Support for Doctoral Nursing Students in PhD Programs in the United States

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education Research
• Doctoral Studies in Nursing
• Nurse Scientist Development

Background:

• Despite an increase in U.S. PhD nursing programs, student enrollment and completion rates remain stagnant.
• Innovative strategies are essential for recruiting, supporting, and graduating a more diverse pool of nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions of PhD nursing students regarding their academic programs.
• To identify student experiences and effective strategies for academic success in doctoral nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was employed.
• Data were collected via an online survey administered to 568 students across 53 nursing schools between December 2020 and April 2021.

Main Results:

• Key barriers identified include faculty issues, time management challenges, inadequate dissertation preparation, financial constraints, and the impact of COVID-19.
• Student recommendations focused on program and coursework enhancements, research opportunities, faculty support, and dissertation process improvements.
• Low representation of male, non-binary, Hispanic/Latino, minority, and international students underscores the need for targeted diversity initiatives.

Conclusions:

• PhD nursing program leaders should conduct gap analyses using student feedback and AACN guidelines.
• Implementing a strategic roadmap based on these findings will enhance program effectiveness.
• This approach will better prepare future nurse scientists, leaders, and scholars.