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PhD in Nursing

Play a key role in leading advancements in a variety of health-related settings.

To support continuous advancements in nursing science research, education, and practice, the Institute of Medicine seeks to double the number of nurse faculty and researchers with doctoral degrees by 2020.*

Walden’s research-focused PhD in Nursing program prepares you to play a key role in leading advancements in settings such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Educational institutions
  • Public policy organizations
  • Pharmaceutical companies

Fast Facts

Contact Us: Speak with an enrollment advisor to learn about our current tuition savings and upcoming start dates.

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Recognizing your previous academic progress, we will apply up to 26 credits toward your doctoral program, potentially significantly reducing the number of credits to completion. The accelerated program builds on your current knowledge and experience with scholarly research and relevant coursework that will further prepare you for leadership positions in nursing administration, policy, or academia.
The Education focus area helps prepare students to research, design, implement, and evaluate educational programs for nurses, including formal academic programs that lead to a degree or certificate and more informal continuing education programs designed to meet individual learning needs.
Through the Healthcare Administration focus area, you can prepare to manage and implement healthcare programs and services by applying best practices in leadership, ethics, and strategic planning. Explore principles that impact healthcare decisions and practice as well as the theoretical foundations of governance and public policy.
Design an interdisciplinary focus area that reflects your professional goals and interests, broadens your perspectives, or enables you to work more effectively with diverse populations and teams. Choose courses from the four other PhD in Nursing focus areas: Education, Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Public Health Policy.
Become a nurse leader who can work effectively with diverse workforces and communities in a variety of political and economic settings. Through the Leadership focus area, you can build competencies in organizational change management, team building, mediation, collaboration, and systems thinking and planning.
Learn to design and influence population health at the local, regional, and global levels by analyzing risk factors of disease and how to initiate preventative measures by conducting research to improve the health care needs of communities and populations. Explore how data is used to form policy recommendations and to draft legislation that promotes the equal distribution of health resources and reductions in health risks.

This research-focused program offers interdisciplinary coursework that prepares you to lead and collaborate with diverse healthcare professionals in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, universities, and health-related industries. Our program can prepare you to:

  • Conduct scientific research at the highest levels in your field
  • Shape healthcare policies and procedures
  • Educate the next generation of nurses in Walden’s PhD in Nursing program

Additionally, this program offers face-to-face residencies that allow you to network with expert faculty members and other doctoral students while you hone your research, writing, and critical-thinking skills.

Reduce your time to completion and total costs if you have already earned a DNP degree.

Partnering with over 300 leading healthcare employers and organizations

More about our PhD in Nursing program

Walden’s PhD in Nursing program can prepare you for a leadership role in an academic setting, public institution, private foundation, or think tank.

Your career options may include a role as a:*:

  • Nursing faculty member or professor
  • Director of public or private research
  • Director of program development in a clinical setting

*Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

A master's degree or higher is required for entrance into this program. You will also be required to submit a completed online application, employment history, and official transcripts.

Your enrollment advisor will help you gather all of the required materials starting with your application all the way through your first day of classes.

Tuition costs will vary depending on your previous education. Get in touch with an enrollment advisor today by calling , to learn more about tuition costs for this program and financial aid options.

Walden's enrollment advisors are committed to helping identify and leverage opportunities for you to save money on your education.
Our enrollment advisors are ready to answer any questions you may have regarding this program. Fill out the form on this page to be contacted, or call .

Why earn your PhD in Nursing at Walden?

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Research Your Passion

Select your own doctoral study topic and research what interests you.

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Interdisciplinary Experience

Engage in interdisciplinary projects that prepare you to lead or collaborate with diverse healthcare teams.

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Exceptional Student Services

Benefit from our 24/7 tech support, Writing Center, Career Services Center, and more.

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“It seemed like each class I was taking covered an issue I encountered at work. What I learned in the classroom, I immediately applied to my work."

James McDaniel | MSN Graduate and DNP Student

*https://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf