Scholarly Pursuit of Excellence: Doctoral Education in Nursing

Abstract

Doctoral education is the scholarly pursuit of excellence in a defined discipline. Doctoral education in nursing provides an opportunity for nurses to study, test and evolve theories, to conduct research, and then to translate theoretical concepts and research findings into care of clients and patients. To discuss this scholarly pursuit of excellence, the following areas will be reviewed: the growth of doctoral programs in nursing, development of nursing science, and finally, the continued growth of scholarly excellence in nursing.