Doctoral Education in Nursing Is a 'Special Issue'

J Adv Nurs. 2026 May;82(5):4081-4083. doi: 10.1111/jan.70567. Epub 2026 Feb 27.

Abstract

The extent to which the analysis of the state of play of doctoral education and suggested ways forward are seen as being radical is of course dependent on the context within which nursing research programs currently exist. We are aware that no one size fits all contexts, but we are also aware of a critical need to challenge dominant perspectives and practices and work toward a radical repositioning of the nursing PhD. At a time when the narrative of nursing shortages is pervasive, we need to be positioning nursing research and researchers at the heart of the solution. Without a radical reconsideration of how we build sustainable research teams, the opportunity will bypass us. The special issue on doctoral education deliberately set out to be disruptive, to surface critical questions and trigger a conversation that needs to be had. We are open to continuing this conversation.

Publication types

  • Introductory Journal Article
  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Education, Nursing, Graduate* / organization & administration
  • Education, Nursing, Graduate* / trends
  • Humans
  • Nursing Research* / education