Advanced practice nurses who are looking to
expand their careers through a doctorate degree program can do so
entirely online. A Ph.D. in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice
degree provides nurses with the highest level of education for careers
in both academia and clinical application.
Ph.D. in Nursing
Ph.D. degree programs in nursing are widely available online for advanced practice nurses who want to advance their careers in postsecondary teaching and research. Doctoral nursing candidates strive to enhance the body of knowledge within nursing by contributing original research and findings. While most Ph.D. degree programs are designed for postmaster's students, many online programs are available for bachelor's degree holders.Program Information and Requirements
A Ph.D. degree program ranges from 54-90 credit hours and can be completed in 2-4 years. The standards for qualification of advanced practice nurses vary by state, resulting in a case-by-case evaluation for a student's plan of study. Completely online programs are available; however, many programs feature a hybrid curriculum; where some courses are taken on campus. Many of the fully online degree programs require on campus participation in advising and counseling conferences at least once a year.Students need to have a computer with high-speed Internet connection to access online learning platforms and communication tools. Some instructors recommend that students purchase a headset microphone for audio participation in online discussion forums.
List of Common Ph.D. in Nursing Courses
Online courses are available for students to access at any time they choose. Some courses have regularly scheduled discussion forums, as well as scheduled assignments. All coursework culminates in a dissertation that is evaluated before the student is approved for graduation from the Ph.D. in Nursing program.Health Policy Course
An online course in health policy teaches students to evaluate the current state of U.S. health care policy, as well as the policies of foreign nations. Students are trained to assume leadership roles in the conception and development of new policy, as both policy makers and educators. They study past and current issues to understand the factors that influence health policy, including laws, finances and research.Nursing Pedagogy Course
Students in this course study the role of nurse educators in both the classroom and practice. In order to become effective educators, students examine pedagogic principles including curriculum design, teaching methods, mentorships, critical thinking and outcome expectations. This course also focuses on obstacles that current educators face, such as quality staffing, student recruitment, practice incongruities, financial constraints and instabilities in the health care environment.Health Care Statistics Course
This course trains students to locate, obtain and evaluate quantitative statistical health care data. Research concepts include probability, structural equation modeling, linear, multiple and logistic regression, analysis of variance and co-variance, nonparametric tests and factor analysis. Students also learn to use statistical software to aid in the organization and analysis of data.Career Information for Graduates
Online Ph.D. in Nursing graduates are qualified to teach at the post-secondary level. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (www.aacn.nche.edu) projected a 6.6% nursing faculty vacancy for the 2009-2010 school year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported annual mean wages of $65,240 for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers in May 2009 (www.bls.gov). Colleges, universities and professional schools had the highest rate of employment for nursing instructors with 23,650 in 2009, according to BLS.Doctor of Nursing Practice
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP ) degree program trains advanced practice nurses to practice nursing at the highest clinical level. Students in this program strive to influence health care policy by contributing to the growing body of clinical and organizational knowledge in nursing. Concepts in this degree program include mastery in the student's chosen field of advanced nursing, the continual improvement of quality patient care and the advancement of health care reform.Program Information and Requirements
The typical length of a DNP program is between 35-40 hours and can be completed in about three years. Online classes are delivered through distance learning tools such as Blackboard, WebCT and Horizon Wimba Live Classroom. Programs are available in a fully online format; however, students are required to attend periodic orientation and advising sessions on campus. Many courses have live online lectures, discussions and meetings. Other course material is available on websites to be accessed at the student's convenience.In addition to a computer and Internet connection, students are typically required to have a scanner, camera and fax machine. Students must be proficient in word processing, graphics presentation and spreadsheet software.
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