SPECIAL SESSION: Faculty Preparation in Doctoral Education

Description/Overview: The faculty shortage continues, and despite calls from national groups and professional organizations to double the number of doctorally prepared faculty, there is still insufficient numbers of nurses prepared for faculty roles, to develop the science of nursing education, and/ or as nurse educators in academic and health care settings. This study sought to determine the number of nursing PhD/ EdD programs with an education concentration that prepare nurses to meet these needs. Data were obtained from a review of the web sites of 126 PhD/EdD programs. The review included 1) stated purpose and goals of the program; 2) evidence of availability of nurse educator courses in a MS degree or certificate in Nursing Education program; 3) presence of a Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) course; 4) programs with purpose and/or goals for graduates to teach or work in academia who did not have educator or faculty preparation courses; 5) distance accessibility; and 6) availability of the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Thirty four (29%) of the PhD/EdD programs prepare nurse educators as leaders, scholars, and/ or scientists; 51 (40%) have master’s level courses or post-masters teaching certificates. Seventeen (13%) of the programs have a PPF program; 52 (41%) are distance accessible, and 33 (26%) of the programs offer the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Twelve (9%) of the schools state they are preparing graduates to be faculty, but don’t have courses related to the teaching role of faculty. Recommendations are offered for preparing nurse educators for developing the science of nursing education, or as leaders in nursing education in academic and clinical settings. All doctoral programs can prepare graduates for faculty roles.