The Road to a PhD in Nursing: Challenges We Don’t Talk about Enough: A Reflective Commentary

Authors

Hema VH

Prof cum Principal, Faculty of Nursing, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute Deemed to be University, Chennai (India)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1310000015

Subject Category: Nursing

Volume/Issue: 13/10 | Page No: 187-194

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-10-22

Accepted: 2026-10-25

Published: 2026-10-29

Abstract

Every nursing PhD thesis has a backstory of quiet perseverance, family obligations, and late nights. While we honor Florence Nightingale as the pioneer of research and nursing, today's Indian PhD students must contend with a totally different environment. This paper examines the practical difficulties of obtaining a PhD in nursing in India, including financial strain to balancing health, work, and research. We must first recognize and remove the obstacles if we genuinely hope that nursing research will transform practice in the same way that Nightingale's work did.

Keywords

PhD Nursing, Nursing Research, Challenges, Publication, Reflective Commentary

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References

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