University of Tennessee Health Science Center PhD and Dual DNP/PhD Programs Carolyn Graff, PhD, RN PhD in Nursing Science Program Director jgraff@uthsc.edu 901-448-6544 Topics: • Which Program? PhD, DNP or dual DNP/PhD • Admissions process • Faculty mentor and how to “match” • Recent graduates and their research • Curriculum schedule • Expectations for graduation • RA and TA opportunities Which Program Is Right for Me? • The PhD degree (with a focus in nursing) prepares nurse scientists who contribute to the development of scientific knowledge. • The DNP program prepares nurses for the practice degree in nursing. – Options include: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, Pediatric Nursing, Neonatal Nursing. – Dual options include: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nursing; Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nursing. Which Program is Right for Me? • The dual DNP/PhD program provides highly motivated and qualified students with an integrated advanced clinical and research program of study. Students focus on a clinical research area in the PhD program and a clinical specialty area in the DNP program. • The combined program – reduces the time normally required to complete both degrees – yields expert practice leaders who can contribute to the development of scientific knowledge. PhD Application • Prospective students apply to the PhD program through NursingCAS by February 1. Specific instructions are provided at the NursingCAS portal at http://nursingcas.org/ • Be prepared to have identified three individuals who will provide written references on your research capabilities • Write an essay on your research and clinical interests and why you are seeking to attain a PhD • In the essay, address potential issues: poor grades one term/course, switching schools, gaps in employment PhD Application • Additional components – – – – – official transcripts official test scores (GRE) copy of unencumbered RN license current CPR card a proposed plan of study (if you have not yet completed all pre-professional courses) – score of 213/79 on computer-based TOEFL,6.5 on IELTS, or proficiency in English for applicants whose native language is not English DNP/PhD Application • NursingCAS – Prospective students apply to the DNP Program through NursingCAS. Specific instructions are provided at the NursingCAS portal at http://nursingcas.org/ – Applicants obtain transcripts from every institution to enter courses AND request transcripts for NursingCAS to verify coursework Dual DNP/PhD Program • If applying to the dual DNP/PhD program, must be accepted first into the DNP program concentration (e.g., Family Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, Pediatric Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing). • You may be accepted into DNP but not PhD. • If not accepted into DNP program, can request application be considered for PhD program. • Consider personally contacting DNP concentration coordinator and PhD program director before applying to the dual program. Timelines Deadlines for application: Jan. 15 - DNP/PhD program—NursingCAS Feb. 1 - PhD program—NursingCAS March - DNP/PhD applicants interviewed March - PhD applicants interviewed April - Applicants notified of admission decision May - DNP/PhD Students' Letter of Intent and $200 Guaranteed Enrollment Deposit due August - Classes begin Admissions Questions? • College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs: Jamie Overton, Director of Student Affairs Email: joverton@uthsc.edu Phone: 901-448-6139 Shawn Boyd, Coordinator of Student Affairs Email: sboyd15@uthsc.edu 901-448-6141 Helen Lu, Administrative Coordinator Email: ylu26@uthsc.edu Phone: 901-448-6125 Faculty Match for Research • Faculty-student match on population, concepts, methods • Faculty identified by student and appointed by the College of Graduate Health Sciences to serve as major advisor • Faculty who advise/chair dissertations Dr. Donna Hathaway quality of life, biobehavioral outcomes, transplant populations Dr. Mona Wicks minority health, health disparities, community based research, patientcaregiver populations Dr. Anne Alexandrov intracranial and systematic blood flow augmentation in acute stroke, emergency and critical care with concentrations in neuroscience and vascular dynamics Dr. Kristen H. Archbold sleep and neurobehavioral patterns in school-aged children, sleep medicine, interactions of sleep and biological processes across lifespan Dr. Carolyn Graff influence of prenatal and early childhood environments on health and developmental trajectories across childhood; intellectual and developmental disability Dr. Wendy Likes HPV infection, lower genital tract disease, sexual function, quality of life Dr. Michael Carter geriatrics, nursing home, pain Number of Students Accepted • Accept 4-8 students yearly, based on match and availability of faculty advisor • Each advisor maximum of 3-5 students mentored throughout program. • Fall 2012, 2013, 2014: 17, 15, and 15 students in PhD in Nursing Science Program, respectively Recent Graduates Dissertation Topics 1. Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, Heart Rate Variability and Fitness in Obese African American Youth 2. Effect of Obesity on the Traditional and Emerging Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in African American Women 3. Symbiotic Caregivers: A Qualitative Case Study of African American Custodial Grandparents and Their Grandchildren 4. Evaluating the Impact of the Guatemalan Nursing Program on Staff, Organizational, and Clinical Outcomes 5. Pain Management in Nursing Home Residents with Cancer and Dementia, with and without Hospice Services 6. Characterizing Dietary intake and Physical Activity Affecting Weight Gain in Kidney Transplant Recipients 7. Emergency Physicians’ Perspectives on the Usability of Health Information Exchange 8. Inflammatory Proteins, Genetic Variation, and Environmental Influences on Health CareAssociated Infection Development in Sepsis 9. The Relationship of Body Mass