Navigating the Unique Complexities of Dissertation Supervision in Doctoral Nursing Education

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Doctoral Education

Background:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) dissertation research presents complex educational challenges.
• Newly hired faculty often lack adequate preparation for supervising dissertations.
• Current workload calculations do not reflect the intensity of dissertation supervision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges and dilemmas inherent in supervising doctoral students.
• To provide insights for faculty development in dissertation supervision.

Main Methods:

• Reflections from two research methodologists supervising students in a nursing science PhD program.
• Qualitative exploration of the supervision process.

Main Results:

• Supervision challenges include power dynamics, authority issues, and reputational self-protection.
• The dissertation process is paradoxical, with distinct graduate nursing education structures and nonlinear learning trajectories.
• Emerging risks from generative artificial intelligence impact doctoral research supervision.

Conclusions:

• Newly hired faculty need specific preparation for the unique demands of supervising student research.
• Addressing the complexities of doctoral supervision is essential for faculty success and student outcomes.