Pursuing a career in Nursing is unarguably a very lucrative and rewarding one. With an online degree in Nursing, you can make an average of $40,250 each year.
But, have you wondered how much more you can achieve if you up to your career by getting a PhD in Nursing Education?
I’ve written this article with you in mind. I’ll show you the best online PhD in Nursing Education that you can enter for.
This is going to make more sense to you if you already have something you’re doing and may not really have all the time to run an in-class program.
Meanwhile, find the table of contents below to have a peep into what you’ll find in this article.
Let’s quickly delve into what we have here. So do really take your time to read through.
Why get an Online PhD in Nursing Education?
Tiffany Montgomery in her article on Reflections on Nursing Leadership told of how she battled so much to learn how to answer when asked, “Why get a PhD in nursing or what do you with a PhD in Nursing?”
She told of how bothersome she found it when people asked her this question. In her article, what bothered her most wasn’t just the fact that people asked the question to learn of something they didn’t know, but she was bothered because the questions came out of sarcasm.
In her words, she said she was shocked the first time she was asked “What do you do with an online Ph.D. in nursing?” The whole thing made her feel horrible.
Well, every normal person would feel the same way especially when you feel like you’re wasting your time and energy on something you love passionately. If you were Tiffany and someone makes you feel like, “Why in the world would a nurse want a PhD?” won’t you feel bad?
Now see, whether you’ve asked this question before, but you’re going back and forth trying to figure out why you’d need a PhD in Nursing education, the valid point is that there are so many reasons why you need to upgrade to a doctorate degree in your career as a nurse.
The first thing you’d need to note is that PhD programs prepare RNs to contribute to healthcare improvements via the development of new knowledge and scholarly products that provide a foundation for the advancement of nursing science.
Moreso, a PhD in nursing education will help widen your perspective of the nursing career and keep you grounded in the science and philosophy of knowledge. A PhD-prepared nurse can contribute to the profession through research, creating new nursing theories, or through a focus on national, global system-level change and public policy.
According to PayScale, a Ph. D. educated nurse’s average salary is $96,000 per year.
You can see that, Indeed, getting a PhD in nursing education is one huge investment you should really make in yourself.
What Can You do with an Online PhD in Nursing Education?
There is so much you can do with a PhD in Nursing Education. But some people tend to make some funny jokes out of it. But they really do not understand what higher opportunities are open to you the moment you bag your PhD.
Tiffany in her write-up said at some point in her pursuit of a PhD in Nursing, she became irritated by the question and started giving a pretty snappy reply: “The same thing you do with a PhD in anything else!” Sounds funny, huh?
Seriously, as I said earlier, there is so much you can do with your doctorate in nursing education. Let’s quickly look at some of the career opportunities you can find with a doctorate degree in nursing.
A Ph.D. prepared nurse usually spends time researching, conducting analysis, and performing scientific studies. They also commonly enter academia as professors and educators.
In addition to the aforementioned, Ph. Degree nurses can find other career opportunities as:
Nursing Lecturer/Tutor:
This is a nurse educator who lectures or teaches in a nursing school or school of health. The nursing lecturer has the responsibility of creating, executing, and evaluating program curricula and mentoring nursing students.
Often, in addition to their teaching responsibilities, they expect them to conduct research to disseminate and share in scholarly journals and at research conferences.
Director of nursing research:
The director of nursing research is usually charged with the responsibility of supervising other nursing research employees, or he or she may be responsible for overseeing all nursing research projects conducted within the facility.
Usually, they are the go-to person within the facility for questions regarding the design and implementation of the desired research study.
Director of clinical services:
After your doctoral degree program, you can find opportunities where you can fit in as the clinical administrator. A clinical administrator is nursing practitioners who oversees daily operations of patient care departments in a health care facility.
He or she is the middle person between upper management and department managers. Although the director may not be directly involved in direct patient care, he or she is aware of the workflows in each department that promotes optimal patient care.
