Why Rush will keep the DNSc

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Doctoral Programs

Background:

• Doctoral nursing programs offer Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
• The proportion of DNSc programs has decreased over the last decade.
• Rush University College of Nursing evaluated its DNSc program offerings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate perceptions of DNSc and PhD in nursing degrees among nurse leaders.
• To inform Rush University's decision on continuing its DNSc program.
• To re-evaluate doctoral education goals based on expert opinions.

Main Methods:

• A task force interviewed 21 nurse leaders from 18 universities with doctoral nursing programs.
• Interviews explored perceptions of DNSc vs. PhD degrees and program focus.
• Discussions included reasons for degree choices and recommendations for Rush.

Main Results:

• Few substantive differences were found between DNSc and PhD nursing programs.
• Nurse leaders shared diverse perspectives on the value and focus of each degree.
• The interviews provided insights into the evolving landscape of doctoral nursing education.

Conclusions:

• The task force recommended retaining the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) degree at Rush University.
• The decision was based on a comprehensive review of expert opinions and program goals.
• This study highlights the ongoing discussion regarding the distinct roles of doctoral nursing degrees.