title: Difficult professional choices: deciding between the PhD and the DNP in nursing.
abstract: Although the PhD has been the traditional doctoral degree in nursing, nurses now have a choice between that degree and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. An Internet-based exploratory survey of DNP students (n= 69) investigated the motivation of nurses to pursue doctoral education, factors that influenced the decision between the two degrees, rationale for choosing the DNP program, and career plans after graduation. A majority reported considering the PhD but decided the DNP would be more appropriate for their professional and personal goals. Nursing education was ranked as an important career intention for 55% of respondents, dispelling the concern that the DNP will increase the shortage of nursing faculty. The results indicate that the DNP degree is a desirable option for clinically oriented nurses considering doctoral education and provides nurses with a choice of educational pathways for their professional careers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, San Jose State University, CA, USA. jo@monkey.sbay.org
authors.forename: Jo A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willard
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D003657:Decision Making; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States