Online PhD in Nursing
Online PHD Programs
Home
By the year 2015, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses will require all entry-level nurse practitioner educational programs to transition from the Master of Science in Nursing degree to the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has followed suit requiring the DNP degree for entry-level nurse anesthetists programs by the year 2025. As such online doctoral programs in nursing, which focus on enhancing the knowledge of nursing and improving patient outcome in the ever changing field of medicine, are becoming increasingly advantageous to advance practice nurses. An online PhD in nursing improves leadership skills while providing the online PhD nursing candidate with advanced education that prepares them for management and education positions.
Online PhD in Nursing Requirements
The best candidates for an online doctorate in nursing are detail-oriented, caring, patient and flexible. Although online nursing doctorate candidates should have well honed leadership and negotiation skills, online doctorate programs in nursing further develop these characteristics.
Candidates for most online PhD programs in nursing should have the following.
- An RN license
- Master of Science in Nursing
Some online PhD programs in nursing are combined with Master’s degree programs; therefore they accept applicants who hold bachelor degrees in nursing.
Typically, those who pursue online doctoral degrees in nursing are first employed as Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Online PhD in Nursing Education
Online doctoral programs in nursing typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. Throughout the course of their education, students enrolled in online doctoral programs in nursing are often required to produce a clinical defense and a lengthy dissertation.
Information on Nursing Courses
During the first two years, the curriculum for an online PhD degree in nursing requires students to study the theoretical foundation of nursing before delving into their chosen concentration. Also during this time, online PhD nursing candidates are encouraged to choose a research topic to compose a dissertation. After the first two years in which a solid base of nursing information is formed, the curriculum of online doctoral degrees in nursing focuses on the student’s area of interest.
Some courses commonly found in the top online nursing PhD programs are:
- Nursing Science Foundations
This course provides the education and training necessary to become an employed nurse with the majority of the course taking place in hospitals, nursing homes, and health care agencies in the form of clinical supervised practice. - Health Care Ethics
This course examines ethical dilemmas in health care and the decision making process involved in clinical, professional and organizational ethics. - Nursing Education
Nursing Education aims to enhance the professional development of registered nurses. - Adult Health Nursing Clinical
This clinical course focuses on the application of theories, concepts, evidence, issues and trends in caring for the adult portion of the population who have complex health care needs that often entail the use of numerous systems. - Health Care Informatics
Health Care Informatics is designed to give an introduction to health care informatics, namely health information technology and management of complex social and organizational issues surrounding major changes in healthcare.
Specializations and Concentrations
Because the healthcare field is so all encompassing, those pursuing an online nursing PhD are often encouraged to pick a specialty so that their education can be tailored to this particular field. Although the core curriculum for those pursuing online PhD degrees in nursing, courses taken after the second year are based on this specialization.
The specializations and concentrations related to an online PhD in nursing include:
- Doctor of Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Science
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
Careers in Nursing
A student who earns a nursing PhD online from an accredited institution has several career options. Some of the most popular careers for online PhD nursing students are as follows.
- Professor
As with many professions, those with an online doctorate in nursing have the opportunity to become professors. Nursing professors are required to demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units, as well as prepare materials, give lectures, grade work and give examinations. Nursing professors generally make between $55,700 and $99,300 yearly. - Nurse Scientist
In this occupation, those with nursing doctorates are required to conduct independent scientific studies and research in the field of nursing by designing, executing and recording laboratory experiments. Additionally, they must evaluate innovative techniques and strive to improve current methods of nursing. Nurse scientists average $63,000 per year. - Nurse Researcher
Those in this field work as analysts for private companies or health policy nonprofit organizations. They publish research studies based on data collected on specific pharmaceutical, medical and nursing products and practices. The average salary for a nurse researcher is $95,000 per year. - Health Policy Analyst
Health policy analysts are responsible for researching and analyzing various health and health care issues of the general population as well as educating and training policymakers and the public. Yearly pay ranges from $41,600 to $66,200.
Although many advanced nursing occupations do not currently require a doctorate degree, the current trend among health care organizations and nursing administrations would indicate that the field is tending toward that prerequisite. Those who wish to pursue a career in this field may find it beneficial to obtain online doctorate degrees in nursing.
