Indian Nursing Council (Guidelines for Starting Ph.D. in Nursing Program in the Universities approved by the Council), Regulations, 2020
Published vide Notification No. F. No. 11-1/2019-INC, dated 6.11.2020
Last Updated 7th November, 2020 [act3734]
ii. These Regulations shall come into force on the date of notification of the same in the Official Gazette of India.
Indian Nursing Council (Guidelines for Starting Ph.D. in Nursing Program in the Universities approved by the Council), Regulations, 2020
1. Background. - NHP 2017 recognizes the key role health research plays in the development of nation's health. The policy aims to strengthen governance systems so that nurses can assume leadership position, improve regulation of practice and strengthen the quality of nursing education. Doctoral education in nursing will prepare more qualified nurses who can meet the country's health and nursing care demand. Many universities in India are recognizing this need and plan to start Ph.D. Program in nursing. This necessitates uniform and standard curriculum and guidelines to run the program effectively and achieve the intended outcomes. Indian Nursing Council (Council for short) has prepared the Ph.D. curriculum and guidelines that will guide all universities who intend to start and promote doctoral education in nursing in their respective Universities. 2. Philosophy. - NHP 2017 emphasizes the need to prepare nurses to function in specialty and super-specialty areas of tertiary care institutions with the proposed expansion of tertiary care services alongside expansion of medical colleges and starting new AIIMS centres nationwide. There is an acute shortage of nursing faculty in undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programs in India. Doctoral education is essential to prepare nurse scholars to improve the quality of nursing education and practice in India. Doctoral education builds upon and extends competence acquired at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, emphasizes theory development and research skills. The function of nurse scholars are to: assume leadership roles in complex healthcare and education systems, develop a theoretical and empirical base for nursing practice in both current and emerging health care systems, conduct nursing research and participate in developing healthcare policies. The entire thrust is on professional preparation in Nursing that could lead to evidence based practice for clinical effectiveness. 3. Purpose. - Doctoral education is to prepare nurse scholars who will contribute both to the development and application of knowledge in nursing for enhancing quality of nursing education, research, practice and dissemination of nursing knowledge. 4. Objectives. - The doctoral prepared nurse will be able to -• Conduct research relevant to nursing.
• Develop nursing theories and nursing science
• Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other allied sciences to develop and test theory that affects health status.
• Demonstrate the leadership skills in nursing practice, education and research.
• Disseminate the results of theory development and research.
5. Eligibility Criteria For Universities Approved by the Council to Start Ph.D. Program in Nursing. - The minimum criteria for a University to have approved Ph.D. degree program in Nursing is as follows: -• The University must be approved by the Council under Section 10 of INC Act, 1947.
Deemed/Private University• The University shall have minimum two guides (regular faculty) with Ph.D. qualification with relevant experience along with their research publications. (Refer page no. 3)
State Universities• Every College of Nursing having M.Sc. (Nursing) approved by the University to start Ph.D. in Nursing shall have minimum of two Ph.D. degree holders in nursing regular faculty.
6. Research Guide• Guides can select two scholars only every year but not more than 6 scholars at any given period of time
• Scholars can have co-guide from nursing or other disciplines if necessary
• The Ph.D. doctoral holders who are within health care disciplines can be appointed as co-guides.
• In Deemed University the guide should be from the same University
• In State University, the guide can be from any college within the same University
7. Eligibility Criteria For Research Guide• Ph.D. degree in nursing with 5 years Post Graduate teaching experience with minimum 5 scientific publications in National/International Journals.
• Maximum age to be a guide shall be 65 years.
• Guide cannot have more than 6 candidates (including being Co-Guide) at any given point of time.
• Candidate can have Co-Guide from nursing or other discipline, if necessary.
• The Ph.D. doctorate holders who are not formal teachers can be appointed as Co-Guides.
8. Research Scholars• Full time research scholars are those who register for Ph.D. on full time basis and are not employed anywhere.
• Part time research scholars are those who are presently employed in any College/School/Hospital/ Institute/Nursing department within the University jurisdiction.
