Doctoral Nursing Education Research Articles

Innovative Exercise for Nursing PhD Students: Addressing Biases During Integrative Literature Reviews.

Nursing PhD students face the difficulty of conducting integrative literature reviews that may lead to bias and lack of rigor particularly in the literature search, data evaluation, and data analysis stages. This article describes the development and use of an arts-based learning exercise to identify potential biases and improve on the critical and writing skills of students during the integrative literature review process. The exercise consisted of visits to the university's museum, moderated discussions with nursing faculty and the museum educator, visual analyses of artwork, building art portfolios, and writing assignments. The exercise was modified over 3 years based on student feedback. Students reported the exercise helped in critical and writing skills, in identifying areas of potential bias, and in enhancing the methodological rigor of the review process. Conducting literature reviews is integral in doctoral nursing education and this innovative exercise can facilitate this process. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(X):XXX-XXX.].

Exploring the status and critical issues in mixed methods research in doctoral nursing education in the Philippines

BackgroundMixed methods research (MMR) can be a pathway for doctoral nursing students to create innovative and noble contributions for the advancement of nursing theory, practice, and education. Several issues and challenges must be identified to successfully train, mentor, and support doctoral nursing students in conducting MMR. AimThe study aimed to explore the status and critical issues in conducting, mentoring, and training MMR in doctoral nursing programs in the Philippines. MethodsA descriptive qualitative study was conducted by performing semi-structured online interviews with 10 purposively selected participants who were faculty and educators with doctoral degrees, involved in teaching and mentoring MMR among doctoral nursing students in the last 10 years. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. FindingsFour key themes emerged, namely, (1) perceptions on the use of MMR, (2) facilitators to use MMR, (3) barriers to the use of MMR, and (4) recommendations to promote the use of MMR focused on the student, faculty, and educational institution levels. ConclusionProviding educational, institutional, and research support for doctoral nursing students and faculty could flourish the use of MMR in doctoral nursing programs with deeper meaning and reasoning.

Relationship Between Self-Directed Learning, Grit, and Compassionate Teaching in Doctoral Nursing Education.

The capacity to be self-directed, take responsibility for one's learning, and possess grit, perseverance, and passion for long-term goals is fundamental to doctoral education. Compassionate teaching (CT) strategies may help foster these traits. This study explored CT strategies, self-directedness, and grit in doctoral nursing education. A mixed-methods design examined doctor of nursing (DNP) graduates' (N = 227) perceptions of self-directedness, grit, and CT using an online survey and interviews. A weak direct correlation existed between CT strategies and grit. A weak-to-moderate direct significant correlation existed between CT strategies and self-directedness. Participants were moderately self-directed with postmasters-DNP graduates being more self-directed than postbaccalaureate-DNP graduates. Qualitative results validated that CT strategies include committing time to relationship building, providing timely critical feedback while being kind, and treating students fairly. Faculty who embrace rigor and compassion are appreciated by students and are perceived to foster self-directedness and grit.

Evaluation of DNP program essentials of doctoral nursing education: A scoping review.

In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses revised the core competencies for professional nursing education. The revision includes a call for a transformation from a traditional approach to a competency-based approach for teaching and learning. The purpose of this systematic scoping review was to provide a fuller understanding of how DNP programs have historically evaluated and documented attainment of the essentials of doctoral nursing education in a summative manner in order to inform developing methods for addressing the newly endorsed advanced-level competencies in nursing education. A systematic scoping review was completed using PRISMA for Scoping Reviews Guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Education Full Text, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Included reports needed to discuss student competencies and reflect the summative evaluation of the DNP essentials in a DNP program. Data extracted included title, lead author name, lead author affiliation, type of program, aims, design, process, results, competencies included, and DNP project inclusion. Of the 2729 reports initially identified, five met inclusion criteria. These articles described diverse methods for documenting student attainment of DNP competencies including leadership narratives, electronic portfolios, and clinical logs. DNP programs have used summative evaluation methods to document fulfillment of the DNP essentials, but a competency-based education approach requires additional formative evaluations that incrementally support learners' progression toward achieving competencies. Faculty can modify exemplars presented from a review of the literature to serve as summative or formative evaluations of DNP advanced-level nursing competencies.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Instrument of the Quality of Nursing Doctoral Education

