Have you considered pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing? If not, why not? Seriously… You’re already researching your educational options, so why not aspire toward a higher study than what you were looking for? A nursing doctorate is the highest-level degree available and it accompanies some of the most impressive earnings known within the nursing industry. And within the next ten years, nurses with a ND, DNP, DNSc, or Ph.D. will be in extremely high demand for health administration and clinical research jobs. Just picture it for a moment: your name in front of “Ph.D.” Sound enticing? Then read on.

Getting a Doctorate Degree in Nursing

In case you’re unfamiliar with the process, getting a doctorate requires you to (1) successfully complete a solid nursing program with statistics and data analysis research, nursing science, and leadership skills, (2) pass an exam, and (3) defend a dissertation – all within a course of about four to six years. It’s an extensive program generally available to nurses who’ve already achieved a masters degree although a number of nursing programs may accept you after you’ve completed only your undergraduate studies.

Nursing programs that don’t require a masters degree may expect to see a master curriculum on your transcript as though you actually pursued a master degree program. Other nursing programs may just take your potential into account and award a masters degree along with a doctorate degree upon a successful completion of your nursing studies.

Note that as a prospective student looking for financial aid, you must complete your doctorate program within that time-frame or risk losing assistance. You may also have to re-take a few exams if you’re unable to finish a four to six -year program. Interested? The following describes some of the more specific types of doctoral nursing degrees.

Types of Doctoral Nursing Degrees

• A doctor of nursing program, or ND program, can be completed within 3-5 years and it focuses on advanced practice nurse specialist skills. Nurses who’ve successfully completed a doctor of nursing program are prepared to lead nursing systems and make mission-critical decisions within clinical, organizational and educational settings.
  
  
• A doctor of nursing practice program, or DNP program can be completed within three years and it focuses on clinical practice-oriented leadership. Nurses who’ve successfully completed a doctor of nursing practice program are prepared to lead research efforts, manage nursing systems, oversee health care quality, determine access to health care, and make financial decisions.
  
  
• A doctor of nursing science program, or DNSc program focuses on investigative research and clinical leadership skills. Nurses who’ve successfully completed a doctor of nursing science program are prepared to analyze statistics in an effort to measure health outcomes and research health care economics.
  
  
• A doctor of philosophy program, or Ph.D. program focuses on nursing practice theory and health care delivery. Nurses who’ve successfully completed a doctor of philosophy program are prepared to lead health care delivery systems and form public policy.
  
  
• An MSN/Ph.D. dual degree program requires a bachelor’s degree, but it can be completed within 5 years. This is one of the programs that offer a masters along with the Ph.D. degree we mentioned earlier.
  
  
• An accelerated BSN to Ph. D. program focuses on research and teaching nursing while moving students from a nursing BSN to an MSN program first, and then from a MSN onto a nursing Ph.D.

As awareness of our nation’s current nursing shortage grows, you’ll soon recognize how your contribution helped create a solution. It’s often our own sacrifices that make major shifts in the direction in which we’re heading, and this is undoubtedly one of those times. Get your nursing doctoral degree online and become a part of that solution. This is your moment to make a difference.

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