Journey to a Doctoral Program

Several nursing programs will be developing either doctor of philosophy or doctor of nursing practice programs in the near future. There is little literature available to advise and guide program planners about the challenges and rewards encountered when creating a new doctoral program. The intent of this article is to assist program planners in meeting some of the challenges associated with initiating a doctoral program by describing one institution's experiences in launching a doctoral program in nursing. Potential difficulties are identified, and recommended solutions are provided.