Strategies for progression in a PhD nursing program within a transition model

• Published in: Nursing forum (Hillsdale) Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 473 - 479
• Main Authors: Jones‐Hooker, Christa, Davis, Suja, Griffith, Sara, Mizelle, Elizabeth, Hubbard, Lori, Dickerson, Kent, Scott, Elaine S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi Limited 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Academic degrees; Adult; Cohort Studies; Curriculum - trends; Education, Nursing, Graduate - methods; Education, Nursing, Graduate - trends; Faculty advisers; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing education; PhD student; Southeastern United States; strategies; Student teacher relationship; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time management; Southeastern United States; PhD student; strategies; nursing
• ISSN: 0029-6473; 1744-6198
• DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12451

Background There is a need for interventions to improve the PhD pipeline for nursing program enrollment. PhD nursing students who have navigated the program successfully are in a strategic position to help by sharing their stories. Several strategies for successful completion of a PhD program and some common expected barriers have been documented in the literature. Method The authors used personal reflections from their first and second years of study in a PhD nursing program to identify strategies to progress through a program. The personal reflections were analyzed by their student cohort and a faculty advisor using the Bridges’ Transition Model as a theoretical framework. The cohort members included five females and one male, ages 29‐48, attending a PhD nursing program in the Southeastern, US. Results The following strategies were identified from the personal reflections: seeking and offering support within your cohort; establishing a relationship with mentors; identifying and using a reference manager; mastering time management; soaking up statistics; and focusing on your focus. The strategies listed above occurred within the ending and/or neutral zone phases of the Bridges’ Transition Model. Conclusion It is important to note the early phases of transition and need for success strategies in these specific phases of transition. PhD nursing students are in a strategic position to positively influence the PhD pipeline by providing personal reflections that inform future PhD nursing students as well as PhD nursing programs.