Mental Health Aspects of the Thesis Writing Experience in Nursing

Mental Health Aspects of the Thesis Writing Experience in Nursing by © 2001 - 2011 ~ June Kaminski, MSN PhD(c)

Introduction

A Master 's degree prepares nurses for advanced practice roles, including the management and delivery of primary health care, case management, education and administration (Hegyvary, 1992). Growing specialization by physicians, the health system 's increasing demand for front-line primary care, and the accelerating drive toward managed care, prevention, and cost-efficiency are spurring a global need for nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, nurse educators, and other nurses with advanced practice skills.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (1997) has predicted an under-supply of Master 's and Doctorally prepared nurses for advanced practice, teaching, and research. The average nurse is currently forty plus years old, a fact that is predicted to produce serious nursing shortages as retirements of large cohorts occur. Indeed, the federal Division of Nursing has recommended that at least two-thirds of the basic nurse workforce have at least baccalaureate or higher degrees in nursing by the year 2010 (National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, 1996). By the year 2000, the need for Master 's and Doctorally prepared nurses for advanced clinical specialties, teaching, and research will be nearly triple the supply. That year, some 140,300 full-time-equivalent RNs with Master 's and Doctoral degrees will be in the workforce, compared to the anticipated need for 392,000 (AACN, 1997).
The literature shows a need for more studies focused on the experience of successful completion of Master 's theses in nursing and in other disciplines. The Master 's thesis is designed to serve as a "practice exercise" for a doctoral dissertation. The essential requirement of a Master 's thesis is that it literally demonstrate mastery in the student 's sub-field.. James (1998) explained that the most common terms used to

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