Index to Left Lower Extremity Bone Mineral Concentration in Adolescents from NHANES 2002-2006 10. Spatial Distribution of Obesity Among West Virginia 5th Grader Children: Analysis of the Socioeconomic, Physical, and Personal Environment 11. Nurses’ Information Appraisal within the Clinical Setting 12. Military Sexual Trauma Exposure and Heart Rate Variability Outcomes in Female Veterans Time to Graduation • PhD student: can be full or part-time – Majority graduate in < 4 years – MSN prepared: 3 year curriculum – BSN prepared: 3.5-4 year curriculum • DNP/PhD students: full or part-time – Reduces time to complete both programs separately by ½ to 1 year (1-2 terms) – Students entering with post-BSN and postMSN have varying sequence of courses PhD Curriculum: Post-BSN Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1) BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1) NSG912 Theory Construction and Analysis 3(3-0) HOPN851 Health Policy 3(3-0) NSG913 Qualitative Research Methods 3(3-0) NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) I IP801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0) Total 11 (10-1) Total 10 (9-1) Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring BIOE:XXX Advance Statistical 3(3-0) NSG 924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0) NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 4(4-0) NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0) NSG923 Quantitative Research Methods 3(3-0) NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) XXX Elective 3(3-0) NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0) Total 14 (14-0) Total 12 (12-0) Year 3 Fall NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0) NSG 960 Directed Study 3(3-0) XXX Elective 3(3-0) Total 12(12-0) Year 3 Spring NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0) Total 9(9-0) Year 4 Fall Year 4 NSG Dissertation 9(9-0) Total program credit hours 77 NOTE: Courses selected for advanced statistics, electives, and directed study are based on development needs of the student and decided in conjunction with the faculty advisor and dissertation committee. PhD Curriculum: Post-MSN Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1) NSG912 Theory Construction and Analysis 3(3-0) NSG913 Qualitative Research Methods 3(3-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) Total 11 (10-1) BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1) HOPN851 Health Policy 3(3-0) NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0) IP801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0) Total 10 (9-1) Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring BIOE:XXX Advance Statistical 3(3-0) NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 4(4-0) NSG923 Quantitative Research Methods 3(3-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0) Total 14 (14-0) NSG 924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0) NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0) NSG900 Dissertation 6(6-0) Total 12 (12-0) Year 3 Fall Year 3 Spring NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0) Total 9(9-0) NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0) Total 9 (9-0) Total program credit hours 65 NOTE: Courses selected for advanced statistics, electives, and directed study are based on development needs of the student and decided in conjunction with the faculty advisor and dissertation committee. DNP/PhD Curriculum: Full-Time Year 1 Fall BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1) NSG912 Theory Construction 3(3-0) NSG913 Qualitative Research 3(3-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) I Total 11 (10-1) Year 1 Spring BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1) HOPN851 Health Policy 3(3-0) NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0) IP801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0) Total 10 (9-1) Year 2 Fall BIOE712 Epidemiology3(3-0) HOPR 877 Health Care Economics 3(3-0) NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 3(3-0) NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) NSG:923 Quantitative Research 3(3-0) Total 14 (14-0) Year 2 Spring BIOEXXX Advanced Statistics 3(3-0) NSG924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0) NAPS Advanced Practice 4(2-2) Total 10 (8-2) Year 3 Fall NSG819 Evaluation of Practice 3 (3-0) NAPS Advanced Practice Specialty 4 (2-2) NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0) Total 10 (8-2) Year 3 Spring NSG926 Synthesis Practicum 6(0-6) NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0) Total 9 (3-6) DNP awarded Year 4 Fall Dissertation 9(9-0) Total 9 (9-0) Year 4 Spring Dissertation 9(9-0) Total 9 (9-0) Total Hours 82(72-10) 600 Clinical Hours PhD awarded Time on Campus • Throughout program: on-campus week beginning and end of term (DNP, PhD, DNP/PhD programs) • PhD courses: courses in first two terms meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays face to face of each week; distance technology available for Thursday class • Research can be conducted in Memphis or other location • DNP advanced practice clinical/selective experiences in proximity where student resides. Expectations for Graduation • Candidacy exam after core PhD courses completed (3rd or 4th term) • Presentations and publications on literature reviews, pilot studies • Dissertation proposal • Dissertation research (24 credits) • Dissertation defense (final exam) • Advanced practice credentialing exam (DNP/PhD graduates) RA/TA Opportunities • Tuition waived for 6-8 hours of service weekly • RA/TA duties on a non-class day • Examples of RA activities: – recruit/participate in research of faculty – data entry – literature reviews – developing posters, abstracts, presentations – assist with on-line or face-to-face course We take great pride in our students’ accomplishments and look forward to their continued contributions to the improvement of health care following graduation. Memphis Queen Elvis’ Graceland NBA Grizzlies Thanks for joining us! Stax Museum Pink Palace Museum Beale Street