Thesis or not

grannynurse FNP student · Jun 27, 2005

Is your MSN program requiring a thesis or something else. Mine apparently has a thesis/research project. Just curious what everyone else is doing.

When I got my first Masters, I did a thesis. This time, I'm going the research project route. Less trouble, less expense, less work :)

Grannynurse :balloons:

1Tulip · Jun 27, 2005

Just my opinion here... but I don't think a Masters is a research degree. (Even though I did a thesis.) Once upon a time, when there were few if any doctoral programs, the MSN was considered the terminal degree. If nursing research was going to occur, it would have happened at that level. These days there is a lot of research being done at the doctoral and even postdoctoral level, so... I think the MSN should be about mastery of the existing knowlege base. Face it... there more than enough current nursing data and concepts in which to immerse a Masters student. That should be the focus, in my view.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 29, 2005

I did a research utilization project where we had to figure out what to research and then how to do it, but didn't actually do it.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 3, 2005

Mine has something called a "Comprehensive Assessment" which I will be working on this week :uhoh21: Need to have it ready to turn in by July 15th. This is a "concisely written scholarly paper indicating how you believe you have met the program [terminal] objectives."

countryhick · Apr 29, 2006

I agree that extensive research doesnt seem to fit into a masters program. I agree that we should be able to find and interpret relevant research, but as far as doing it, no. I believe a project or some other novel approach would be better. Is anyone else doing something besides research or a project?

countryhick · Apr 29, 2006

Another thought: My friend is working on her doctorate and they are telling them to hire someone to put together the research. They said that professionals hire it done.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 29, 2006

Another thought: My friend is working on her doctorate and they are telling them to hire someone to put together the research. They said that professionals hire it done.

That development worries me. What type of doctorate is your friend getting? Is it a PhD? Or is it a practice doctorate? If it is a practice doctorate, I can understand that it some programs might not include a research degree ... but unless the graduates are clearly going to identify themselves as "expert practitioners" rather than "expert scholars," I would prefer that people at the doctoral level still do original scholarly research as part of their academic preparation.

BTW, when I got my MSN many years ago, I chose not to do a thesis. When one of the entry requirements into my PhD program was that I submit a "thesis or equivalent," I was able to submit a work project that I was actually descriptive research of a new treatment.

llg

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · May 3, 2006

Because our program requires 50+ hours for an MS - as most NP programs do - we have the option of completeing a Thesis, a Pro Paper or a Pro Project.

rnsrgr8t · May 3, 2006

I graduated from Emory university with my Master's almost 2 years ago and did not have to do a thesis. I do have a friend of mine you graduated from University of Illinois in Chicago that graduate 4 years ago who did have to do a thesis. I think it must be school dependant.

countryhick · May 3, 2006

Im not sure I clarified myself. She is working on her PhD in nursing. The student is responsible for doing the actual research and work, but they may hire the statistics or numbers done.

llg, PhD, RN · May 3, 2006

Im not sure I clarified myself. She is working on her PhD in nursing. The student is responsible for doing the actual research and work, but they may hire the statistics or numbers done.

That makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying that. I feel better about it now. :specs:

llg