perspectives of doctoral students in nursing in georgia annual conference national forum of state...
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Perspectives of Doctoral Students in Nursing in
Georgia Annual Conference
National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
June 10, 2015
Objectives• Background• Report the data– Describe important findings– To describe three motivators in pursuing
doctoral education in nursing
• Discuss benefits and challenges– To identify three benefits of surveying
doctoral students
Background
• SIP 1 grant 2013-2015– Priority: Increase the number of doctoral
students
• Survey designed and disseminated spring 2014
• Simultaneous collection of enrollment data from 2010 for baseline numbers
• Conversations with programs about recruitment and retention of doctoral students
GA Doctoral Programs - 2015
School Research doctorate
Practice doctorate - DNP
Brenau University ✓ - 1st class enrolled fall 2011
Emory University ✓ PhD ✓ - 1st class enrolled fall 2014
Georgia College and State University†
✓ - 1st class enrolled fall 2012
Georgia Regents University†
✓ PhD ✓
Georgia State University†
✓ PhD ✓ - 1st class enrolled fall 2013
Georgia Southern University†
✓
Kennesaw State University†
✓ DNS
Mercer University ✓ PhD ✓
University of West Georgia†
✓ EdD - 1st class enrolled fall of 2012
TOTAL: 6 7
† = schools in the University System of Georgia
GA Doctoral Enrollment 2013-2014School Resear
ch doctorate
Practice doctorate
Brenau University - 8
Emory University 21 -
Georgia College and State University†
- 9
Georgia Regents University† 13 96
Georgia State University† 27 7
Georgia Southern University† - 20
Kennesaw State University† 11 -
Mercer University 31 6
University of West Georgia† 27 -
Total: 130 147
Demographics - Age
21-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-65
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
DNPPhD
Gender
6%
94%
Male Female
Race/ethnicity
Asian BlackHispanicother0
5
10
15
20
25
30
DNPPhD
DNP53%
DNS7%
PhD30%
EdD11%
In what type of doctoral program are you en-
rolled?
Brenau University4%
Emory University
7%
Georgia Baptist Col-
lege of Nursing
17%
Georgia College &
State Univer-
sity5%
Georgia Regents University
35%
Georgia Southern University
9%
Georgia State
Univer-sity6%
Kennesaw State
University7%
University of West Georgia
11%
Select the University you currently attend:
Part time?38%
Full time?62%
Do you attend:
Primarily online?
64%Primarily on site?
7%
Exclusively on site?
9%
Exclusively online?
20%
Is your nursing program...
Attend program full or part time
Full Time Part Time
76.0%
23.9%
52.6% 49.3%
PhD DNP
Amount students work
FT not nsg
FT nsg PT not nsg
PT nsg not at all
5.7%
64.2%
5.7%
21.4%
4.2%5.1%
67.9%
1.2%
25.6%
0.0%
PhD DNP
Financial Aid – per semester
none
less than $500
$501-$2,500
$2,501-$5,000
$5,001-$7,500
more than $7,501
16.6%
3.3%
13.3%
23.3%
10.0%
33.3%
23.0%
3.8%
21.7%
30.7%
16.6%
3.8%
DNP PhD
When participants first considered pursuing a doctoral degree in nursing
N=151 N %While obtaining BSN 18 11.9
%While obtaining MSN 38 25.2
%1st year of practice 5 3.3%1-5 years into nursing career
9 6.0%
> 5 years into nursing career
56 37.1%
Other • When began teaching (8)• After obtaining MSN/APRN
(7)• Life goal (3)
25 16.6%
Most important motivating factor to pursue doctoral degree
N=151 N %Personal development/goal
94 62.3%
Career advancement 40 26.5%Advice from a colleague 2 1.3%Job security 10 6.6%Other 5 3.3%
Factors important in decision to pursue doctoral degree at a specific school
Importance: Not Somewhat
Very
Convenience 3 28 120Cost 9 44 98Location 16 55 80Opportunity to pursue a specific kind of research
14 33 104
Opportunity to work with a specific mentor
60 61 30
Prestige of school/program
16 57 78
Quality of education 0 8 143Recommendation from a friend/colleague
37 74 40
Favorite aspects of doctoral education
Learning/knowledge gain 37Working with excellent/supportive faculty or mentors 25Meeting and discussing with peers 21Specific courses/program focus 21Research 20*Flexibility of schedule 13Clinical work 11*Change/impact students will be able to make 8Personal growth 8Applicability to real life 7Development of writing skills 6Professional growth 5
Most difficult aspects of doctoral education
Balance (school, work, personal life) 45
Time management 24
Workload 22
Faculty (push too hard, lack of support) 12
Dissertation/project completion 10
Distance/issues with online education 9
*Writing (the amount of and/or difficulty of) 8
*Research 7
How many considered withdrawing:
• 56 (37.1%)• Top three reasons why:– Difficulty balancing responsibilities (28)– Difficulty with faculty (13)– Disillusioned with the program (11)
• Top three reasons why they stayed:– Personal motivation (eg. “I don’t like to quit”)
(29)– Already invested time, money and effort (12)– Faculty/mentor support (7)
Best ways to support doctoral students
• Responses fell into three main categories:– Finances
• Scholarships, repayment programs• Maintain benefits from job
– Scheduling• Program flexibility for work schedules• Work flexibility to attend school
– Support• Mentoring• Faculty
How to recruit• Responses fell into 3 main categories:– Finances
• Decrease costs/Increase support while in program
• Higher pay for nurses with doctorates
– Awareness• Among potential employers and the public about
the value of nurses with doctorates• Among nurses about different kinds of programs
– Program factors• More online options• More flexibility
Key advice for new students• Responses fell into three main
categories:– Personal
• Motivation - know your goals• Find support• Be patient and persistent
– Scheduling• Organize your time• Do not work full time
– Program aspects• Choose the right program and focus areas• Understand program expectations
Why Georgia?The quality of doctoral education was as good as or better than programs outside Georgia
43 28.5%
The cost of the program was as good as or better than programs outside Georgia
25 16.6%
The schedule of classes fit well with my schedule 24 15.9%
The location of the program was convenient to the location of family/friends
10 6.6%
The location of the program was convenient to the location of my workplace
14 9.3%
There was a specific mentor at a Georgia school that I wanted to work with
8 5.3%
Other 27 17.9%
Factors considered “very important”in deciding whether to remain in GA after graduating
Staying in GA (114)
Not staying (12)
Unsure (25)
Location of research opportunities
20.1% 0 44%
Clinical practice opportunities 44.7% 25% 52%Opportunities for further training (eg. postdoctoral training)
22.8% 16.6% 64%
Prospects for employment 75.4% 41.6% 88%Higher pay 41.2% 16.6% 52%Better benefits 32.4% 16.6% 48%Family/friends 79.8% 75% 48%
In sum, most doctoral students:
–Work full time, attend school full time, are enrolled in online programs
– Seriously considered doctoral education during their MSN programs or after over 5 years of practice
– Said personal motivation was the most motivating factor
– Selected programs based on convenience, quality of education and opportunity to research
– Enjoyed learning and working with faculty and peers
– Found balancing responsibilities the most challenging aspect of their doctoral education
Challenges• Ensuring questions are understood as
they were intended– Pilot test!
• Simple inclusion criteria
Future Directions• Survey of underrepresented populations
regarding perceptions of doctoral education
