Advance equitable care and improve health outcomes across diverse populations with a PhD in Nursing.
Prepare to lead and transform nursing practice, policy and research to promote health equity and social justice with Duke University School of Nursing’s PhD Program in Nursing.
Our nursing PhD empowers you with the skills and confidence to develop and test nurse-led models of care that enhance the health of all people, especially those experiencing health inequities. You’ll learn to drive change in nursing practice, influence health policies and conduct research that champions health equity and social justice. Plus, PhD student tuition and 12-month stipends are fully funded for up to five years.
We pride ourselves on welcoming a select group of talented and diverse students each year. As a nursing PhD student, you’ll have the unique opportunity to work closely with our expert faculty members, benefiting from one-on-one mentorship alongside your formal studies.
PhD Program in Nursing Highlights
Our PhD in nursing equips you with exceptional expertise, setting the stage for transformative career opportunities in nursing science and leadership. Through coursework, unparalleled mentorship from expert faculty and exposure to hands-on research opportunities, our nursing PhD shapes the next generation of nursing leaders with a strong emphasis on championing health equity:
Connections with expert faculty:
Our nursing PhD faculty will socialize you into the role of a nurse scientist, ensuring you gain the necessary knowledge and skills to launch a successful independent research program post-doctorate. Your connections with nursing research experts will prepare you for an entry-level role as a nurse scientist in various research settings, including academic, clinical or industry environments.
Empowering research opportunities:
Gain experience in traditional and innovative research methodologies and thorough statistical training. Our PhD nursing program emphasizes the importance of mentored research and teaching experiences to enhance knowledge and skill development.
Championing health equity:
The PhD Program in Nursing offers a comprehensive understanding of the philosophy of science, focusing on addressing complex health issues, especially those concerning health equity, social determinants and justice.
What Can You Do With a Nursing PhD?
Nurses with PhDs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care. Our graduates pursue post-doctoral education and move into leadership positions in academia, industry, research institutions and government, advancing nursing theory and practice.
With Duke University’s PhD in nursing program, you’ll be able to:
- Master key concepts in health equity and nurse-led models of care to improve health outcomes.
- Design and conduct research using interdisciplinary.
- Evaluate research with a focus on health equity and nurse-led models of care.
- Maintain ethics and integrity in research.
- Apply advanced methods to research design and analysis.
- Collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
- Publish and present research to advance nursing and promote social justice.
This expertise will prepare you to improve access and equitable health care through roles in:
- Academia: As faculty, PhD prepared nurses equip the next generation of nurses and nurse scientists, blending education, research and service, which may include practice and policy work.
- Leadership and advocacy: A nursing PhD positions you as a leader in clinical settings, health policy and governmental agencies, driving innovations in nursing practice, health care delivery and policy.
- Research: Lead the design and conduct of research studies, secure grants, analyze scientific data and disseminate findings through presentations and publications with your nursing PhD Our program prepares you to conduct high-impact research, design studies, write grant proposals and analyze data using a health equity lens.
With health care ranking among the most in-demand and fastest-growing fields, many of these opportunities offer excellent salary and growth potential. Professional nurse researchers, for instance, earn an average annual salary of $97,336, according to PayScale.com. Also, nursing instructors at colleges and universities can expect a median annual salary of $84,380, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the highest 10% earning more than $182,710.
PhD Program in Nursing Description
The program requires a minimum of 52 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students will work on research projects; it is expected most will graduate with several publications. Coursework is structured with a substantive core of nursing science and research methods to be taken in the School of Nursing. This core is expanded with elective courses that typically support the student’s dissertation and future research career. These can be taken in other Duke University departments or other Universities that have arrangement with Duke (i.e., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University). Additional requirements include research practicums and elective credits that may count towards specialty certificates (i.e., teaching, global health, data science, entrepreneurship, etc.).
In addition to course work, the PhD Program in Nursing will require each student to develop a scholarly portfolio, successful completion of a preliminary examination, and a dissertation. Students are expected to disseminate their work through scholarly venues such as publications and conference presentations.
Terminal Objectives
After the PhD Program in Nursing, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of health equity, social determinants of health (SDOH), and nurse-led models of care to improve health outcomes for a population and/or system of care.