• The scholars can select the guide from the list of guides recognized by the respective University. (Annexure-VI)
9. (I) Eligibility Criteria For Research Scholars. - Applications are invited from eligible scholars who have obtained:-(a) M.Phil. (Nursing) or M.Sc. (Nursing) or a Post Graduate degree in Nursing recognized by Council with 3 years teaching or Clinical experience after M.Sc. (Nursing) for enrolment for Ph.D. in Nursing (part-time) under Faculty of Nursing in the respective University.
(b) The scholars should have passed M.Sc. (Nursing) with a minimum of 60% marks.
(c) Working in Teaching Institution/Hospital/Community Centre/Nursing Department within the University jurisdiction.
(II) Criteria for Selection(a) Selection for the Ph.D. Program will be based on merit either by entrance or by M.Sc. (Nursing) (minimum 60% marks).
(b) If the University opts to conduct entrance examination then selection for the Ph.D. Program of the candidate will be based on
i. Entrance test marks obtained out of 90 marks. (Minimum weightage pass marks for entrance will be 60% of 90 i.e. 54).
ii. 5 marks for candidates possessing M.Phil. in Nursing.
iii. 5 marks weightage for publications.
10. Reservation in Admission. - As per UGC guidelines. 11. Duration: Full time: Three years, maximum of 6 years. Part time: Five years. A candidate can register for Ph.D. course on part time basis.(a) A candidate should complete research work and submit the thesis to the University within five years from the date of provisional registration.
(b) Maximum period for submission of thesis will be Seven years from the date of provisional registration subject to the approval from the Board of Research Studies/Doctoral Studies on the recommendations of the guide. There will be no provision for further extension of the period.
Under extraordinary circumstances, affecting a student warranting extension of period for submission of thesis, the student should submit an application to the Registrar (Evaluation) through the guide who will refer the same to the Board of Research Studies/Doctoral Studies for its opinion, which will be submitted to the High Power Committee. The decision of the Vice Chancellor in the matter shall be final. 12. Calendar of Events• Provisional registration - 1st July every year.
• Submission of half yearly progress report - 15th July every year/15th January every year.
• No two half yearly progress report should be submitted simultaneously.
• Conducting the Pre-Ph.D. examination after the approval of 1st and 2nd half yearly progress reports and completion of one year from the date of provisional registration.
• Exact date of the examination will be notified by the university.
• Confirmation of registration after successfully completing the Pre-Ph.D. examination.
• Submission of ethical clearance certificate within one year after provisional registration.
• Ethical clearance/permission from the Institution/Concerned Authorities should be obtained from where data is being collected.
• Submission of final synopsis of research work leading to Ph.D. degree after approval of all half yearly reports and on permission to submit the synopsis of Ph.D. registration committee.
• Submission of Ph.D. Thesis along with the application within 6 months after the approval of the final synopsis and permission to be sought by Ph.D. registration committee to submit the thesis.
• Final Viva-Voce examination after the acceptance and approval of Ph.D. thesis by the examiners (date to be notified by the University).
13. Procedure For Registration. - I. Selected Candidates applying for registration shall submit the duly filled Registration form through Head of the Research/Nursing department or College of Nursing within the stipulated time along with the prescribed fee. The candidate shall furnish the information detailed below:(a) Qualification and details of previous study and research, if any, and full particulars of the publications to his/her credit in accredited journals. (attested copies to be furnished)
(b) Name and address of the recognized Guide/Co-Guide under whom the candidate proposes to carry out research.
(c) Name of the department and institution where the candidate proposes to work and to conduct research.
(d) Title and synopsis of the proposed research work.
II. Candidates in service shall forward application along with the consent of the guide with name, signature & seal and a No objection Certificate from the Head of the Department and Head of the Institution where the candidate is working. (Place of work) while submitting the application along with the documents mentioned under schedule for the candidates. III. All applications received by the University before the stipulated time and date shall be placed before the Board of Research/Doctoral Studies. The Board/Committee shall examine the applications and after screening process shall recommend to the University for Provisional Registration within three months from the last date notified for the receipt of applications. Provisional registration shall be effective from the date mentioned as the last date for payment of prescribed fees in the concerned specialty for the selected candidate. IV. No candidate shall, without previous permission of the respective Board/Committee join any other course of study or appear for any other examination conducted by the University or by any other University during the period of registration. 14. Board of Research/doctoral Studies. - The Board/Committee will consist of(a) Dean of the Faculty of Nursing
(b) Selected Ph.D. qualified Committee Members
(c) One subject expert.
