A framework for planned change: achieving a funded PhD program in nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Services Management
• Organizational Change

Background:

• Establishing doctoral education for nurses in Canada was a long-standing goal.
• Previous attempts to establish a PhD program in Nursing faced funding challenges.
• A collaborative effort between the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary was initiated in 1986.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of planned change used by graduate nursing students to secure funding for a PhD program.
• To illustrate how a group can effectively influence their environment to achieve a specific goal.
• To provide a case study for nursing leaders on navigating change within the healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A group of 19 graduate nursing students formed the "Nursing PhD Program a Reality" (NPPR) group.
• The group utilized a planned change framework informed by literature on power, politics, and political action.
• Sustained advocacy and strategic organization were employed over 14 months.

Main Results:

• A funded PhD Program in Nursing at the University of Alberta was established on December 21, 1990.
• The NPPR group successfully secured the necessary funding after 14 months of dedicated effort.
• The initiative highlighted the potential for collective action by nursing students.

Conclusions:

• Organized groups employing planned change strategies can achieve significant institutional goals.
• Nurses can effectively influence their environments by understanding and applying principles of power and politics.
• The establishment of the PhD program demonstrated a successful model for advocacy in nursing education.