Experiences and Role Adaptation of Nursing PhDs in Hospital Settings: A Qualitative Study

To explore the experiences, perceptions, and role adaptation of nursing PhDs in hospital settings in China.

A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study.

Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with eight female nursing PhD holders from eight tertiary hospitals across five provinces between November 2024 and February 2025. Data were concurrently collected and analysed using NVivo 11.0, guided by Colaizzi's seven-step analysis.

Four main themes were identified: (1) Multidimensional motivations for choosing hospital work; (2) professional challenges; (3) perceived professional value and benefits; and (4) career expectations and developmental recommendations. Fifteen subthemes further detailed these dynamics.

This study offers a nuanced understanding of the career development of nursing PhDs within hospital settings. The findings reveal the complex interplay of factors influencing their decisions to enter clinical practice. Moreover, it underscores the dual challenges of role ambiguity and limited resources, while also illustrating the transformative potential of applying academic training to drive clinical innovation among nursing PhDs in hospital environments.

These findings offer critical insights for hospital administrators and educational policymakers. By elucidating the career development challenges and opportunities for nursing PhDs, the study underscores the need for tailored talent management frameworks and targeted educational reforms. The findings have important implications for hospital settings in China and offer guidance for global strategies in talent management and clinical education reform, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and healthcare outcomes.

Adhered to COREQ guidelines for qualitative research.

None.