Jasmine L Travers1, Marjorie Weis, Jacqueline A Merrill. 1. About the Authors Jasmine L. Travers, PhD, RN, is a postdoctoral fellow, NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Marjorie Weis, DNP, MPH, RN, is an assistant professor of clinical nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York and Nurse Practitioner Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Jacqueline A. Merrill, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, FACMI, is a professor, Columbia University School of Nursing. The authors thank Drs. Arlene Smaldone and Susan Doyle-Lindrud along with Ms. Judith Kelson and the Office of Student Activities for their help with data acquisition. At the time of this study, Drs. Travers and Weis were supported by an award from the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare. Dr. Travers was also supported by an award from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR; R01NR013687) and is currently supported by an award from the NINR (5 T32 NR009356-07). Dr. Weis was also funded in part through the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Support Grant/Core Grant (P30 CA008748). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the National Institutes of Health, or Memorial Sloan Kettering. For more information, contact Dr. Travers at jatr@upenn.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early career contact, between clinically focused DNP and research-focused PhD nursing students, may encourage desirable intradisciplinary synergies. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess relationships among DNP and PhD nursing students after initiating a doctoral student organization. METHOD: An online survey assessed student interaction pre- and post-doctoral student organization implementation. Analysis consisted of paired t-test, social network analysis, and content analysis methods. RESULTS: Response rates were 72 percent (n = 86) and 60 percent (n = 72) before and after implementation. Network density and centralization increased by 17 percent and 3 percent, respectively; intradisciplinary ties increased by 39 percent. The average student had approximately two new relationships; clique membership increased by 60 percent. Narrative responses corroborated network measurements. CONCLUSION: We documented additional integration and organized communication among students after this strategy to increase collaboration. Educators preparing nurses to work across research and practice may consider network analysis methods to evaluate their efforts.
BACKGROUND: Early career contact, between clinically focused DNP and research-focused PhD nursing students, may encourage desirable intradisciplinary synergies. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess relationships among DNP and PhD nursing students after initiating a doctoral student organization. METHOD: An online survey assessed student interaction pre- and post-doctoral student organization implementation. Analysis consisted of paired t-test, social network analysis, and content analysis methods. RESULTS: Response rates were 72 percent (n = 86) and 60 percent (n = 72) before and after implementation. Network density and centralization increased by 17 percent and 3 percent, respectively; intradisciplinary ties increased by 39 percent. The average student had approximately two new relationships; clique membership increased by 60 percent. Narrative responses corroborated network measurements. CONCLUSION: We documented additional integration and organized communication among students after this strategy to increase collaboration. Educators preparing nurses to work across research and practice may consider network analysis methods to evaluate their efforts.