The director may generate or receive reports addressing the efficiency of departmental workflows, and then they give this information to each department manager to increase efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Ph.D. trained nurses can also find other career opportunities in research or high-ranking administrative positions in pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, health advocacy organizations, health care information technology corporations, NGOs and other health-related publishing companies.
Some job titles a Ph.D. may search for include: Nurse Researcher, Nurse Scientist, Policy Maker, Academic Professor, Author.
Can you get a PhD in Nursing Education Online?
Yes, there are schools that offer you the liberty of running your PhD program online. But some of them may also require you to come to the school for a few practical sessions. Although, there may not be so many practical sessions for this since it’s basically a research program.
How Long Does it Take to Get your Doctorate Degree in Nursing Online?
How much time it’ll take you to complete our PhD program online largely depends on a number of factors. One of the factors is the school.
Yes, the duration of your study will depend on the school you enrolled in. Also, another factor is how smart you’re in learning. It is not some out of place to say that some students may take longer than others.
Generally, you’d spend at least three years to complete your online phd program in nursing education. This is almost the same amount of time it takes to complete the program in school.
Before getting the award,you’ll need to prepare and complete a dissertation consisting of original research that will advance healthcare delivery systems and nursing practice..
How Much Does it Cost to get a PhD in Nursing Education Online?
Acquiring an online PhD in Nursing education does not cost so much. That’s interesting right, huh? Usually, it may cost you an average of $6000 to $10,000 to complete your program.
It is important to know that this cost may vary from school to school.
How Much Do PhD Nurses make?
How much you’ll make in this career largely depends on your level of expertise. Some experienced earn more than others. That is why you need to develop yourself daily so as to remain relevant in the field.
But generally, and according to PayScale, a Ph. D. educated nurse’s average salary is $96,000 per year.
What are the Best Online Schools for PhD in Nursing Education?
There are not so many schools where you can find programs that lead to PhD in Nursing education. Even though some schools do offer some programs that lead to the degree. In the lines that follow, you’ll the Best Online Schools for PhD in Nursing Education.
Take time to read through them here.
#1. University of Nevada
Cost per credit: $235.5
The University of Nevada in Las Vegas is a public research university in Paradise, Nevada. The university offers an online PhD in Nursing Education. The program here is offered 100% online at the University.
Students who enroll for this program will take special courses like; Special Topics in Nursing Research, Teaching, and Learning in Nursing Education, Educational Theory, and Philosophy for Nursing.
The admission requirements include; a minimum GPA of 3.5, Current RN license, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, Evidence of current health and malpractice insurance, Samples of scholarly work, and Curriculum vitae (CV).
Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in a health-related discipline are also eligible for admission but will need to successfully complete graduate courses in health and public policy and nursing theory.
#2. University of Central Florida
Cost: $369.65 per credit hour
The University of Central Florida is a public research university in Orlando, Florida. The university’s college of Nursing is highly ranked by the U.S. News and World Report in recognition of its innovative and path-breaking online education.
The online PhD program in nursing education at the university applies innovative technologies to nursing education and research and healthcare leadership.
You can complete this nursing program fully online and it enables graduates to gain knowledge concerning the various methods and theories of the discipline of nursing with some special courses like; Concept Development in Nursing, Healthcare Systems, and Policy, Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science.
Applicants are expected to have a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with some other requirements like; Official transcripts, RN license, Official GRE score, Letters of recommendation, and Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
#3. Nova Southeastern University
Cost: $927.00 per credit hour
Nova southeastern university is a private university that offers one of the best online PhD program in nursing education. The online PhD program requires three years of courses and a dissertation with some special courses like Research Ethics, State of the Science, and Advanced Nursing Research.
The main theme of this online PhD program in nursing education is leadership, and they expect applicants to have a Master’s degree in nursing from a CNEA or CCNE institution with some other requirements like; Cumulative GPA of 3.5, Current R.N. license, Reference letters, Writing sample, and Curriculum vitae (CV).
