UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nursing is the largest health profession in the United States, with more than 3 million registered nurses currently practicing. Even so, less than 1 percent of these nurses have a doctorate, which is crucial to advancing scientific discovery and transforming health care. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) wants to change that.
On Feb. 10, RWJF announced that 32 schools of nursing would receive grants through its Future of Nursing Scholars program to support nurses pursuing their Ph.D. degrees. Penn State’s College of Nursing is one of them.
The college is now accepting applications for the program and will select two scholars this spring. These students will begin the Future of Nursing Scholars Program this summer, and start their Ph.D. studies at the College of Nursing in fall 2016.
“We are eager to select two highly qualified and motivated students as our RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars,” said Susan J. Loeb, associate professor of nursing and director of the college’s Ph.D. program. “We seek outstanding applicants who will commit to completing the program in three years and focusing their attention on their studies rather than employment during that time.”
Each scholar will be matched with a primary mentor from the College of Nursing’s research faculty and become part of the mentor’s research team. Scholars will have secondary mentors from outside the College of Nursing who will help promote their development as nurse scientists. Mentors will link their scholars with resources at Penn State’s vast network of centers and institutes as well as within the College of Nursing.
“The scholars will develop their capacity as policy influencers and innovators through mentorship, as well as seminars, workshops and coursework,” Loeb said. “In addition, they will work as interdisciplinary team members, gaining leadership skills that will position them as future team leaders.”
In its landmark report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," the Institute of Medicine recommended doubling the number of nurses with doctorates in the United States by the year 2020. Doing so will prepare nurses to lead change, promote nursing science and discovery, and position more educators to prepare the next generation of nurses. The RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars program is intended to address that recommendation by providing financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to nurses in Ph.D. programs.
Because U.S. nurses complete their Ph.D. degrees at an average age of 46 (13 years older than those in other fields), the Future of Nursing Scholars program also provides an incentive for them to start their programs (and their leadership careers) at a younger age.
“The Future of Nursing Scholars program represents a group of students who are already making considerable contributions,” said Julie Fairman, program co-director. “They are publishing research, meeting with national leaders and working at an advanced pace so they can complete their Ph.D. education in only three years.”
Scholarship recipients will receiving funding to cover the cost of tuition, travel to required meetings, and a stipend. Nurses who are interested in the opportunity to become a RWJF Future of Nursing Scholar at Penn State should apply through the Graduate School and indicate their interest in their goals statement.
For more information on the Future of Nursing Scholars program at Penn State, contact Loeb at 814-863-2236 or SVL100@psu.edu.
Penn State’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in nursing develops clinical scholars, faculty and researchers who can teach and provide leadership through scientific inquiry and innovative practice. Individualized plans of study allow each student to develop depth of expertise and research capability within a specialized area that promotes his or her career goals. To learn more, visit the program website.