purpose of PhD in nursing??

[l33tnewb11]

Just as the title suggests, what is the purpose of this? A PhD implies research and original contribution to the field of study. I don't understand what "cutting edge" research is being done in nursing. Nursing is a vocational career, you can't really do much else with a nursing degree other than be a nurse. Nursing is also limited in its scope of practice as it is a medical support role (albiet the backbone of hospitals and most medical facilities).

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Well well well, one day later and this is where the thread has gone. Shocker

If you're question was a legitimate one, stemming from pure ignorance (not in an insulting way, but actually asking because you didn't know), this would have been a more constructive thread. Like when my mother asked me why I have to go back to school for my PhD. Of course, my mothers inquiry did not include a passive aggressive approach at insulting and degrading our profession.

[l33tnewb11]

My question lacked good constructive responses, only a few were helpful. And I would argue its still on topic as we are discussing requirements of research which is hardly off topic from the title of the thread. And when did I ever degrade the nursing profession? My mother isa nurse and so is my sister, my father is a PA, a midlevel.

[pinkiepieRN]

My question lacked good constructive responses, only a few were helpful. And I would argue its still on topic as we are discussing requirements of research which is hardly off topic from the title of the thread. And when did I ever degrade the nursing profession? My mother isa nurse and so is my sister, my father is a PA, a midlevel.

Now that we know your perspective on nursing (and shame on your mother and father for being mid-level practitioners at best), what is it that *you* want to do that's worthy to deserve a PhD?

[l33tnewb11]

See they don't take offense like you peoples on this thread do to "midlevel". It is what it is, where do you think I first learned the term "midlevel"? From my parents. It has no disrespect, it is what it is, you only interpret it like that perhaps because you are militant? Nothing makes me worthy to deserve a PhD...what does that even mean? I haven't completed a PhD program. If and when I do, then I will be worthy of deserving a PhD, because I will have done it.

[l33tnewb11]

N I got into two different grad programs, one in photonics, and one in physics. Ideally do research in quantum computing and energy efficient systems.

[samist]

Oh come on...we all know that pharmacokinetics is only evolving because of medicine (no pun intended--I'm referring to the field of medicine, not the drugs). We all know that your father is just a liason [sic] between the patient and pills.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Oh yes it relies solely on the changing dynamics of medicine.

[ShyeoftheTiger]

My question lacked good constructive responses, only a few were helpful...

And when did I ever degrade the nursing profession?

Well aren't you clever... What your question really lacked was tact. You come into our neighborhood and and pose a tastelessly-worded criticism of the field of nursing disguised as an "innocent" question.

You degraded the nursing profession by saying a PhD in nursing is for vanity and insinuating that nurses are incapable of research. That is what most people would consider insulting and tactless, considering you are on a nursing forum.

I think you came here to get some negative attention. Mission accomplished. Maybe you should sort out your negative feelings toward nurses with a therapist and not on a nursing website.

[l33tnewb11]

I didn't say nurses were incapable of research, those are your words. I said NPs don't do research as they are not meant to. You take my words and twist them because you want me to be a troll on this forum, for the third time half my family are nurses, do you think I would disrespect them as you claim I am the nursing profession? I think you are only threatend by my argument. And after doing some of my own research I will admit that the nursing profession merritts a PhD program. Although I still believe the program is limited by the vocation of nursing.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Oh yes it relies solely on the changing dynamics of medicine.

I'm hoping you know this was a sarcastic post and know that I have the utmost respect for someone who studies pharmacokinetics.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I didn't say nurses were incapable of research

I don't understand what "cutting edge" research is being done in nursing.

I realize the latter is not exactly the same as the former, however your suggestion is that nursing research is of little value in the care of individuals and populations.

[ALXiong]

Yes I see I misread what you said, my apologies. Math and physics almost REQUIRE you to have a PhD to do research. You can not even teach at a university unless you are a graduate student under supervision of a professor or a professor yourself. In industry, you will find only rare cases where a MS is conducting research, even then, it is almost entirely PhDs. Not to mention, NPs and PAs are midlevels, they don't conduct research. That is what the MD is for, and even most MDs do not do research they go to CMEs as required and are strictly practioners.

Then tension here is getting a little bit intense. However, I just wanted to bring your attention to some facts that in the field of science. I could say that to you because I had been a researcher for biological science for 6 years without a PhD. I published 3 papers as first author in the past and co-author on numerous papers. I had a patent through my research finding. PhD really means that studying under a mentor to obtain necessary experiences and logical training to do formal scientific research. It is a TRAINING program to be honest like MDs going to medical school to receive medical training. My research career time spent mostly at UC Davis and UCSF and they are the cutting edge universities for research.

I also collaborated with a lot of NPs in the past. It was a false information that you had in your mind that NP and PA did not conduct research. There are a lot of NPs actively involved in scientific research that I know through my previous work. Do they have PhD? Yes, but only a few and all of them are successfully conduct research with and without a PhD.

I am not sure that how you had been involved in scientific research and you might have. However, you did not see the entire picture of the field yet.

[samist]

I'm hoping you know this was a sarcastic post and know that I have the utmost respect for someone who studies pharmacokinetics.

No worries I was being equally sarcastic lol.