A PhD in nursing allows one to advance the field of nursing science through original research. A typical PhD nursing program takes 4-6 years and includes coursework, a research practicum, and a dissertation involving collecting or analyzing original data to answer a new research question. Obtaining a PhD allows nurses to develop the scientific foundation of the discipline, educate future nurses, and improve patient care through applying research findings to clinical practice.

1. A PhD: A Career in Nursing
Research
Dr. Kelly Brittain
Assistant Professor

2. Objectives
• Overview of a PhD in Nursing (what and
why)
• General PhD program information
• Dissertation

3. What is a PhD
• Graduate academic degree
• Highest degree awarded in graduate study
• Required to be a University professor or
researcher
• Requires a strong scientific emphasis within the
discipline

4. PhD in Nursing
• Creating new knowledge and evidence
• Dissemination of the research
findings/evidence to practice
• Translation research to practice to test the
clinical feasibility and effectiveness of the
research findings

5. What does a PhD, RN do?
• Develops the science for the discipline
• Stewards the profession
• Educates the next generation of nurses
• Defines its uniqueness
• Maintains professional integrity

6. Advancing Nursing Science
• Increased basic and applied health care science
– New organisms, new targeted drugs, robots
• Growth of diversity
– Racial, cultural, ethnic
• Demands of chronic illness
• Affordable Care Act – healthcare delivery
• Globalization of health care

7. What is a PhD program like?
• Length of program: 4-6 years
• Course work
• Research practicum
• Dissertation
• Depth of knowledge in defined area to begin a
focus for program of research
• Optional teaching certificate

8. Coursework

9. Dissertation
• Original research that contributes to
nursing science
• May be secondary data analysis of
primary data that you collect – original
question
• Proposal defense
• Final dissertation defense - public

10. What I will talk about:
• My nursing background (Foundation)
• My journey to becoming a nurse researcher
(Same path, different role)
• What is my contribution to helping patients
• Words of advice

11. • Like to help
• Like to ask questions
• Like to find answers
• Like to be creative
Where it all began

12. Education & Experience
• B.S.N.: Wayne State University
• Children’s Hospital of Michigan, etc…
• M.S.N.: Wayne State University
(Community/Urban Health)
• St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital
• Voices of Detroit Initiative
• Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute

13. Deciding to become an
“official” nurse researcher
• Always a nurse researcher (learning, asking
questions, looking for answers, wanting to
improve patient health, not wanting them to
have to be hospitalized, reducing
complications, having hope, etc.)
• Need the degree to change nursing
education, patient outcomes, health care
policy, and global health

14. The University of Michigan Journey

15. Graduation Day 2010

16. • Like to help
• Like to ask questions
• Like to find answers
• Like to be creative
Where it all keeps going

17. My Contribution
• Nurse researcher: Health
Promotion/Risk Reduction and the use
of mobile apps and mobile devices
• Professor: Teaching nursing students
at all levels
• Service: To the
community, university, nationally, intern
ationally

18. In nursing, learning never stops
• Always new equipment/technology
• Always new procedure
• Always new medication
• Always new patients/families
• Always new students
• Always new questions
• Always new answers
• Always new way of doing something
Once a novice, always a novice

19. A nurse researcher is a
seeker, learner, doer, and
innovator
“The wise man knows he knows
nothing, the fool thinks he knows
all.“~ Chinese Proverb

20. Thank you!
Questions?