Mennonite Nursing Ph.D Approved by IBHE

Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University will begin offering classes this fall in its newly-approved Ph.D in Nursing program.  The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has approved the doctoral program, which has a research focus on caring for older adults.

The Ph.D in Nursing is a 66 semester hour program targeted toward practicing nurses who hold a Master of Science Degree in nursing. A student entering the program with a master’s degree in nursing and enrolled with full-time status will be able to complete the coursework for the Ph.D program in two to three years, with an additional one to two years required to complete the dissertation.

The Ph.D. in Nursing program will prepare nurses with the expertise to conduct research in patient care and outcomes, teach in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, demonstrate leadership in health policy development, and develop and evaluate models of care for vulnerable populations.  Initially, the program will focus on aging populations, but new focal areas will likely be added as faculty expertise develops and the program grows.

Prior to the newly- approved Ph.D. in Nursing program, Mennonite College of Nursing received a three-year federal grant in 2005 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a collaborative doctoral program with the University of Iowa, College of Nursing.

“It is thrilling to see the Ph.D Program in Nursing with a focus on aging come to fruition,” said Sara Campbell, interim dean of Mennonite College of Nursing. “The addition of a Ph.D program in Nursing moves the University and College into the forefront in nursing education and research. Mennonite has developed expertise in the care of older adults through many initiatives and the Ph.D program will fill a void in the numbers of Ph.D prepared nurses available for teaching and conducting research. Central Illinois has been waiting for such an educational opportunity to appear in its backyard.”                          

“The Ph.D Program in Nursing meets a great need in our state for increased numbers of nurses prepared as faculty and researchers,” said Brenda Recchia Jeffers, director of graduate programs and research at Mennonite. “The program’s development speaks to Mennonite’s strong commitment to collaborative educational efforts and preparing students with expertise in care of older adults. The number of potential students expressing interest in the program has been gratifying and further demonstrates the need for doctoral nursing education in our area.”

“Mennonite’s Ph.D in Nursing program is a valuable new educational resource in Central Illinois,” said Illinois State President Al Bowman. “Mennonite College of Nursing already prepares highly qualified nurses with the expertise to care for older adults. The new doctoral program furthers Mennonite’s commitment to quality healthcare and furthers the University’s commitment to education and service, as outlined in our Educating Illinois strategic plan.”