PhD - Focal Area: Child and Family Nursing

The purpose of this program is to promote the optimum function and quality of life for children and their families. Faculty expertise in this area ranges from child focused research on children with chronic conditions, pain management in children, and school health issues to life span research on genetics and nursing, family violence, women's health, standardized nursing languages, and families experiencing illness.

The goal is to develop nursing scholars with expertise in the development of research and in dissemination of this knowledge to professional and public groups in order to advance the science of nursing and improve the care of children and families. Child and family research is concerned with evaluating interventions and outcomes specific to children and families.

Doctorally prepared nurses in child and family nursing advocate for the development of legislative and regulatory measures that support the health and well being of children and families. Funding is now possible for selected postdoctoral fellows for Genetics Nursing Research and Clinic Intervention Research training through recent funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).