#4. Southern Connecticut State University
Cost: $703.00 per credit hour
Southern Connecticut State University is a public university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1893.
Southern Connecticut State University, in collaboration with Western Connecticut State University faculty, offers an online PhD program in Nursing Education which they design for students with expertise in clinical practice as well as a master’s degree in nursing.
They also design this program to prepare them for academic faculty roles with some special courses like; Leadership Theories and Concepts, Curriculum Development, Implementation and Evaluation in Nursing, and Nursing Faculty Role in Higher Education.
Applicants are required to have a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution and some other admission requirements like; Cumulative GPA of 3.0, Current R.N. license, GRE scores, Reference letters, Official transcripts and Curriculum vitae (CV).
#5. Villanova University
Cost: $1,300 per credit rate
Villanova University is a private Catholic institution at Villanova. It was founded in 1842. Villanova University is the oldest Catholic university in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth.
The University offers an online PhD program in nursing education. This online PhD program at Villanova is known for the personalized study experience it offers students.
Villanova University’s College of Nursing has developed a flexible curriculum to meet student needs.
Interestingly, year after year, the National League for Nursing honors the college’s Nursing School as being the Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
They design this online PhD in nursing education to equip students with the practical and theoretical understanding required to create new knowledge of culturally relevant nursing practice and education.
Some admission requirements include; Cumulative GPA of 3.0, a Current R.N. license, GRE scores, Reference letters, Curriculum vitae (CV) and Official transcripts.
#6. University of North Dakota
Cost: $784.13 per credit hour
The University of North Dakota is a public research university, located on the eastern edge of the state in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school was founded in 1883 and this makes it the state’s oldest and largest university.
The university offers one of the best online PhD in Nursing program. The three-year doctoral degree in Nursing at the University of North Dakota focuses on nursing education, rural health, rural population, policies, and research.
The university also offers students a chance to collaborate with the Center for Rural Health and the National Resource Center on Native American Aging, with some special courses/programs like; Rural Healthcare Ethics, Foundations for Nurse Education, Nurse Scientist.
The students could also choose to participate clinically, participating in hands-on research in health care services or in the betterment of patient care and applicants are required to have a bachelor or higher degree in nursing from an accredited institution with some other requirements like; RN license, Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, GRE scores, Reference letters, Curriculum vitae (CV) and Official transcripts.
#7. University of Colorado Denver
Cost: $645 for Resident and $1110 for non-residents
The University of Colorado is a public research university located in Denver. The University of Colorado was founded in 1912.
Colorado’s premiere healthcare complex, the Anschutz Medical Campus, is one of the strongest educational institutions for medicine and nursing.
The university offers one of the best online PhD in Nursing Education with three specialized areas: Health Care Systems Research, Caring Science, & Behavioral Sciences.
You can complete this program in three years, and tuition discounts are available to online students. The online PhD in Nursing Education is designed for nursing professionals desiring to reach the highest point of Nursing Education, administration, or nursing research.
Applicants are expected to have acquired a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
#8. Liberty University
Cost: $595 per credit hour rate
Liberty University is a private university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The university is one of the largest private non-profit universities in the United States, with its online programs now ranked in the top 1% of online education.
Liberty University offers one of the best online PhD programs in nursing education. Their affordable PhD in Nursing Education degree program enables their graduates to become professors of nursing or pursue other educational opportunities within healthcare.
You could also go into hospital administration, health policy advocacy, or nursing research.
Applicants are to have some specific admission requirements which include; Official transcripts, Admission application and fee, Statement of purpose and a Registered Nurse Licensure verification.
#9. University of Kansas
Cost: $11,148 (in-states) and $27,358 (out-of-state)
The University of Kansas is a public research university in Lawrence, Kansas, with several medical centers, research and education centers and other satellite campuses across the state of Kansas.
