A PhD: A Career in Nursing Research

Dr. Kelly Brittain

Assistant Professor

Objectives

• Overview of a PhD in Nursing (what and why)

• General PhD program information

• Dissertation

What is a PhD

• Graduate academic degree• Highest degree awarded in graduate study• Required to be a University professor or

researcher• Requires a strong scientific emphasis within the

discipline

PhD in Nursing

• Creating new knowledge and evidence

• Dissemination of the research findings/evidence to practice

• Translation research to practice to test the clinical feasibility and effectiveness of the research findings

What does a PhD, RN do?

• Develops the science for the discipline

• Stewards the profession

• Educates the next generation of nurses

• Defines its uniqueness

• Maintains professional integrity

Advancing Nursing Science• Increased basic and applied health care science

– New organisms, new targeted drugs, robots• Growth of diversity

– Racial, cultural, ethnic• Demands of chronic illness• Affordable Care Act – healthcare delivery• Globalization of health care

What is a PhD program like?

• Length of program: 4-6 years• Course work• Research practicum• Dissertation• Depth of knowledge in defined area to begin a

focus for program of research• Optional teaching certificate

Coursework

Dissertation

• Original research that contributes to nursing science

• May be secondary data analysis of primary data that you collect – original question

• Proposal defense

• Final dissertation defense - public

What I will talk about:

• My nursing background (Foundation)• My journey to becoming a nurse researcher

(Same path, different role)• What is my contribution to helping patients• Words of advice

• Like to help• Like to ask questions• Like to find answers• Like to be creative

Where it all began

Education & Experience

• B.S.N.: Wayne State University• Children’s Hospital of Michigan, etc…• M.S.N.: Wayne State University

(Community/Urban Health)• St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital• Voices of Detroit Initiative• Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Deciding to become an “official” nurse researcher

• Always a nurse researcher (learning, asking questions, looking for answers, wanting to improve patient health, not wanting them to have to be hospitalized, reducing complications, having hope, etc.)

• Need the degree to change nursing education, patient outcomes, health care policy, and global health

The University of Michigan Journey

Graduation Day 2010

• Like to help• Like to ask questions• Like to find answers• Like to be creative

Where it all keeps going

My Contribution

• Nurse researcher: Health Promotion/Risk Reduction and the use of mobile apps and mobile devices

• Professor: Teaching nursing students at all levels

• Service: To the community, university, nationally, internationally

In nursing, learning never stops

• Always new equipment/technology• Always new procedure• Always new medication• Always new patients/families• Always new students• Always new questions• Always new answers• Always new way of doing something

Once a novice, always a novice

A nurse researcher is a seeker, learner, doer, and

innovator

“The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all.“~ Chinese Proverb

Thank you!

Questions?