Abstract
The purpose of this study was to (1) identify the demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins, and educational development patterns of nurses with doctorates, (2) determine if this group is composed of individuals of similar origin and educational development patterns, and (3) determine if there are indications of a power network which influences the selection of nurses for doctoral study. All identifiable males and a random sample of 200 females were drawn from the Directory of Nurses With Doctoral Degrees published in 1980 by the American Nurses' Association; a total sample of 280. This group was surveyed through the use of a 24 item semi-structured questionnaire. The data collected was coded for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Percentage comparisons and Chi-square test of difference were reported on the quantitative data. Qualitative data was used to provide additional insight in relation to selected questions. Results of the study indicate that a significant proportion of doctorally prepared nurses are 46 years of age or older. Thus she/he is significantly older than the professional population as a whole, and is entering the latter stages of the professional career. The socioeconomic status of the family of origin was significantly different for male and female nurses with earned doctorates. This difference was significant at the p < .02 level. Male nurses tend to come from families who rank lower on the socioeconomic scale than the families of female nurses. However, both males and females are upwardly mobile in relation to the family of origin. A total of eleven different educational development patterns were reported by the respondents. The time span between the completion of initial nursing education and completion of the doctorate averaged 15 to 22 years with those individuals entering nursing at the diploma or associate degree level requiring longer to complete the educational sequence. The marked diversity of educational experience may account for the identified lack of cohesion and community of purpose which has been cited as a major problem in modern nursing. The sponsor-protege relationship which exists in many professions does not appear to be a dominant relationship in nursing. Less than 20 percent of the respondents were sponsored and less than 40 percent are now sponsoring a younger colleague. Thus one method for network establishment and professional development does not appear to be available to young professionals.
Schwab, Charlene Hora (1983). The doctorate : a potential for nursing power. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -551840.