The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program: The scholar experience

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program used multi-pronged approach to support nurses completing accelerated PhD programs.

The purpose of this manuscript was to describe scholars' experiences completing PhDs, their dissertation characteristics, program leadership development sessions, scholar perceptions of program components.

Of 201 scholars, 157 (78%) completed quantitative exit surveys, providing: satisfaction with doctoral programs and FNS curricula, types of dissertation data used, dissertation formats. Interviews held with five scholars to capture representative themes.

Scholars utilized primary and secondary data for dissertations; 53% primarily used secondary data. The majority (68%) used manuscript dissertation formats. Approximately 64% completely agreed program curricula helped prepare them for professional transitions, to work collaboratively, lead confidently. Proportion of FNS graduates (42%) pursuing postdoctoral positions exceeded national trends.

Despite stresses posed by accelerated PhD programs, scholars are well-situated to advance nursing science. Findings suggest secondary data analyses work well for accelerated programs. Scholar program experiences were positive.