PhD vs. ND

CRNA teacher,

Thank you for your kind reply. From your post I got to know that anesthesia program also need educators badly. So, a CRNA can teach in both traditional nursing schools and anesthesia programs if he/she has a doctoral degree. Yes, it is really a good idea.

I know, this will be a long process for me, and it is not easy. But I will try.

Also, good luck to your doctoral study! I know you do it for the long run.

Another question: how long could a nurse educator(say, an anesthesia educator) work? until 70 years old? and how long could a CRNA work? until 65?

Thanks,

haa

Dear llg,

What you said is what I am thinking about. The tradeoff between money and flexibility/autonomy is a factor I am always considering. A lot of my friends from academia have quite good life. They may not be the ones who make big money. But they have flexible working hours, time to spend with family, and the most important, their autonomy to do what they like in their work. I see all these as hidden welfare/goodness in the jobs. They should not be ignored because they have an effect on your "life quality". For me, a doctoral degree would offer me more access to this kind of choices.

But I am still not very familiar with nursing academia here in US. Do the nursing professors here get a lot of fundings for their research? Their work emphasizes on teaching or researching? In my country, professors in nursing department are always busy with teaching. There seems not so much resources(money) and time for them to conduct research.

haa

I have worked with PhD faculty who had degrees in Nursing or in Education. While I was in graduate school, one faculty member shared with me that she had a Doctorate of Nursing Science degree....according to her, it was a tougher program than the PhD in Nursing and she felt that she received more respect by holding that degree. As far as a ND degree is concerned, I have yet to work with an educator who had that preparation.

Currently, I am working in a BSN program whereby only one faculty member other than the Dean has her PhD. I think I would benefit from a PhD in Education more than one in Nursing and that is the route I intend to pursue....not because anyone is demanding it of me, but because I can see that it would benefit me as an educator. Even though I do know professors with PhD's in Education who are clueless about education... there is still a part of me that believes that teaching is inborne. To those who were blessed with this ability, they can only improve with furthering their own education.

Hope this helps you some,

Barbara

I think acceptance of the ND is up to the invidual college/university considering offering you tenure. Most advertisements for nursing faculty usually read 'earned doctorate from an accredited institution.'

I am in the dissertation stage of my PhD, but my doctorate will not be in nursing [i picked Health Science Education].