School of
Nursing and Health Studies

Nursing and Health Studies

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The purpose of our online Nursing PhD program at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) is to prepare nurse scientists who are capable of performing original research using a variety of methodologies.

Program Overview

We develop nurse leaders for research and academic careers who are adept at advancing the discipline of nursing through research related to improving health outcomes for patients, families, and communities. The University of Missouri, Kansas City is one of only 30 universities in the United States that has schools of nursing, medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy located on the same campus alongside other healthcare facilities. This proximity of faculty and researchers from other health care disciplines provides the opportunity for interdisciplinary activities and research.
PhD students in the School of Nursing and Health Studies (SoNHS) at UMKC have access to nationally recognized and funded nurse scientists who are available to guide students’ educational pursuit using a mentor-match model. Doctoral faculty members are conducting innovative research on topics such as muscle biology, community-based prevention interventions, interventions to promote recovery from illness, adherence to treatment and behavioral change, secondary analyses and analyses of large data sets, and teaching, learning, and assessment strategies in nursing education.
 
We offer both a Post-BSN and Post-MSN track for our Nursing PhD. Post-BSN students are required to take 12 credit hours of master's level coursework prior to beginning 61 hours of PhD coursework, as outlined in the PhD Plan of Study linked on this page.
 
Each individualized program of study is developed in collaboration with faculty-mentors, and other members of the supervisory/dissertation committee. Faculty-mentors meet with their students regularly and provide guidance with developing research skills. Graduation requirements include presentation at a professional conference, a first-authored publication published in a peer-reviewed journal, successful completion of the comprehensive examination, and proposing and completing dissertation research.
  
 

PhD Mission, Programs & Outcomes

Mission

Consistent with the SoNHS mission to prepare the nursing workforce as leaders in improving health outcomes through inter-professional practice and research, the mission of the PhD in Nursing program is to educate nurses as researchers in the development of new interdisciplinary knowledge that will positively impact the health of diverse populations.

Program Goal

The overall goal of the UMKC Ph.D. in Nursing Program is to impact the critical need in the U.S. for Ph.D. prepared nurses to provide leadership in education, research and practice. This program is uniquely positioned to positively impact the nursing workforce by providing the highest quality Ph.D. education in a research-intensive environment.
 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation the student will be prepared to:

  • Conduct rigorous, original research
  • Disseminate scholarly work
  • Contribute to the professional growth of others.

Program development guided by the American Association of colleges of Nursing (AACN) Indicators of Quality in Research-Focused Doctoral Programs in Nursing.

 

Examples of PhD Students' Dissertation Topics

  • The RESILIENT study: A Retrospective, Descriptive, Correlational Investigation of Rate and Correlates of Oral Endocrine Therapy Adherence for Older Women with Breast Cancer
  • Exploring MicroRNA as a Biomarker for Multiple Sclerosis (EMBleMS): A Pilot Study
  • A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Equine-Assisted Therapy and Exercise Education for Adults and Older Adults with Arthritis
  • Nursing Faculty’s Experience of Faculty Bullying and it’s Impacts: A Qualitative Study
  • Serum Albumin as Outcome Predictor in Adult ICU Patients with Sepsis
  • Be Resilient: Examining The Relationship Between Staff Nurse Incivility And Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Sense of Belonging To The Nursing Profession
  • The Lived Experience of Male Medical-Surgical Nurses With a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Inpatient Death
  • The Influence of Nurses' Attitude, Beliefs, and Biases Toward Families on Family-Centered Care Delivery in a Neonatal intensive Care Unit: A grounded theory
  • Does learning with high-Fidelity Human Patient Simulation in Nursing School Impact Career Retention during the First Two Years of Licensure?
  • Instrument Development and Psychometric Testing of the Capstone-Experience Preceptor Preparedness Scale: The Cap-ExPresS Study
  • Social Support and Smoking among Midwest LGBT Adults
  • A Randomized Feasibility and Acceptability Study Comparing Modes of Parenting Education Delivery for Young Fathers
  • Exploring the Impact of Osteoporosis on Myogenesis

 

On-Campus Requirement

Students are required to attend the on-campus Summer Research Institute twice during the PhD program. The dates will be updated here well before the Institute, as well as communicated by faculty, so students have ample time to make the proper travel arrangements.