The aim of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Quality of Doctoral Education in Nursing
 (QNDE) scale. The lack of a measurement tool examining the quality of doctoral education in nursing in a national context is the reason for
 this study. Data were collected from 55 teaching staff and 225 doctorate students. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyzes were used
 for test validity. Cronbach’s α coefficient of reliability, independent-sample t test, and test-retest analysis were calculated to test Reliability.
 The factor loads ranged between 0.51-0.91.The construct validity was good (χ2/df =3.02; RMSEA = 0.085; CFI = 0.87; NFI = 0.90; GFI
 = 0.79; TLI = 0.90; IFI =0.91; p < 0.001). The Cronbach alpha value of the scale was 0.94. The results of this study show that the Turkish
 version of the Quality of Nursing Doctoral Education instrument is a valid and reliable tool.

Mentoring students in doctoral nursing programs: A scoping review.

Academic mentorship usually involves an ongoing, supportive relationship between experienced academics and research candidates, and is fundamental to establishing and nurturing scholarship and the skills for dealing with the changing demands of the academic environment. Mentoring is a valuable strategy for the development of students enrolled in doctoral nursing programs (Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing - PhD, Doctor of Nursing Practice - DNP, Doctor of Nursing Science - DNS, and Doctoral Education in Nursing - EdD). To report mentorship experiences among doctoral nursing students and academic mentors, identify positive and negative attributes of mentors and the relationship between mentors and students, and assess the benefits and barriers of mentoring. Relevant empirical studies published until September 2021 were identified using PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus electronic databases. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies published in English language which reported on mentorship among doctoral nursing students were included. Data were synthesized into a scoping review with findings presented as a narrative summary. The review included 30 articles, mostly from the USA, which reported on the mentoring relationship, experiences, benefits, and barriers of mentoring for the student and the mentor. Students valued mentor attributes such as being a role model, respectful, supportive, inspiring, approachable, accessible, a content expert and a good communicator. Benefits of mentoring included enhanced experience of research endeavours, scholarly writing and scientific publication, networking support, improved student retention, timely completion of the project, and career readiness, as well as developing one's own mentoring skills for future mentoring of others. Despite the identified benefits, there are a number of barriers related to mentoring including access to mentorship support, limited mentoring skills among faculty, and lack of compatibility between students and mentors. This review highlighted students' expectations versus their reality of mentoring, which suggested areas for improvement in mentoring doctoral nursing students, in particular the need for mentorship competency, support, and compatibility. Additionally, there is a need for more robust research designs to understand the nature and characteristics of mentorship programs for doctoral nursing students and to assess the expectations and wider experiences of mentors.

Research focused doctoral nursing education in the 21st century: Curriculum, evaluation, and postdoctoral considerations.

The AACN position statement on The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence was revised in 2022 by an AACN Task Force charged with creating a new vision for the PhD and similar programs in nursing. This document, which was informed by hundreds of academic nursing stakeholders, yields expectations and recommendations for PhD program curriculum, program evaluation, post-doctoral competencies, and resources. Results of an AACN 2021 survey indicated increased enrollment in PhD programs 2017-2000. Fifteen percent of students were enrolled in BSN-PhD, programs, 70% of schools reported external review, and overall average time to degree completion was 5years. Considerations for the education for the research doctorate include development of curriculum that fosters the scholarship of discovery and scientific inquiry and implements systematic evaluation of program outcomes while advancing postdoctoral competencies and resources, including the post-doctoral fellowship. Comprehensive assessment of the PhD program promotes ongoing program analysis and quality. Postdoctoral fellowships advance the science of nursing via the creation of a culture and workforce for nursing research. Successful postdoctoral programs have mentors, resources, and infrastructure to adequately enable the fellow to progress in their line of inquiry and develop as an investigator.