The university has been offering PhD Education since 1983 and they offer one of the best online PhD in Nursing Education. Full-time students can complete their studies in three years and most online students graduate from the PhD program in five to seven years.
The online PhD program in Nursing education specializes in some areas like; Health Systems, Symptom Science, & Education.
Applicants are expected to have a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with some other requirements like; minimum GPA of 3.50 in your BSN or 3.25 in your MSN, RN license and other requirements.
The online PhD Nursing program ensures graduates have been trained through intensive research projects, independent research and traditional coursework.
#10. University of Arizona
Cost; $29,250 (in-states) and $29,250 (out-of-state) per year
The University of Arizona is a public research university, founded in 1885 and located in the city of Tucson. The university is the first university in the state of Arizona, and one of the best in the online PhD program in nursing education.
The institution is renowned for its high research activity, with the best learning resources and opportunities. This College of Nursing ranks among the top 15 % of nursing graduate programs in the country.
The online Ph.D. in nursing education program has three specialized areas which include: Health Determinants Science, Data and System Science, and Precision Science. This study constitutes 12 credits of your PhD coursework and helps you gain specialized knowledge in your area of focus.
Also, and you can complete this program online, both on a part-time and full-time basis.
Applicants are expected to have a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
#11. Washington State University
cost: $891 per credit
Washington State University is a public research university also known as Wazzu.
The College of Nursing at Washington State University offers one of the best online PhD in Nursing education program. The online PhD program course work focuses on three specialized or core areas that include; Education, Methodology and Research.
The program also enables its students to learn how to design, conduct and disseminate research that will generate new knowledge directed towards changing healthcare, nursing science and practices.
Applicants are expected to have a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution and a 3.5 and above GPA.
#12. Indiana University
Cost: $578 per credit hour (in-state) and $1,553 per credit hour (out of state)
The Bloomington campus is the primary campus and home to the School of Nursing of Indiana University. The university is ranked among the top innovative universities in the world by Reuters in 2017 and also known for innovation and creativity.
The university is founded in 1820 and is also known for its best online PhD program in nursing education which is one of the most revered programs at Indiana University.
The online PhD in education program is grounded in nursing science and offers concentration options in Clinical Nursing Science and Health Systems. These are their two main areas of specialization.
They highly train their graduates in areas like data analysis, leadership, research methodologies, and statistics.
#13. Vanderbilt University
Cost: $2026 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University is a private university that was established in 1872. It is located in Nashville. The university’s School of Nursing has an outstanding reputation as a top nursing school.
They offer one of the best online PhD in nursing education programs. The PhD students have multiple opportunities to interact with research scholars across the university and the nation.
The online PhD in nursing education program focuses on two special areas which include, Clinical Research & Health Services Research and students are expected to choose from either Clinical Research or Health Services Research.
Students are expected to complete a coursework of 32 credit of their core courses, 15 credits of their specialty and other 10 credits towards their research thesis, making it 57 credit hours in all.
Also, the eligible students can transfer 15 credits from their master’s degree to this online PhD program.
Online PhD in Nursing Education: Frequently Asked Questions
The Doctor of Education in Nursing Education is designed for nurses with master’s degrees who want to become nurse educators in either academic or staff development settings. The program fosters deep collaboration among students and faculty to maximize preparation for educator roles.
The main difference is that a DNP is focused more on clinical practice, while a PhD is research-focused.
Generally, you’d spend at least three years to complete your online phd program in nursing education.
Of course, you can! According to Payscale, a Ph. D. educated nurse earns an average salary of $96,000 per year.
Conclusion
A doctorate degree in nursing education will certainly open many career doors to you. There is no limit to what you can achieve after your training. One of them is becoming a professor in your field. Your PhD will open you up to research and exploration which will definitely lead to your professorship. Take the big plunge today and you’ll be glad you did.
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