Summer 2025 Research Institute (Mandatory on-campus): June 24, 25, and 26, 2025, 8a-5p

Research Areas of Focus

The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies PhD Program supports developing nursing knowledge related to individuals, families, and communities in three general areas; clinical/biological research, health systems/outcomes research, and nursing education research.

“The scope of clinical research ranges from acute to chronic care experiences across the life span; health promotion and preventive care … and care for individuals, families, and communities in diverse settings.” (AACN, 2006, para. 9). Nursing clinical and biological research is the basis for effective strategies to manage symptoms and tailor interventions.

Examples of Faculty Clinical Research

  • Basic and applied research on the effects of aging on the musculoskeletal system
  • Benefits of exercise for older adults including fall prevention
  • Health behavioral change interventions
  • Self-management of acute and chronic conditions
  • Animal assisted therapies
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Biomarkers
  • Influence of mindfulness on physiological function

“Nursing research on health systems and outcomes seeks to identify ways that the organization and delivery of health care influence quality, cost, and the experience of patients and their families…. Research regarding issues of organization, delivery, financing, quality … behavior… and outcomes” (AACN, 2006, para. 13).

Examples of Faculty Health Systems, Community, and Outcomes Research

  • Heath promotion and disease prevention related to physical activity and nutrition
  • Community-based interventions for cancer treatment outcomes
  • Healthy work environments and interventions that address burnout, incivility, and retention
  • Large data set statistical analysis of health information
  • Implementation of behavior change interventions for populations
  • Interventions to promote recovery of critical care survivors
  • Delirium detection and prevention in hospitalized adults
  • Interventions to improve quality of life and cost-effectiveness

“Nursing education research centers on developing and testing more efficient educational processes, identifying new ways to incorporate technology in order to enhance learning, and discovering more effective approaches to promoting lifelong learning and commitment to leadership…. The continuous supply of well-educated nurses is critical to maintain and enhance our nation’s health… new strategies for recruiting and retaining bright young men and women from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds into nursing must be developed and tested. New models of nursing education are needed to prepare nurses for faculty and research positions earlier in their careers” (AACN, 2006, para 14).

Examples of Faculty Nursing Education Research

  • Teaching and evaluation modalities that improve patient, family, and community outcomes
  • Developing strategies to recruit and retain students from diverse backgrounds
  • Incivility prevention strategies related to improving patient outcomes
  • Education interventions to improve nursing practice and healthcare outcomes
  • Effectiveness of educational interventions in emergency preparedness
  • Emerging technologies in nursing education

 

Helpful Links

Application Deadline

Summer 2025 Deadline: CLOSED

  • PhD only has a summer start

Admission Requirements

  • BSN, MSN or RN-MSN from a regionally accredited college or university accredited by a nationally recognized nursing accrediting agency (CCNE or AACN).
  • A GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required for admission (calculated on the last 60 hours of the BSN degree) or a minimum of 3.2 for the MSN.
  • A current unencumbered licensure in the state in which the student completes clinical requirements
  • GRE results - recommended but not required
  • For BSN-PhD applicants ONLY: the following courses are pre-requisite requirements and must be completed with a grade of a B/3.0 GPA equivalent or better (students are permitted to compelte the pre-requisite courses once admitted to the program as degree seeking):
    • N5550 or MSN theory equivalent course
    • N5555 or MSN research equivalent course
    • N5527 or MSN cultural diversity equivalent course
    • N5528 or MSN policy, politics & ethics equivalent course

Visit the Graduate Admissions page to view additional required application materials and step-by-step application instructions.

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