15. Progress Report. - After provisional registration, every candidate shall submit half yearly progress report regularly through the guide. Every such half yearly report shall be submitted for the period from 1st January to the end of June and from 1st July to the end of December. However, the first report for the fraction of six months period shall be submitted ending either in June or December. The half yearly progress report shall cover the following aspects:-(a) Progress in the review of literature,
(b) New data acquired or theoretical background/techniques developed,
(c) Progress/Standardization in research methodology,
(d) Discussion of the work done.
If the candidate fails to submit two consecutive half yearly progress reports in time, his/her provisional registration shall stand cancelled. If two consecutive half yearly progress reports are not satisfactory, the Board/respective Committee shall recommend to the University for Cancellation of the registration. 16. Pre-Ph.D. Examination. - The provisional registration of the candidate shall be confirmed only after he/she has passed the Pre-Ph.D. examination which shall be conducted after the completion of one year from the date of provisional registration of the candidate. The scheme of Pre-Ph.D. examination to be conducted by the University shall be as follows:-
Sl.No. |
Subject |
Duration |
Marks |
Paper I |
Research Methodology & Applied Statistics |
3 hours |
100 |
Paper II |
Nursing Science & Theory Development |
3 hours |
100 |
|
Seminar/Term paper in the area of research (Internal assessment) |
- |
100 |
|
Viva Voce (Proposal defense) |
- |
100 |
* > = 60% of marks will be considered as pass.
Note: 70% attendance is compulsory for contact hours. If the student does not have 70%, he/she will not be allowed to appear for the Pre-Ph.D. examination, however they have to make up for the same next academic year.
The syllabi for both the papers shall be as prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council. Scope for changing the research topic: The research topic can be changed within one year. 17. Procedure For Pre-Ph.D. Examination.(a) The Board of Research/Doctoral Studies shall prepare a panel of both external & internal examiners and will constitute the Board of Examiners for the conduct of the Pre-Ph.D. examination.
(b) The Board of Examiners for the Pre-Ph.D. examination consists of the following:-
1. There shall be double valuation of the answer scripts of Paper I and Paper II by the same examiners who have set the question papers. The marks list shall be sent by the examiners directly to Registrar (Evaluation) of the University concerned.
2. If the difference of the marks in valuation between the two examiners exceeds 15% of the concerned answer scripts, the same will be valued by the third examiner. The marks awarded by the third examiner shall be sent to Registrar (Evaluation) of the University concerned for the announcement of results.
3. The Viva-Voce (proposal defense) examination shall be conducted in presence of the panel consisting of: -
• Two examiners (Subject Experts) appointed by the University
• Guide/Co-Guide
i. The candidate shall be declared as successful in the examination if he/she secured not less than 60% of marks in each paper.
ii. In case the candidate is not successful in the Pre-Ph.D. examination in the first attempt he/she may be given two more chances to appear for entire examination after a period of six months. Further, if he/she is unable to attend or appear in the supplementary examination, then he/she has to appear in the next regular examination, after that he/she will not be permitted to sit in the examination.
iii. If the candidate is not successful in the Pre-Ph.D. examination, even in the second appearance, his/her provisional registration shall stand cancelled.
• Any candidate who has completed the minimum period of three years doing prescribed research from the date of his/her provisional registration and not less than three months before the expiry of the maximum period prescribed for submission of thesis may submit an application along with five copies of synopsis of the thesis through the Guide, the Head of the institution to the respective Board of Research Studies/Committee for permission to submit the thesis as per the University procedures.
• After the approval, four copies of the approved final synopsis (hard copy/CD) shall be sent to Board of Research/Doctoral Studies/Evaluation Committee who shall proceed with the Constitution of Board of Examiners for the adjudication of the Ph.D. thesis and keep it ready prior to the submission of the thesis.
• Every candidate shall submit with his/her application, five copies of the thesis embodying the results of the research carried out by him/her within six months after the submission of the final synopsis as per the University procedures.
