The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program is designed to develop student’s ability to conduct research and provide leadership through scientific inquiry. Students will gain confidence in the role of nurse researcher, faculty, leader, and scholar while building a strong foundation in theory development, nursing research methods, and approaches to the development of new knowledge. Students choose a research focus based on a nursing practice problem or an educational issue.
Nurses with doctorate degrees are in high demand as our country’s population ages and increasingly complex global health nursing issues emerge. With our forward-thinking, patient-centered nursing education program, Endicott College prepares students to lead the way in nursing practice, research, and academia.
Highlights include:
• Hybrid learning model with flexible meeting schedules during evening hours and weekends
• Individualized advising
• Skilled mentoring for nursing doctoral dissertation writing
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) Program Mission
Situated within the School of Nursing, the mission of the Ph.D. in Nursing program is to develop nursing scholars, faculty, leaders and researchers who can provide leadership through scientific inquiry. The Ph.D. program addresses the critical nursing shortage to prepare nurse scholars and researchers with the analytical skills to both enhance and develop new nursing knowledge. Graduates of the program will acquire the knowledge and skill to function as nurse leaders, scholars and researchers. Doctoral studies build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Baccalaureate and Master degree programs in nursing. The program will emphasize and explore the interrelationships among theory, research, and nursing practice. The Ph.D. program is built upon the belief that the field of nursing can be expanded using knowledge from within and outside the discipline of nursing through the careful selection, integration, and expansion of interdisciplinary knowledge and its application to the practice of nursing with the ultimate goal to advance nursing practice.
The Ph.D. program uses the National League for Nursing (2010) Competency Model with the following defined outcomes for the Research Doctorate level:
- Human Flourishing
- Nursing Judgment
- Professional Identity, and
- Spirit of Inquiry
The four dimensions constitute the framework for the program. Program and course learning objectives are congruent with the NLN Competency Model outcomes for a Research Doctorate. In addition, Kim’s (1983; 2011) Conceptual Model for Nursing Practice helps to frame the domains of practice. Kim’s Domains of Client, Client and Nurse, and Practice provide structure for Ph.D. nursing courses that can be related to the NLN (2010) Competency Model outcomes of Nursing Judgment and Human Flourishing. The NLN Competency Model outcomes of Professional Identity and Spirit of Inquiry provide definitions and support for Ph.D. nursing courses in Philosophy, Theory Development and Research. The program graduates will be rigorously prepared to pursue careers in research environments and as leaders of the profession.
References
Kim, H.S. (2011) The Nature of Theoretical Thinking in Nursing, (3rd Edition), New York, Springer Publishing AACN, (2010) The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence.
Program Overview
The Ph.D. program integrates technology across the curriculum. The courses will be delivered through a blended hybrid model with online synchronous, asynchronous, and face-to-face activities at the Beverly campus using the Canvas platform. This model appeals to busy professionals who are seeking a rigorous doctoral educational experience in a convenient and modern format.
Students are expected to complete a minimum of 45 credits beyond the master’s degree. Reflecting the interdisciplinary intent of the program at least 9 credits must be taken beyond the core nursing courses in research methods. The curriculum is organized within four components of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Competency Model (2010): Spirit of Inquiry, Professional Identity, Human Flourishing, and Nursing Judgment and is designed to meet the competency for each category. Underpinning the curriculum is the synthesis of knowledge related to nursing theory, research, practice, teaching and collaboration across disciplines.
Program Components
Phase I.
Students accepted to the Ph.D. program will be admitted in cohort groups. Students will complete 45 required credits of coursework in Spirit of Inquiry that is addressed in the core required nursing courses and research methods. The nursing courses lay the theoretical groundwork for knowledge development and include courses in philosophy of science, theory basis for nursing science, and analytical approaches to reasoning. Research supporting analytical approaches will also be explored. The core research method courses, including qualitative and quantitative research, provide in-depth review of research inquiry and various methodological approaches to study phenomena. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 must be maintained at all times.
Phase II.
In Phase II of the Ph.D. program, all students are required to pass a comprehensive exam that is based on the core courses. Students will take the exam when all the required courses are completed. Students must pass the exam before beginning Phase III. The Director of the Doctoral Program will write and evaluate the comprehensive exam. A student will advance to Phase III-Doctoral Candidate after successfully completing the comprehensive exam.
Phase III-Doctoral Candidate.
This is the final phase of the program and includes the completion of a dissertation. By enrolling in - NUR 760 Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisement and Doctoral Seminar (12 credits) for 1-12 credits a semester. The dissertation is research-based and must include original research. Students will develop dissertation proposals in consultation with their dissertation committee.