conservativeprof

I think some of you ought to read the IOM report on the "Future of Nursing". Dismissing the very real looming shortage (already present in many rural areas) is extremely short-sighted.

My students fail because they are a danger to themselves and the public.

I've been a classroom teacher for 17 years, and have taught one class/year on-line (for an BSN completion program) for the past 3 years, in addition to classroom duties in an ADN program. Trust me when I say that on-line teaching absolutely requires experience (clinically as a nurse and as a classroom teacher). It is probably the hardest class to manage that I teach; incredibly time-consuming. You can't quite believe the time it takes until you experience it! Getting your foot in the door with an adjunct clinical instructor position or in a skills lab position is probably the best way to go. I started out in the skills lab many years ago....after working at the bedside in OB and NICU for 5 years. I worked on my Master's degree while working as an adjunct clinical instructor.

I'm currently in a PhD program. I will be completing my last year of coursework this year and then sitting for qualifying exams in May '15. I expect my dissertation process to take approximately 1 year during which time I will take a sabbatical from my teaching job to focus full-time on my dissertation writing and defense. To answer your questions: 1. What can you do with a nursing PhD? Research is by far the biggest focus with this degree, even more so than teaching, so if research or clinical trials are your thing....this is the degree for you! I have 17 years of experience in academia, so I plan to continue that along with research. 2. Was it worth it? I thoroughly expect it will be. I haven't spent that much money, because I have been the recipient of scholarships and fellowships (full tuition and stipend). As for work......it is an enormous amount of reading and writing. I do not exaggerate on this point! It is also very difficult material, with demanding, world-renowned (I have a professor who has published in excess of 300 peer-reviewed articles) teachers. I, and all my classmates in my co-hort, have experienced various blows to our self-esteem. We have also learned SO much! 3. What is my work day like? I'm a full-time faculty member at a 4 year university. I do not work weekends, or holidays. I currently have summers off as well, since I have no teaching responsibilities in the summer. Right now, I am assisting in data collection for one of the members of my PhD committee, but it's only a few hours a week. 4. What kind of institutions can your work for? Any kind of school of nursing would be happy to have you. You can also work in hospitals. You can develop a program of research at a research university (small or large). A PhD opens a lot of doors. 5. How is the job market? For nursing PhD's? One word. Outstanding. 6. Did you do an on-line program? No. I wouldn't recommend it, either. In a PhD program, working extremely closely with your adviser and committee members is of utmost importance. I spend a lot of time in her office. I have taken only one course (the first required statistics course) on-line in my program. Furthermore, your cohort is invaluable as a source of moral support. Believe me, sometimes you really need it! 7. How long did it take? I work full-time in a school of nursing. It has taken me 2 years so far, and I have 1 year of coursework to go. After that, I plan to complete my dissertation process in 1 year, while taking a sabbatical from my job. All in all, I should be completely done on a 4 year time-line from start to finish. I'm doing a secondary analysis of my advisers data in order to meet this time frame. Good luck in your future endeavors!