The Rush University Medical Center Graduate College and Board of Overseers recently approved a recommendation to change the Rush University College of Nursing Doctorate of Nursing Science (DNSc) to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. This program also received approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

A Task Group from the College of Nursing studied this issue in a year-long process. Contacts were made with other nursing programs that had already taken this step. College of Nursing Alumni who were contacted enthusiastically supported this change.

A number of external and internal factors suggested this change was timely. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing suggests that the PhD degree is appropriate for the nursing research credential. A decrease in the number of DNSc programs relative to PhD programs also raised questions of the current and future viability of the DNSc degree. The Task Force findings revealed there was longstanding equivalency in coursework and research completed by DNSc graduates to that done by graduates in existing PhD programs.

Current students in the program will have the option of receiving the DNSc or the PhD upon graduation. Prior graduates (alumni) of the DNSc Program will have the choice to replace their DNSc credential with the PhD, effective January 31, 2007. Alumni transcripts on file will continue to indicate that the DNSc degree was received. In addition, the Office of the Registrar will add a statement indicating that the DNSc degree is recognized as being equivalent to the PhD degree. Alumni may request a copy of their transcripts at no charge with the updated notation by going to the web link, http://www.rushu.rush.edu/registrar/transcript.html.

The Rush University College of Nursing DNSc program began in 1977 and graduated its first students in 1980. Since then nearly 200 persons have graduated from this program. Graduates work in a variety of settings, holding a broad range of academic, research, and clinical positions.

College of Nursing faculty maintains their commitment to providing a research culture that is grounded in the clinical practice of nursing. Faculty are also committed to maintaining active research programs that focus on understanding and alleviating symptoms associated with acute and chronic illness; preventing, slowing, or delaying symptoms associated with disease or disability; developing and testing strategies for achieving and sustaining optimal health; and improving the quality of clinical settings in which care is provided.