Leveraging a funding collaborative to develop more PhD prepared nurse scientists and leaders

BackgroundOver its almost 50 year history, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has provided about $500M to nursing initiatives focused on education, practice, policy and leadership development. While RWJF was most often the sole funder of many of these initiatives, it has also joined with others to create a larger and more sustained impact on particularly challenging nursing, health, and health care issues. PurposeThe purpose of this article was to describe the challenges and opportunities of a unique funding collaborative developed to engage new partners, increase the visibility of doctoral nursing education and increase funding of the RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars program to develop more PhD prepared nurses and nurse faculty. MethodsInterviews were conducted with several members of the FNS Funders Collaborative as well as the scholars they supported. The perspectives of three funders, a regional philanthropy (IBC Foundation) and two health systems (Cedars Sinai and Sharp HealthCare) are presented here. Together they supported 13 nurses to complete their PhD through the RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars program. FindingsRWJF contributed $20 M and 13 other funders contributed an additional $3Mto the initiative. The additional funds supported 42 nurses to earn their PhD degree through the program. Six of the 13 funders are health systems, four are regional or health related philanthropies, and others include United Health Care, Johnson & Johnson, and the Care Institute. DiscussionThere were many lessons learned for RWJF and the other funders. Given the size of RWJF, some other philanthropies were concerned about how contributions would be represented, others wanted their funding to go directly to care improvement. Some health systems were not prepared for their nurses to decrease work time while pursuing further education. The nurse faculty and nurse PhD shortages have persisted now for over a decade. Although FNS made a significant contribution by developing over 200 new nurse PhDs (faculty and leaders), more funding collaborations that engage new and different partners must be developed so that nursing education does not have to focus on the same problems in the next decade.

Expected Roles of PhD Graduated Nurses: A Scoping Review.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expected roles of the Doctor of Philosophy graduated nurses and their challenges. This study was conducted as a scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley’s approach. After a search in valid databases such as Google Scholar, Information Sciences Institute, Science Direct, Ovid, PubMed, and Scientific Information Database between 2000 and 2019 and review the websites of some well-known universities and the contents of some of the global nursing websites such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National League for Nursing (NLN), International Network for Doctoral Education in Nursing (IDEN), as well as reports such as Institute of Medicine. All data were collected, summarized, and then described narratively. There was much evidence that the Doctor of Philosophy programs had failed to prepare graduated nurses for the related roles and responsibilities. The expected roles of the Doctor of Philosophy graduated nurses in this study summarized in five domains of education, clinical practice, research, leadership and management, and policy-making along with worldwide challenges, especially those highlighted in Iran. It seems that besides clarifications of the expected roles of the Doctor of Philosophy graduated nurses, there should be more thought about the contents of the programs along with roles responsibilities, as well as the establishment of better communications between universities and workplaces.

A preliminary study of current situation and competences of doctoral nursing education in Taiwan: A multi-methods research design.

AimTo explore the status and overall competency of Taiwan’s doctoral nursing programs. BackgroundTaiwan has 11 universities offer doctoral degree programs in nursing from 1997 to 2020. As the demand for educators of higher nursing education increases, whether the nursing talent requirements have been satisfactorily fulfilled. DesignA two-stage data collection based on a multi-methods survey was conducted. MethodsThe first stage from December 2017 to the end of December 2019, involved collecting admission brochures for 12 doctoral nursing programs provided by 11 universities and 14 Internet databases. In the second stage, convenience sampling was performed to recruit 115 graduates of national doctoral nursing programs to collect data through a self-administered questionnaire online survey from July to the end of September 2018. ResultsA systematic review of the vision and core competencies of each university revealed a general emphasis on nursing knowledge, research, leadership, international perspective and competence, innovation, social practice and policy. More specifically, universities aim to cultivate five core competencies in students, for example, nursing knowledge, scientific and innovative research capabilities and participation in the formulation and promotion of nursing policies. Of the 115 graduates of national doctoral nursing programs surveyed, the online questionnaire revealed that more than half of the respondents were aged 41–50 years (n = 62, 53.9%), 81.8% occupied a teaching position and most had 2.4–9.8 years of study in the program (mean = 6.09 ± 1.81 years). Respondents who completed a doctoral nursing program in Taiwan could learn orderly teaching, research and leadership capabilities with scored 4.12, 4.11 and 3.65, respectively. ConclusionsThe overall orientation of the doctoral nursing programs in Taiwan aligns approximately with global trends in nursing. This study suggests that international and national resources should be incorporated into the cultivation of various competencies and curriculum quality control; moreover, industry, academia and the government should hold regular meetings to formulate suitable evaluation mechanisms.

Commentary: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: A Key Solution to the Crisis of Doctoral Nursing Education in Canada.

