It's official: the University of Ottawa will offer a PhD program in nursing starting in September 2004. The University Senate gave its final approval to the program on April 5.
“This doctorate will go a long way in promoting and developing the University's nursing research expertise,” says School of Nursing director Sylvie Lauzon. The program is one of only four of its kind in Ontario and comes 10 years after the school began offering a master's program. “We now have the critical mass of researchers to support this program.”
“Nurses are the largest professional group providing health care in hospitals and the community,” says Dr. Jean Dunning, the School's assistant director of graduate programs. “There is a greater need for nurses with the research skills to generate new knowledge related to health promotion, disease prevention and the care of individuals with complex health problems.”
An initial cohort of four or five doctoral students is expected for next September. The program will focus on two areas in which the School has internationally recognized research programs: decision-making in nursing and evaluation of complex nursing interventions.
“The School has faculty who are internationally known for their work in knowledge transfer and evidence-based practice,” Dunning says. “Putting practice into research and research into practice is an important concern for today's nursing profession,” she adds, and it's an area where the School is very active.
Masters to be offered in communications and theatre arts (Article in French only)