- Apply conceptual models and theories from nursing and other relevant disciplines to design and conduct.
- Use a health equity, SDOH, and/or nurse-led models of care lens to critically evaluate and synthesize research conducted in nursing and other disciplines.
- Demonstrate scientific integrity and ethics in research across phases of the research process.
- Apply appropriate methods and analytic strategies to design, conduct, and evaluate research across phases of the research process, from discovery to translation.
- Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams to perform research using socioculturally aligned approaches.
- Disseminate research findings through publications, presentations, and other scholarly venues to advance the evidence base for nursing and healthcare, with a focus on promoting health equity and social justice.
Assistant Dean
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda
PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda is Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing and Assistant Dean of the PhD Program. Her research describes the intersection of intimate partner violence, substance abuse, HIV and mental health among Latinos in the U.S. and the development of multi-level interventions to address these. She uses a syndemic orientation, mixed methods, and community engaged strategies to influence practice and policy changes to promote health equity for Latinos, survivors of intimate partner violence, and other historically marginalized populations.
Learn more about Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda: Scholars@Duke
Meet Our PhD in Nursing Program Faculty
Get to know our distinguished nursing Ph.D. faculty. These renowned experts bring extensive knowledge and specialized research expertise to our Ph.D. program, ensuring that you’ll learn from leaders who are at the forefront of nursing science and innovation.
The Duke Difference
Earn your Duke nursing degree or certificate while you continue to work.
Discover our unwavering focus on creating innovative, nurse-led models of care.
Learn from experts in distance-based and hybrid education for over 20 years.
Learn & practice at one of the most advanced health systems in the world.
Our faculty are leaders in their field, with real world clinical experience.
We have exceptional students, learning alongside talented & dedicated classmates.
PhD Nursing Admissions
The Nursing Ph.D. Program employs a holistic admissions strategy to evaluate prospective students. Our team assesses an applicant’s unique experiences in addition to traditional academic metrics, considering a wide array of factors indicative of the applicant’s potential for academic and professional success.
If you need additional assistance, contact our admissions team by email or phone: 877-415-3853.
PhD Student Bios
- Cecilia Zavala, MSN
I earned my BSN at Universidad de los Andes’ School of Nursing (Chile), and later obtained a Master's in Aging and Quality of Life from Universidad de Chile. In 2017, while serving as the chief nurse at a senior residence, I was responsible for managing the care of 90 elderly individuals and overseeing the caregiver staff. During this time, I observed that many caregivers were exhausted and exhibited signs of burnout. This experience sparked my passion: caring for the elderly and supporting those who provide their care. Currently, I work as a faculty member at Universidad de los Andes’ School of Nursing (Chile). With six years of teaching experience, my main objective is to instill in students the belief that they can change the world through compassionate care. Collaboratively, I have developed a comprehensive training program for caregivers—a pursuit that truly ignites my enthusiasm. Through my research, I aspire to demonstrate that, with the right knowledge and societal support, caregivers can significantly alleviate their burden.
- Daum Jung, RN, BSN, CMSRN
Daum Jung, RN, BSN, CMSRN, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boise State University in 2021. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Research Assistant, focusing on the effects of nursing interventions in preventing postoperative delirium and exploring the use of music therapy for individuals living with dementia. She presented her research at several conferences and published an article in the MEDSURG Nursing Journal. Additionally, she is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the Oncology Nursing Society. After graduating, Daum worked on Oncology Medical-Surgical Unit in Oklahoma and Ortho-Neuro Unit in Texas. Her experiences with oncology patients deepened her interest in researching cancer prevention through behavioral modifications, such as physical activity and diet. At Duke, she aims to further study cancer prevention and the impact of social determinants of health.
Financial Aid for PhD Nursing Students
Ph.D. student tuition and 12-month stipends are fully funded for up to five years. As a Ph.D. student, you’ll receive a competitive package that should provide financial support (tuition, stipend, health insurance) for the majority of the time you are registered and working toward your degree. Ph.D. students are supported in various ways, including funding from the School of Nursing, Graduate School and other governmental and private sources.
Learn More About Guaranteed Funding for Ph.D. Students