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Updated: Jan 21, 2026
Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
Doctoral Degree Preferences for Nurse Educators: Findings From a National Study
Tara Spalla King1, Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Tara OʼBrien
1Author Affiliations: Director of Assessment and Evaluation and Assistant Professor Clinical Nursing (Dr King), Assistant Professor (Dr O'Brien), Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing and Assistant Dean for Baccalaureate Programs (Dr Bowles), Assistant Professor Clinical Nursing (Dr. Schubert), Clinical Instructor (Dr Fletcher), Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Educational Innovation, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children and Youth (Dr Anderson), College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus; and Vice President for Health Promotion, University Chief Wellness Officer, Dean and Professor at the College of Nursing, and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, and Executive Director, The Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for EBP (Dr Melnyk), Columbus.
Background:
Current doctoral degree options may not meet needs of nurses desiring educator roles in academic or health care settings.
Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to assess preferences for existing terminal degree options for nurse educators and determine the need for a new doctoral degree in nursing education.
Method:
Nurses in practice, academia, and leadership nationwide (n = 826) answered a 19-item needs assessment survey regarding adequacy of and interest in terminal degree options.
Results:
More than 60% reported current doctoral degrees available to nurse educators lack content in curriculum development and teaching-learning best practices in nursing. Most data supported a new terminal degree.
Conclusion:
A primary factor in nurses choosing not to enroll in a terminal degree program may be limited availability of education aligned with career goals. The doctor of nursing education, a practice degree parallel to the DNP, could prepare nurses for academic and practice educator roles.
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