What can I do in the next 2 years to be an attractive PhD candidate?

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(I crossposted this from the Faculty/Educator board as I wasn't getting responses)

Hi all!

My health system is switching to a new EHR, and I was chosen to be on the team. I just switched from a clinical position to a position as a trainer, and I will be working on developing the training curriculum and program for both administrators and clinicians. I'm really happy to be in this job because I wanted to get a taste of informatics and a taste of nursing education.

I'm committed to this job for the next 2-3 years. During this time, I'm taking advantage of tuition reimbursement and I'm earning a MSN in Nursing Education. My ultimate goal is research and academia, and I plan to apply to PhD programs after I earn my Masters. I plan to pursue a PhD full time to take advantage of the stipend opportunities and immerse myself in research. Right now, I could see myself pursuing research in home health care, health disparities, innovations in nursing education, and health policy.

It will take 2 years to complete my Masters, and one more to fulfill the work requirement for my tuition reimbursement. What can I do in the next 2 years to make myself an attractive PhD candidate?

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Specializes in ER.

Go to the gym and tone up your body first. Get advice on your wardrobe, makeup and hair. In short, a makeover! This will increase your attractiveness. :saint: ;)

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Damn... I was like, how'd they know I'm in the process of a makeover??

:sarcastic:

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It's too bad that you're not in an MSN to PHD program. That would have been perfect for you. But as far as advice, research requirements for PHD programs and see what they are looking for in candidates. Maybe you can submit articles for nursing magazines and hopefully get published, or implement some evidence-based project at your hospital. That would like nice for some of those PHD applications.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

Have strong job prospects post doctorate. The vaunted Ph.D is not what it used to be. Many smart people are forced to settle for low paying adjunct postitions in academia which makes even a work subsidized education a tenuous proposition.

Now for the soap box. I suppose we can blame it on globalization in general and many other factors. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently expressed the lament that these days we are living more and more in a "gig" economy that forces even the highly educated to accept subsistence wages without benefits, primarily health insurance.

But you must make your own way. Just be careful and do your due diligence.

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I would recommend a Phd for someone who primarily wants a career in academia. That will virtually guarantee a full-time, benefit eligible and/or tenured position. In a hospital Phd would not put much dent.

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Specializes in nursing education.

The best advice I can give, one year into part-time PhD studies, is narrow down your research interests before you even apply so that all your coursework can lead toward your dissertation. If you've identified a special interest that you can link to a gap in the literature, BONUS.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I am very happy with my PhD working in Nursing Professional Development as a hospital staff educator. I am not paid extra for my PhD, but I am given more leeway to choose my own projects and am excused from some of the more tedious, mundane tasks that my MSN colleagues are expected to do. While I am not paid extra, my salary exceeds that of the average PhD faculty member -- and my regular work hours at the hospital give me the opportunity to pick up a little extra money teaching an occasional class (mostly online) for a local university.

I have an attractive job that is not overly stressful and I make decent (but not spectacular) money. I got the PhD for self-fulfillment and knew that most scholars don't get rich -- but I have actually done OK and am happy with my decision to get the PhD several years ago. It opened up some attractive possibilities. As hospitals are looking towards hiring more doctorally-prepared nurses for Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research roles ... there are opportunities out there that are not just at universities.

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