Online PhD in Nursing

by Caleb Rogers

Online PhD in Nursing: Choosing the Program that’s Right for Your Career

Are you interested in getting an online doctoral level degree in nursing?  There are a variety of different types of programs available both online and in traditional, classroom oriented study.  Which type of program you choose to study online will determine which career paths the degree opens to you.

Online PhD in Nursing: Focus and/or Concentration

The key point to inquire into when you’re researching your doctorate level nursing degree program options is what the focus or concentration of the program is.  This goes beyond whether it’s a degree in a specific type of nursing; there’s also the question of whether the degree is research oriented or clinically/practically oriented.

Clinical/Practical

Some example of clinically oriented doctoral level nursing degrees include those intended to prepare the student for careers as a Nurse Practitioner, or a Nurse Anesthetist.  These programs are designed to meet very specific criteria set by states for those who wish to practice in these careers.  You can’t be an NP with just any online PhD in nursing.

Research/Academic

When it comes to non-clinical doctoral level degrees in nursing, there’s a further division; doctors of science in nursing and doctors of philosophy in nursing. The first is a professional research oriented degree, while the second is an “academic” degree.  The first would probably be the best bet if you are interested in using your online PhD in nursing to enter the career of scientific medical research.  The second is intended for those who want their online PhD in nursing in order to teach at the university level or engage in academic research.

Carefully consider which online doctoral degree in nursing you want to pursue.  Not only will it make a different in your future career choices, but you may be best suited for one type of program over another.