• A candidate may also submit along with his/her thesis papers published by him/her embodying the results of investigation for the Ph.D. degree and also any other contribution/s to the knowledge of his/her subject or any cognate branch of the subject.
• Every candidate shall submit with his/her thesis, a certificate from the guide/s under whom he/she worked, that the thesis, submitted is a record of research work done by the candidate during the period of study under him/her that it has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree or diploma, associateship/fellowship or any other similar award.
• If, however, the thesis submitted has formed in part the basis for the award of previous research degree the candidate shall clearly set forth in a preface or written statement the portion(s) which have formed the basis for the award of the previous degree.
• Along with the thesis the candidate will also produce a "No Due Certificate" from the Head of the Department and Head of the Institution and from the University Librarian and Finance Section if applicable.
20. Ph.D. Examination. - For the adjudication of Ph.D. thesis there shall be a Board of Examiners of two external members to be chosen by the University, from the panel of examiners recommended by the Board of Research/Doctoral Studies/Ph.D. Evaluation Committee. The guide shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners. However, under extraordinary circumstances, Board of Research/Doctoral Studies/Evaluation Committee may appoint a Chairperson other than the Guide from the panel of Board of Examiners. The external examiners must be from outside the University who are subject experts who fulfill the criteria of a guide. Each external examiner appointed to adjudicate the thesis shall send the report to the Chairperson within two months from the date of receipt of the thesis. Such reports should include:-(a) A critical account of the work of the candidate as embodied in the thesis and the evaluation of the work in term of its contribution to the advancement of knowledge.
(b) Details of any questions to be asked or points to be clarified at the Viva-Voce examination.
(c) Definite recommendations as to whether the Ph.D. degree should be awarded or not.
The Chairperson shall forward the report of the examiners along with the consolidated recommendations of the Board of Examiners to the Ph.D. Evaluation Committee/Board. If both the examiners give definite recommendations against the award of the degree, the thesis shall be rejected. If one of the examiners gives a definite recommendation against the award of the degree the thesis may be referred to third external examiner, from out of the panel recommended by the Board of Research/Doctoral Studies/Ph.D. Evaluation Committee. If the report of the third examiner is favorable, then the candidate shall be eligible to appear for the Viva-Voce examination and if it is not favorable, then the thesis shall be rejected. If one of the examiners makes qualified recommendations with valid reasons (for e.g. to resubmit the thesis after suitable modifications), the Chairperson shall communicate the same to the Registrar Ph.D. (Nursing) Evaluation, who will in turn intimate the candidate for resubmitting the thesis with the suitable modifications within six months from the date of communication. The resubmitted thesis with suitable modifications will be sent to the same examiner and the reports received thereon by the Chairperson shall be communicated to the Registrar Evaluation/Ph.D. Evaluation Committee. No candidate shall, however, be permitted to submit the thesis more than two times. The thesis may be published in any form after obtaining necessary permission from the University. 21. Viva-Voce Examination. Viva-Voce examination shall be conducted after the receipt of the satisfactory report, on the thesis from all the examiners. The Viva-Voce examination shall be conducted by a Board constituted as follows: -i. Guide/Chairperson
ii. Guide/Co-Guide (in case Guide is not the Chairperson)
iii. At least one of the external examiners shall be present at the Viva-Voce examination. However, under extraordinary circumstances, where any external examiner cannot be present at the Viva-Voce examination, the Vice-Chancellor may appoint any external substitute examiner from the panel constituted by the Board of Research/Doctoral Studies/Ph.D. Evaluation Committee.
