Clinical practice experience of doctor of philosophy nurses in South Korea: a qualitative study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to gain a broader understanding of the clinical practice experience of Doctor of Philosophy nurses working in nursing positions. METHOD: Participants were 15 full-time nurses who are current Doctor of Philosophy candidates or have acquired a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and the participants’ diaries, which were analysed using a descriptive qualitative method. RESULTS: The patient care experiences of Doctor of Philosophy nurses in clinical practice were grouped into four themes: “providing evidence-based and patient-specific education,” “proactively taking responsible for communicating with patients,” “enhancing the quality of nursing through reflective attitudes,” and “advocating for patients using a multifaceted approach.” The factors facilitating or inhibiting clinical practice were identified with three themes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the Doctor of Philosophy nurses used the knowledge and experience they gained in their Doctor of Philosophy nursing programme to serve as role models for the advancement of nursing education and evidence-based practice.