Is a PhD the best career choice? Nursing employers' views

Sally Borbasi
Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane QLD

Carolyn Emden
Research Education Unit, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide SA

PP: 187 - 194

Abstract

Recent debate has centred around a perceived discrepancy between employment skills required and skills acquired of doctorally prepared employees. There is a perception there might be a substantial shortfall between both current and future skill requirements. While much research has been undertaken into employer requirements of first degree graduates, there does not appear to have been any systematic survey/s of employer attitudes to research postgraduates (West, 1998).

Ascertaining the views of those in the field likely to employ doctoral graduates is essential to ensure that research training is adapted to suit the workplace. This paper reports on a project that sought to elicit the opinions of some nursing employers about the suitability of doctorally prepared nursing employees. Results suggest that there might be some discrepancy between skills acquired at university and skills required in the workplace. While the study was small and generalisability is not claimed, we believe the results point to the need for further investigation.

| More

Keywords

doctoral education; nursing employers; email survey; clinical practice


View references

References

Aitkin D (1999) Degrees of crisis. Higher Education supplement, The Australian, Wednesday, 7 April.

Bailey (1999) Letter to the editor. Higher Education supplement, The Australian, Wednesday, 21 April.

Baker C (1995) When to begin a doctoral programme in nursing. International Nursing Review 42(2): 61-64.

Borbasi S, Pearson A & Gott M (1998) Rethinking the single topic, single method approach to the PhD thesis: Moving towards research training that accommodates and values innovation in the world of practice. Published Proceedings, Professional Doctorates: Innovations in Teaching and Research Conference. University of New England, Coffs Harbour.

Clark J (1996) Postgraduate Skills: A View from Industry: Meeting the Needs of R, D & E Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Social and Business Environment. Paper presented at the Dean of Graduate School meeting. Adelaide, 16 April.

Greenberg DS (1995) Puzzles of MD and PhD employment trends. The Lancet 345(8958): 1.

Hartle TW & Galloway FJ (1996) Too many PhDs? Too many MDs? Change September/October: 27-33.

Jongeling S (1996) Professional Doctorates in Australian Universities. Paper submitted to D.O.G.S. Australian National University, Canberra.

Ketefian S (1993) Essentials of doctoral education: Organisation of program around knowledge areas. Journal of Professional Nursing 9(5): 25.

Liljegren D (1997) Coursework within the PhD. Report of a Survey of Staff and Student Opinion at the University of Adelaide. University of Adelaide, South Australia.

Meleis AI (1992) Revisions in knowledge development: A passion for substance. In Nicholl LH (ed.) Perspectives on Nursing Theory, 2nd Edition, pp. 118-126. Lippincott, Philadelphia.

Miles MA & Huberman AM (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis. Sage, Thousand Oaks.

Murray PJ (1995) Using the Internet for gathering data and conducting research: Faster than the mail, cheaper than the phone. Computers in Nursing 13(5): 208-209.

Newman N (1997)The professional doctorate in nursing: A position paper. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship 29(4): 361-362.

Pearson A, Borbasi S & Gott M (1997) Doctoral education in nursing for practitioner knowledge and for academic knowledge: The University of Adelaide, South Australia. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship 29(4): 365-368.

Rossiter P (1999) Letter to the editor. Higher Education supplement, The Australian, Wednesday, April 21.

Stevens J (1998) Debating the doctorate. Accessed online, 12 February 1999. URL http://cwis.unimelb.edu.au/research/sgs/gradnews/0298/front.html

Thorpe J (1999) Letter to the editor. Higher Education supplement, The Australian, Wednesday, April 21.

Tyre D (1999) Letter to the editor. Higher Education supplement, The Australian, Wednesday, April 14.

West R (1998) Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy, Learning for Life Final Report. DEETYA, Canberra.



RSS Facebook Twitter

Sign Me Up

*Email Address
First Name
Surname

Web Feed

Latest Articles

Special Issues

Advances in Contemporary Health Care for Vulnerable Populations
Volume 42/1
Summary


Advances in Contemporary Community & Family Health Care (3rd edn)
Volume 41/1
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Complex Health Care: Nursing Interventions
Volume 40/2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Community and Family Health Care (2nd edn)
Volume 40/1
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Nurse Education (2nd edn)
Volume 38/1-2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Indigenous Health Care (2nd edn)
Volume 37/1
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Nursing: Workforce and Workplaces
Volume 36/1-2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Modeling of Clinical Nursing Care
Volume 35/2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Mental Health Nursing (2nd edn)
Volume 34/2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Nursing and Gender
Volume 33/2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Nurse Education
Volume 32/1-2
Summary | Contents


Advances in Contemporary Nursing: History of Nursing and Midwifery in Australasia
Volume 30/2
Summary | Contents


crossref.org - The citation linking backbone



Website by Arrowsmith Websites. Website Design Sunshine Coast, Australia.