Canada desperately needs more doctoral graduates. We also need more diverse graduates to move into education and leadership roles across the country. This article examines the origins and development of doctoral education for nurses in Canada and the continuing dire shortfall of doctorally prepared nurses to meet the expanding needs of the profession. In the context of this desperate shortage, this article then moves to examine the critical issues of equity, diversity and inclusion and the failure of the nursing academy and the profession to address these long-standing matters. These two issues - the shortfall of doctoral graduates and the lack of diversity in education and leadership in nursing - need to be addressed through a combined and focused strategy if we are to ensure the future sustainability of the profession. Given the decade-long lead time required to effect significant changes in doctoral graduations, the article concludes with a call for a national strategy engaging multiple stakeholders to increase awareness of the issues and their implications for the sustainability of the profession. It concludes that only through the united efforts of the profession will Canadian nursing be able to ensure that nursing education will produce a sufficient number of graduates for the needs of education, practice and policy across the country and that these graduates will better reflect the diversity of the nursing profession and the Canadian population, overall.

Doctoral nursing students' lived experience of virtual mentoring in the United States

Aim/objectiveTo explore the lived experiences of research-focused doctoral students and graduates who participated in a virtual mentoring program. BackgroundFaculty mentoring of doctoral nursing students is at a critical juncture, as a lack of mentors and experienced researchers exists to assist the next generation of nurse educators. Additionally, few nursing schools offer the mentoring support necessary to further the research trajectories of doctorally prepared nurse educators. DesignDescriptive phenomenological approach MethodsSemi-structured interviews ResultsData analysis revealed four themes: formalizing the mentoring, building the relationship, adapting to the doctoral role, and mentoring others. ConclusionsAs online doctoral nursing educational programs abound, virtual mentoring programs are essential to support doctoral nursing education and doctoral students. However, to date, limited research exists regarding formalized virtual mentoring programs in doctoral nursing education.

From policy to practice: A DNP student perspective

Healthcare's rapid evolution has increased focus on doctoral nursing education and expanded experiential immersion opportunities created through innovative academic-community partnerships. A partnership between an academic institution and a state board of nursing was formed to provide two Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) students with a fellowship opportunity to learn health policy, strategy, and systems thinking which culminated in participation in a state-wide collaborative and published report. Practicum experience outcomes consisted of learner comprehension of DNP Essential II as evidenced by attendance at health policy meetings, participation in state-wide Summit planning meetings with community partners and Summit participation, facilitation and follow-up report contribution. Providing students with a practicum experience based on the DNP essentials promotes a curriculum based on scholarly evidence to assure the DNP will be competent to face current demands in healthcare. Experiential learning provides a framework for the DNP to fulfill curriculum while applying skills learned in a real-world environment.

Meeting the Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials Through a Journal Club Clinical Experience.

Students implementing journal clubs can meet Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) essential skills by developing analytical methods to critically appraise the evidence. The objective of this article is to inform DNP faculty and students on the value of journal clubs in doctoral nursing education. This article includes a reflection on a DNP student's experience implementing a journal club as an exemplar. The approaches used involved a literature review on the benefits of a journal club for nurses and a reflection on the experience of implementing a journal club. The journal club experience met the guidelines for two American Association of Colleges of Nursing DNP essential skills. A journal club is an effective way to meet DNP essential skills in nursing students and is possible to implement in an online format, which is an attractive clinical option during COVID-19. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(3):123-129.].

Evolution and current scenario of doctoral nursing education in India

Evolution and current scenario of doctoral nursing education in India

Opportunities and challenges presented by recent pedagogical innovations in doctoral nursing education.

The demand to expand the nurse scientist pipeline over the past decade has generated numerous pedagogical innovations in nursing doctoral education. A PhD nursing education summit was held at the University of Pennsylvania in October 2019 to discuss pedagogical innovations. The main pedagogical innovations discussed by Summit attendees included: 1) the expansion of both 3-year PhD programs and BSN to PhD programs; 2) changes in learning opportunities and curricula content; and 3) the role of postdoctoral fellowships. This overview examines the numerous opportunities and challenges generated by these innovations. Opportunities include producing scholars with research careers that are potentially longer than historically seen in the nursing profession, as well as the emergence of unique educational and mentoring opportunities both during and after doctoral studies. Challenges involve the impact condensed program timelines have had on both the content and delivery of curricula, as well as the research expertise and skillsets of nursing PhD program graduates. There is a need to conduct a national coordinated evaluation of PhD program using shared metrics in order to better evaluate the effect of these pedagogical innovations on the development of nurse scientists, and ultimately, the discipline.

