Vanderbilt PhD or DNP – Which is Right for Me?

VUSN GraduationWhile the Vanderbilt PhD and DNP degree programs share being built upon a rich foundation of excellence in teaching, practice and research, it is important for advanced practice nurses who seek doctoral study to recognize and understand the differences in the PhD and DNP degrees to make informed decisions about advancing their education at Vanderbilt School of Nursing. While different, these are not competitive fields but rather complementary to one another.

 

With our Doctor of Nursing Practice program, Vanderbilt has coursework and a clinical immersion experience that will prepare nurses to evaluate nursing scientific findings and apply them to clinical settings for improved health care outcomes. Our DNP graduates will be positioned to translate evidence into practice with diverse populations, inform health care policy and design, and implement and evaluate patient care programs. The Vanderbilt PhD Program prepares nurses for careers as research scientists in academic, governmental or private entities. Our graduates conduct independent research, participate as interdisciplinary researchers and develop and disseminate knowledge to improve health and the delivery of health care.

 

Here is a comparison of the DNP and PhD degree programs at Vanderbilt School of Nursing built upon guidelines of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). For additional information, do not hesitate to contact Admissions.

 

 

Comparison DNP PhD
Program Objective
Prepare the highest level nursing practice scholars who will translate evidence into practice; terminal degree in practice
Prepare scholars for research and academic careers in public or private sectors of health care; terminal degree in research
Applicant Evaluation
Evidence of scholarly ability, professional goals consistent with the Advanced Practice Nursing role and past nursing and leadership experiences
Evidence of scholastic preparation and intellectual capability; research/career goals consistent with the School’s research foci/ faculty expertise
Course of Study/ Competencies
Clinical integration experience and emphasis on knowledge and skills for applying and translating evidence- based research into practice
Two tracks of study: Clinical Research and Health Services Research; opportunities to work in interdisciplinary research teams
Degree
Requirements
Successful completion of a scholarly project demonstrating the synthesis of the student’s coursework and clinical practice application; scholarly public defense of project and article prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journal
Successful completion of advanced coursework, a qualifying examination paper, an oral qualifying examination and dissertation (including oral defense of the proposal and findings)
Career Focus of Graduates
Leadership positions in nursing and clinical services, clinical information technology and as faculty. Developing practice innovations designed to improve health care outcomes
Conduct/disseminate research that responds to regional, national and international priorities. Graduates advance the nursing discipline and practice through research, education and health policy
Why choose Vanderbilt School of Nursing?

 

 
We have a long history of leadership in educating Advanced Practice Nurses at the Master’s level, including Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nursing Informatics Specialists and Health Systems Managers. Our DNP program is built upon this expertise and offers actively practicing faculty who mentor students in an environment rich with evidence-based knowledge creation; our extensive faculty practice network presents many different models of care.
We offer an innovative, state-of-the-art curriculum that includes two study tracks: Clinical Research and Health Services Research. In a collegial and supportive environment, our faculty are committed to preparing nurse scholars who can lead the nation in extending the body of nursing knowledge. Our researchers, experts, faculty mentors and resources in Nashville – a major national health care hub – are second to none, and you will have opportunities to work with researchers and scholars from across campus and the nation.

 

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