Nursing

Required Courses

All Ph.D. students are required to take the following courses. Not all required courses are offered every year; only courses offered in 2018–2019 are listed below. For a complete list of Nursing courses, see the School of Nursing bulletin, online at and Yale Course Search at

NURS 901a, Research Methods I: Quantitative Methods for Health Research  Jane Dixon

This course in research methods provides an opportunity to evaluate various scientific designs for investigating problems of importance to nursing and health, with a focus on quantitative research methods. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationships of the research question and study aims with study design and method—with the goal of understanding methods decisions that are made by researchers, and how these decisions influence study validity. The Yale Model for Generation of Knowledge for Evidence-Based Practice is introduced. The course prepares the student for designing a quantitative study. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Open to master’s students with permission of the instructor. Three hours per week.
M 1pm-3:30pm

NURS 902b, Research Methods II: Qualitative Methods for Health Research  Lois Sadler

This course introduces the student to major approaches to qualitative research, including newer and innovative methods. Selected topics are presented linking qualitative approaches with stage of knowledge development and steps in the research process, including use of theory, design, conduct, analyses, rigor, reporting, and evaluation of qualitative research. Emphasis is placed on the appropriate use of qualitative methods and differences across qualitative approaches depending on the nature of the research question. The course includes practice with key elements of data collection, analysis, reporting, and critiquing. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Three hours per week.
T 10am-12:20pm

NURS 904a, Research Methods IV: Mixed Methods  Mary Knobf

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of mixed methods research. This overview consists of the history, philosophical foundations, purpose, data collection, analysis, and evaluation of the common mixed methods designs. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Three hours per week for seven weeks.
T 1pm-3:50pm

NURS 906a, Dissertation Seminar I  Margaret Grey

This required doctoral course provides the student with advanced study and direction in research leading to development of the dissertation proposal and completion of the dissertation. Students are guided in the application of the fundamentals of scientific writing and criticism. All Ph.D. students in nursing are required to take this seminar every term. Three hours per month.
Th 12pm-2:30pm

NURS 907b, Dissertation Seminar II  Margaret Grey

This required doctoral course provides the student with advanced study and direction in research leading to development of the dissertation proposal and completion of the dissertation. Students are guided in the application of the fundamentals of scientific writing and criticism. All Ph.D. students in nursing are required to take this seminar every term. Three hours per month.
Th 12pm-2:50pm

NURS 908a, Science, Scholarship, and Communication of Knowledge I  Nancy Redeker

This is the first course in a four-course sequence designed to socialize the student into the roles and responsibilities of a Ph.D.-prepared nurse scientist. Students develop specific beginning competencies necessary to engage in a career as an independent nurse scientist, including basic principles and processes of scientific writing and communication, and research priorities and strategies for building a program of research. The NURS 908, 909, 910, 911 seminar series accompanies the research practicum and is required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. One hour every other week.
Th 3pm-4pm

NURS 909b, Science, Scholarship, and Communication of Knowledge II  Nancy Redeker

This is the second course in a four-course sequence designed to socialize the student into the roles and responsibilities of a Ph.D.-prepared nurse scientist. Students develop specific beginning competencies necessary to engage in a career as an independent nurse scientist, including basic principles and processes of grant writing and communicating research results. The NURS 908, 909, 910, 911 seminar series accompanies the research practicum and is required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. One hour every other week.
W 11am-11:50am

NURS 912a, Foundations of Scientific Inquiry I: Philosophical and Theoretical Basis for Nursing Science  Robin Whittemore and Mark Lazenby

In this course students examine the nature of the philosophical and theoretical basis for nursing science. The nature of science is explored through a dialogue of competing philosophical perspectives, such as logical positivism, post-positivism, historicism, critical theory, and post-structuralism. The philosophies that have informed the scientific process and the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of nursing science are discussed. Specific approaches to concept/theory development and analysis, with linkages to philosophical perspectives, are examined. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Three hours per week.
Th 9am-11:50am

NURS 913b, Foundations of Scientific Inquiry II: Theories of Health, Symptom Management, and Self-Management  Dena Schulman-Green

This course examines major conceptualizations of health and illness, self- and family management, and research supporting these conceptualizations. Emphasis is placed on the link between health and illness self-management, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations, and related concepts such as symptom distress, self-efficacy and coping, and the contributions of risk and protective factors to self-management. Self-management is considered from both an individual and family perspective, and sociocultural influences on self-management are explored. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Three hours per week.
Th 9am-11:20am

NURS 917b, Advanced Statistics for Clinical Nursing Research  Margaret Holland

This term-long course starts with linear regression and advances to additional multivariate analyses most commonly used in nursing studies. The emphasis is on attaining a conceptual understanding of these statistical techniques, selecting appropriate techniques for a given clinical research problem, conducting computer-assisted data analyses, and correctly expressing the results of such analyses. The laboratory part of the course covers fundamentals of data management and statistical analysis, and proceeds to the conduct of advanced analyses. The course emphasizes using programming language in SAS®. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing; open to master’s students with permission of the instructor. Four hours per week (two hours seminar, two hours lab).
MT 1pm-2:50pm

NURS 929b, Ethical Conduct of Clinical Research  Lois Sadler

The course introduces major concepts in the ethical conduct of clinical research from the perspective of the advanced practice nurse and the nurse-researcher. National and international ethical codes for research and regulatory requirements are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the protection of vulnerable populations and community-based research, including international research. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Open to others with permission of the instructor. One hour per week.
M 9:30am-10:50am

NURS 941a, Health Policy, Leadership, and Systems  Lisa Summers and Margaret Holland

The course addresses salient issues in health policy and the challenges to linking research and clinical care with public and private policy agendas. The course covers the following topics: health care delivery systems; policy and political factors that affect access to care and its financing, delivery, and quality; challenges to evidence-based policy and the dissemination of research findings to policy and community-based leaders. It also includes theories of leadership and policy change relevant to students’ research topics. Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and research-based analysis are integrated throughout the course. A major written assignment suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (or that can be easily modified for same) is a course requirement. Prerequisite: students must pass a test based on the online Yale University School of Nursing Health Policy Module. Required of all Ph.D. students in nursing. Three hours per week.
F 8:30am-12pm

NURS 920a, Doctoral Independent Study  Staff

This elective is initiated by the student and negotiated with faculty. The purpose is to allow in-depth pursuit of individual areas of interest and/or practice. A written proposal must be submitted and signed by the student, the faculty member(s), and the program chairperson.
HTBA