Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science: Systematic Education for Future Researchers and Experts

Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science – systematic education for future researchers and experts

Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen, Professor, Director of the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science;   Natalia Sak-Dankosky, MSC, PhD -student, Early Stage Researcher; Tarja Kvist, PhD, University Researcher, Contact Person of the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

The need for PhD-prepared nurses has been globally evident. PhD-educated nurses with researcher training are needed in clinical practice, leadership positions and educational institutions as well as in research. The purpose of this paper is to describe the most recent developments in doctoral education in Europe  as well as the systematic development of doctoral education in nursing in Finland.

In Finland, doctoral education has been offered in nursing and health sciences since 1979 and the first doctoral degree in the country was awarded in 1984 in Kuopio. Ever since a total over 100 PhDs completed their doctoral degree at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).

In the University of Eastern Finland doctoral education in nursing science is arranged within the framework of the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science provided by the Faculty of Health Sciences.  The programme arranges PhD-courses and seminars in the field of nursing science and transferrable skills. The Doctoral Programme in UEF works in close cooperation with the Finnish Doctoral Education Network (a network of five universities). The Network coordinates doctoral courses in nursing science with the participating universities. Courses are held by international and national experts. The PhD students are supported to have an international exchange period in some of the collaborating universities and use special summer courses offered by e.g. European Academy of Nursing Science. The purpose of the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science is to train excellent, internationally oriented researchers and experts with doctoral education for a variety of national and international duties.  Other aims are to improve their research careers and to strengthen multidisciplinary research.  The doctoral studies are supported by public funding and free of charge at the moment in all fields.

New candidates are selected to the programme twice a year through a systematic application process. Every year approximately 10-15 new students start their PhD degree.  The programme attracts students from Finland as well as from other countries and continents such as Baltic countries, Africa, China, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Thailand. Postgraduate education is based on two parts: theoretical studies (50 credits) and a dissertation. The aim is to complete studies in four years.  The programme offers courses on general transferrable skills, theoretical and methodological studies, research topic specific courses and research seminars. The degree includes a doctoral dissertation that is based on empirical research. Annually approximately 6-8 graduate. The doctorally prepared nurses work in clinical practice, educational settings, leadership positions in hospitals and primary health care, ministry of social affairs and health and in academic institutions as researchers and educators.

The purpose of this paper is

• to update the most recent developments in doctoral education in Europe
• to describe the systematic development of doctoral education in nursing in Finland, using University of Eastern Finland as an example.

Target Audience:

The target audience of this presentation are researchers and educators in doctoral programmes, those interested in doctoral education as a career path

Literature:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 2010. The Research-focused doctoral program in nursing. Pathways to excellence. Report from the AACN task force on the research-focused doctorate in nursing. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/phdposition.pdf

Byrne J, Jorgensen T, Loukkala T. 2013. Quality Assurance in Doctoral Education – results of the ARDE project. European University Association, EUA Publications, Brussels, Belgium.

Ketefian S, Davidson P, Daly J, Chang E & Srisuphan W. 2005. Issues and challenges in international doctoral education in nursing. Nursing and Health Sciences 7, 150-156.

Vehviläinen-Julkunen K. 2014. Doctoral education in Nursing in Europe – A case from the Nordic perspective. Singapore Nursing Journal 41(1), 4-9.