Doctoral nursing education in east and Southeast Asia: characteristics of the programs and students\u2019 experiences of and satisfaction with their studies

BackgroundThe characteristics of nursing doctoral programs and the doctoral students’ experience have not been thoroughly investigated. Hence, this study aimed to describe the characteristics of nursing doctoral programs in East and South East Asian (ESEA) countries and regions from the views of doctoral program coordinators, and to explore the students’ experiences of and satisfaction with their doctoral nursing program.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using two self-designed questionnaires, one focusing on PhD program coordinators and the other on doctoral students. Characteristics of the nursing doctoral programs focused on program characteristics, faculty characteristics, career pathways for graduates, and challenges for nursing doctoral education. Doctoral students’ assessment of study experiences included quality of supervision, doctoral training programs, intellectual/cultural climate of institutions, general facilities/support, and the overall study experience and satisfaction.ResultsIn the PhD coordinators survey, 46 institutions across nine ESEA countries and regions participated. More than half of nursing departments had academic members from other health science disciplines to supervise doctoral nursing students. The majority of graduates were holding academic or research positions in higher education institutions. Faculty shortages, delays in the completion of the program and inadequate financial support were commonly reported challenges for doctoral nursing education. In the students’ survey, 193 doctoral students participated. 88.3% of the students were satisfied with the supervision they received from their supervisors; however, 79% reported that their supervisors ‘pushed’ them to publish research papers. For doctoral training programs, 75.5% were satisfied with their curriculum; but around half reported that the teaching training components (55.9%) and mobility opportunities (54.2%) were not included in their programs. For overall satisfaction with the intellectual and cultural climate, the percentages were 76.1 and 68.1%, respectively. Only 66.7% of the students felt satisfied with the facilities provided by their universities and nursing institutions.ConclusionDoctoral nursing programs in most of the ESEA countries value the importance of both research and coursework. Doctoral nursing students generally hold positive experiences of their study. However, incorporating more teaching training components, providing more opportunities for international mobility, and making more effort to improve research-related facilities may further enhance the student experience. There is also a need to have international guidelines and standards for quality indicators of doctoral programs to maintain quality and find solutions to global challenges in nursing doctoral education.

Analyzing Use of the Graduate Record Examinations® General Test in Doctoral Nursing Education: Start, Stop, Continue, or Modify?

The purpose of this study was to analyze uses of the Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE) General Test in doctoral nursing education. Doctoral study is a costly (time, money, resources, effort) investment for both students and institutions alike, and it is imperative students who are likely to succeed are admitted. Admission criteria such as the GRE General Test must be examined for appropriate use and necessity. Literature regarding uses of the GRE General Test in doctoral nursing education was analyzed versus GRE General Test publisher evidence-based uses and guidelines while considering test psychometrics. Although the GRE General Test is widely used in doctoral nursing program admissions, it appears it is often not used according to evidence-based guidelines or uses. Notably, crucial self-validations are infrequent. Self-validations are essential when determining if doctoral nursing programs should start, stop, continue, or modify their use of the GRE General Test. Admission criteria analyses may help streamline admission processes and remove some unnecessary costs in doctoral education.

Türkiye'deki Devlet Üniversitesi Öğrencilerinin Hemşirelikte Doktora Eğitimi Kalitesi ile İlgili Görüşleri

This is a descriptive study to determine the views on the "doctoral education in nursing" of the doctoral students in Nursing. The data of the study were collected using the "Student Views Regarding Doctoral Education in Nursing" survey prepared by using the literature. The survey was sent via e-mail to the students who were at least in the 3rd semester of their doctoral education in nursing. A total of 110 students answered the questionnaire. The students stated that receiving doctoral education is necessary for "improving the nursing knowledge and practices", that they faced challenges such as "inadequate time" and the "attitude of the advisor", and they gained professional skills such as "planning and sustaining research, critical perspective, etc.", but the doctoral education provided a limited contribution to their intellectual improvement.

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE: REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN NURSING

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE: REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN NURSING