Strategies for success in a nursing PhD program and beyond

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to inform newly enrolled PhD students of program expectations, strategies for success, and next steps in the career of a nurse scientist.

METHODS

We used empirical evidence and insights from the authors to describe strategies for success during a nursing PhD program and continued career development following graduation.

FINDINGS

Measures of success included maintaining health, focus, integrity, and a supportive network, identifying mentors, pursuing new knowledge and advancing research to transform health outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Nursing PhD programs help to shape future researchers and leaders. Choosing to obtain a PhD in nursing is an investment in oneself, the discipline, and the science.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Nursing PhD programs offer opportunities to advance science, impact healthcare and health outcomes, and prepare for a variety of career opportunities. Informing newly enrolled PhD students may better prepare them for what lies ahead and facilitate student retention.

Appreciation of the Research-Practice Link: Authentic Learning Environments for Writing-Intensive Nursing Courses

Undergraduate students often perceive a disconnect between research and nursing practice. To support student understanding of this relationship, an innovative, authentic learning environment was created in a writing-intensive, capstone-level nursing course. Authentic learning environments couple real-life situations/simulations with personal, experiential learner engagement. Students completed pre- and postsurveys assessing their beliefs about and confidence in using research to inform practice. Quantitative and open-ended qualitative responses were analyzed with inferential statistics and conventional content analysis techniques, respectively. Findings suggested the learning environment increased student confidence and facilitated connections between research and practice, supporting continued use and further evaluation of this approach.