Dr. CP

Hi! Congratulations on taking the step to explore advancing your education! I earned my PhD in 2015 after 6 long years of being in the program. I had young children and teenagers at the time and was already employed in a high level leadership position. Needless to say, when it came time to do the independent work (after I completed all my courses and defended my proposal) that's when I really struggled. I allowed all my fears and doubts of succeeding prevent me from moving faster under the pretense of my busy family life and stressful work schedule. Truly. I was afraid of actually succeeding and all the implications surrounding it. It's funny how the mind works. But if this is what you want, you will succeed. I did. Once I got over my limiting mindset (which was a daily exercise by the way), I successfully defended my dissertation and walked across the stage to receive my diploma during the hooding ceremony. To answer some of your questions, I had a Masters degree in Education going in and my thesis was approved as my original research. When I decided to apply, my husband and I sat down with our kids and told them Dad was going to start cooking and to help him. My husband discovered his love for cooking during that time and he's been the household cook ever since! And my kids loved that we could do homework together. It inspired them. As for directors' preferences for similar research goals, it was true to a certain extent. But what they emphasized more was research that was patient-centered and not nurse-centered. I wish you the best of luck!

Our colleagues have already provided a lot of insight on how it works with adjunct faculty. What I can add is that with the pandemic, many of our clinical partners suspended our students' rotations indefinitely, affecting work for our clinical adjunct faculty. We have continued to use them as much as possible and gratefully, many chose to commit again when hospitals started inviting students back. I commend you though for wanting to work more considering the nursing faculty shortage across the country. Thanks for your contributions and I wish you the best.