Going back to school and earning a PhD is a major life decision that can provide you with amazing professional and personal benefits. Nursing is a very rewarding career, but if you have been in the profession for quite some time, it is important to create a career plan to progress further in your field. A PhD is one of the highest degrees that you can earn in the nursing profession. It prepares you for a lucrative career in nurse research, education, and administrative roles. As a PhD in nursing, you can make a big difference in the industry and experience a range of benefits, as discussed below. 

Become a field expert

When you earn a PhD in nursing, you will be considered an expert in your field. You will be able to make a real difference in the future of nursing and work with other medical professionals toward a common goal. You can earn your PhD in nursing online while you continue to work as a nurse through Wilkes University. This course will prepare you for research and leadership roles so you can improve nursing outcomes.

Contribute to health care policies 

Healthcare policies, procedures, and practices are established by nurse researchers with doctorate degrees. Nurse researchers play an important role in influencing professional nursing practice. The work they do and the research they conduct are often called upon when lawmakers make important changes to policies and procedures. Those in the healthcare industry often aspire to be able to make meaningful contributions that will impact the quality of care provided to patients well into the future. A PhD in nursing allows you to do just that. 

Administrative Roles 

A PhD can provide career opportunities beyond education and research if you are interested in an administrative role. The course can help you land supervisory positions and nurse director roles. The degree is designed to provide leadership and management skills that can be very valuable for nurse administrators. A PhD can provide you with training about the best practices in professionalism, ethics, and leadership in healthcare. These skills are needed by healthcare organizations at all levels.     

Leadership roles in healthcare 

Earning a nursing PhD degree can provide you with new career opportunities and help you climb the ladder. With a PhD you can work with diverse teams and populations so that you will be well-suited for leadership roles. This is one of the important benefits of considering this degree. You can develop interdisciplinary knowledge in the healthcare industry. This will allow you to collaborate with professionals and broaden your skills and perspectives. With leadership roles, you will be able to examine the complex issues faced by the healthcare industry so you can find solutions to improve outcomes.   

If you want to gain advanced knowledge and skills in the nursing field, a PhD in nursing is a good option. This degree can expand your horizons and provide you with diverse opportunities so you can advance in your field and work in rewarding positions and roles.