title: Matching standards and needs in doctoral education in nursing.
abstract: The debate about the number and type of doctoral degrees required in nursing has recurred with regularity throughout the history of nursing. National discussions about the shortcomings and relevance of the PhD within general higher education circles are described. Applicability of these concerns to nursing education is discussed. In the midst of this national debate, new nursing doctoral degrees are being proposed and implemented. Emergence of these new degrees has caused many to worry about replicating at the highest degree level the current confusion about nursing preparation at the entry level. A classification of doctoral degrees in nursing is proposed along with a call for standardization of degrees.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 6-101 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. edwar002@umn.edu
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Edwardson
mesh_terms: D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011156:Population Density; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States