selection.

For example in my Philadelphia PA area,

Villanova's PhD in Nursing program

is designed to prepare nurses as teacher-scholars for academic careers in higher education.The program is distinguished by its special focus on the application of nursing knowledge and scholarly inquiry that address professional and practice concerns as they relate to teaching-learning processes in clinical as well as educational settings.

Graduates of the PhD program will be able to:

  • Conduct research that generates, tests, refines or extends theory and knowledge relevant to culturally competent nursing and nursing education.

  • Evaluate critically and synthesize research findings for building knowledge that advances culturally competent nursing and nursing education, and use that knowledge in education, research, advocacy, policy development and leadership.
  • Assume the role of academic nurse educator with the ability to design varied learning opportunities in clinical and didactic settings using diverse teaching strategies to meet the needs of diverse populations.
  • Collaborate with other disciplines in health research and preparation of culturally competent health care providers responsive to the needs and concerns of society.
  • Collaborate with others to improve health care for underserved and minority populations at risk for health disparities.

Widener University | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The primary goal of the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program is the preparation of nurse scholars and leaders in nursing education. Graduates will create and disseminate to the public new knowledge gained from disciplined inquiry related to nursing and nursing education.

At Widener, nurses are prepared at the highest level of nursing science to conduct research that advances theory and empirics of nursing education and practice.

Curriculum, PhD Nursing

Hope this info helps to select a doctoral program --we need more nursing educators!

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Specializes in research.

I wonder if an EdD in Nursing Education might be a better fit for you because the PhD program is heavily focused on research. However, if you're interested in research your research focus could be nursing education. From what you're saying and what I found when I googled "PhD Nursing education" and "Doctorate nursing education," all of the best hits with the most pertinent results were EdD programs. Here is one example that might be useful, at least as a starting point:

Doctor of Education | Nursing Education | Teachers College Columbia University

Good luck to you!

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Doctor means teacher. You're looking for an EdD. Probably a tad less costly and involved than a PhD. Nursing, adult Ed, or higher ed admin are field to look into.

I have non nurse friends with EdD's. One is a mechanic, his choice. I think the dean of nursing here is an EdD.

You could always get a MEd too!...if you're just yearning for training.

A PhD is for research folks and only for research.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I agree with the previous posters for the most part (EdD is more for teaching, PhD more for research). I went in to my program as a BSN to PhD student. Those of us starting as BSN had to complete 6 Masters level education courses including a teaching practicum since we didn't already have a master's degree. I thought they were very helpful. While I do not plan to take a teaching position, you never know where life will take you and having the background about how to organize a syllabus and construct valid exams may be useful in many settings. Also, the program purposefully tailored the courses we took to satisfy the requirements to take the CNE exam once we obtain our degree.

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