PhD Program
A Pathway to Nursing Excellence
Imagine a Ph.D. program that offers a closely mentored learning experience, classes taught by nationally renowned nurse scientists, collective resources for research funding, and world-class facilities in a comprehensive health sciences environment. Designed to help you achieve your highest academic or research aspirations, the VCU School of Nursing’s Ph.D. program offers an unparalleled learning experience that reflects current and future needs in health care. The program also mirrors the varying work and personal needs of nurses, as demonstrated by next fall’s launch of an online course format that combines distance and traditional learning.
Our Ph.D. program prepares students to become teachers-scholars or pioneering researchers committed to the highest ideals of nursing excellence. Program activities are designed to be consistent with the School of Nursing’s mission to improve health and the human condition through leadership in nursing research, education and service. With a research focus on biobehavioral approaches to symptom management, the Ph.D. program prepares graduates for lifelong scholarship and innovation in nursing.
Distance Learning for Highly Motivated Scholars
The VCU School of Nursing will enhance its current Ph.D. program by incorporating a hybrid instructional format beginning Fall 2012. This will be the first nursing Ph.D. hybrid program based in Virginia and will place VCU among only a few Mid-Atlantic region-based universities that offer this degree option. The program will include a combination of online courses and traditional classroom experiences to offer students a dynamic, interactive learning experience that will prepare them to become nurse scholars and scientists. This new format is designed to expand the Ph.D. program’s reach to a wider range of highly motivated, independent students who aspire to become scholars, make a significant difference in the field of nursing, and study with nationally recognized nurse scientists who conduct biobehavioral clinical research.
The School of Nursing offers two entry options into the Ph.D. program.
- Applicants to the Post M.S to Ph.D. option must have both a baccalaureate and a master’s degree – one of which must be in nursing. The degree in nursing must be from an accredited school or international equivalent.
- Students who have a baccalaureate degree in nursing, which must come from an accredited school or international equivalent, will apply to the Post-B.S. to Ph.D. option in the program.
View specific admissions requirements and a sample curriculum to see if our Ph.D. Hybrid Program is right for you. The deadlines for admission are Dec. 1 for funding/scholarship consideration and Feb. 1 for priority consideration. Applications may be accepted after the Feb .1 deadline on a space-available basis.
Our on-campus schedule is flexible enough for you to continue balancing work and family demands as you pursue a Ph.D. degree.
Technical requirements for the hybrid program include:
- Broadband access or the ability to use a location with broadband access
- A new laptop (See SON/VCU website for recommendations for makes and models. Netbooks are not acceptable alternatives to a laptop.)
- A web camera (Many laptops have these built-in.)
- A USB headset/microphone
- Software: MS Office, JMP (available through the university), antivirus software
Breakthrough Research at an NIH-Funded Research Center
With the establishment of its National Institute of Nursing Research-funded P20 Center for Biobehavioral Clinical Research (CBCR) in 2004, the School of Nursing placed itself among a few elite institutions in the nation focusing on the development of biobehavioral science for nursing. In 2009, NINR awarded the School of Nursing a P30 grant, expanding the CBCR into the Center of Excellence for Biobehavioral Approaches to Symptom Management. Center researchers are making important discoveries that advance nursing knowledge, particularly by enhancing symptom management and biobehavioral outcomes. Examples of faculty and their funded projects include:
- Dr. Mary Jo Grap investigates sedation in medically-ventilated, critically ill patients. The goal is to improve pulmonary outcomes specifically related to reducing ventilator associated pneumonia and optimizing sedation.
- Dr. Debra Lyon studies the effect of cranial electric stimulation for chemotherapy symptoms in breast cancer patients. The goal is to provide alternative therapies for symptom management.
- Dr. Nancy Jallo works with pregnant African American women at VCU's Nelson Clinic to determine if guided imagery can help them better cope with stress and lower the risk for preterm labor.
- Dr. Jo Lynn Robins researches the acceptability of Tai Chi as a self-care stress management strategy for women with increased cardiovascular disease risk.
The VCU School of Nursing also supports funded research by Ph.D. students, such as Ann Hamilton, who studies endotracheal tube movement and its effect on patient comfort in the ICU, and Tina Lucas, who examines pre- and post-operative psychological stress experienced by women who are undergoing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and the potential impact on wound healing. Visit our CBCR page for a comprehensive list of our researchers, projects and services designed to improve patient safety and advance nursing knowledge.
Interdisciplinary Experiences, Global Impact
Faculty, postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students have a wide range of opportunities to interact with the Center by consulting with center scientists, utilizing center services or support staff, and attending center symposia. Rated among the nation’s best graduate nursing programs, the VCU School of Nursing offers unparalleled training opportunities for Ph.D. students due to the experience of the highly trained faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and collaboration with VCU Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center with Magnet status. Our faculty members are nationally recognized for their contributions to research and education. Their commitment to advancing the nursing profession is reflected in VCU being
ranked as a top, urban public research university with national and global rankings in sponsored research.
Throughout their studies, Ph.D. students engage in experiences that foster their development as nursing leaders, educators and nurse scientists. Role development is enhanced through mentored research and scholarly experiences, as well as development of interdisciplinary research. If you desire a career in higher education and want the best preparation for a career as a nurse educator and scholar, our program is for you. If you desire a career as a nurse scientist engaged in cutting edge research to advance nursing science and improve health care, our program is also for you. Take one step closer to your future as a nursing pioneer. To learn more about the Ph.D. in nursing program’s hybrid format, contact the VCU School of Nursing’s admissions office at 804-828-5171.