Teachers and research scholars of the concerned departments/institutions may be invited as observers only to attend the Viva-Voce examination. The Viva-Voce examination is primarily designed to test the understanding of the candidate of the subject matter of the thesis including methodology employed and his/her competence in the general field of study. Since the points raised by the examiners of thesis are to be clarified during the Viva-Voce examination, the report of the examiners who adjudicated the thesis will be made available to the Board for Viva-Voce examination. The candidate shall produce all the relevant documents, materials, and preparations etc., concerned with the research project during Viva- Voce examination. Members of the Board for the Viva-Voce examination shall report specifically on whether the candidate's performance on the examination is satisfactory and therefore be considered as accepted or nor accepted. A candidate who is not successful at the Viva-Voce examination may be permitted to undergo the Viva-Voce examination for a second time after a period of three months. No candidate shall be permitted to take the Viva-Voce examination on more than two occasions. 22. Award of Ph.D. Degree. - The degree will be awarded by the University, after the candidate successfully completes Viva-Voce examination. The Chairperson shall consolidate the recommendations for the award of Ph.D. degree based on the following:-i. The report of examiners who adjudicated the thesis,
ii. Evaluation of the candidate's performance in the Viva-Voce examination.
The Chairperson shall forward the consolidated and individual reports with recommendation to the Registrar (Ph.D. Evaluation) of the University. Based on these reports, the University shall award the Ph.D. degree after the recommendations are approved by the Vice-Chancellor. 23. List of Annexures as Prescribed by the University1. Annexure I - Fee Structure
2. Annexure II - Application Form after selection of the candidates for Ph.D. in Nursing
3. Annexure III - List of Documents to be enclosed
4. Annexure IV - Performa for registration of Ph.D. Topic
5. Annexure V - Guidelines for preparing thesis protocols/proposal
6. Annexure VI - Style of writing bibliography
7. Annexure VI - Guidelines for preparing thesis
8. Annexure VI - List of recognized guides by the University
24. Ph.D. Curriculum. - Nursing Science and Theory Development including Nursing Leadership
Contact |
: 75 hrs |
|
Self-Study |
: 45 hrs |
|
Total hours of instruction |
: 120 hrs (8 credits) |
|
1. |
Nursing Leadership in Health Care Delivery System |
: Contact hrs (20): Self-study: 10 hrs (2 credits) |
2. |
Philosophy of Nursing Science and |
: Contact hrs (15): Self-study: 15 hrs (2 credits) |
|
Theoretical Perspectives |
|
3. |
Nursing Theories and Theory Development |
: Contact hrs (40): Self-study: 20 hrs (4 credits) |
I. Nursing Leadership in Health Care Delivery System - 20 hrs
Course Overview. - This course is designed to prepare the doctoral student to identify and utilize the nursing science and leadership roles as a basis for analyzing, developing and implementing national health policy and population policy and development of nursing profession. Course Objectives. - Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:-1. analyze the health problems and societal forces, health economics and politics in relation to corresponding national health policy and population policy
2. relate the impact of health policy and population policy to structure, content, distribution and financing of health services in general and nursing services in particular
3. analyse the leadership theories
4. identify the leadership roles necessary for the nursing leaders for developing nursing profession and people's health
Syllabus. - I. Current Health Issues and Policies - 8 hrs1. Analysis of current health problems - national & global
2. Health care delivery system in India
3. National health policy, population policy and alternative systems of medicine
4. Health policy issues relevant to nursing practice - Development of nursing services in health policy
5. The functions and roles of law in health care delivery - Existing legislations related to nursing. Laws for new and emerging roles (e.g.) Nurse practitioner, private practice (nursing homes)
6. Social system and health policy
7. Politics & health policy - Lobbying for development of nursing profession
8. Health economics and health policy (Economics of health care and nursing)
9. Health insurance
II. Nursing Leadership - 8 hrs1. Leadership theories
2. Nursing leadership and decision making
3. Nursing leadership and change process
4. Human resource planning and management by nurse leaders
5. Profession building in health care system - Advocacy, Lobbing
6. Nursing ethics
- Code of ethics, professional conduct for nurses in India
- Nursing standards, nursing practice, standards and quality assurance
7. Human relations
- Valuing human being
8. Communication skills
III. Nursing Informatics - 4 hrs- Nursing management information system, networking institutions through literature search
- Nursing Universities, Internet, Literature search
- Knowledge about basic computers - Review
OR
1. Overview of Computers and Nursing
2. Computer Systems - Data processing, the internet, a nursing resource
3. Nursing Informatics and health care policy, privacy, confidentiality and security
4. Nursing informatics theory, clinical information systems
5. Applications - Practice applications, Administrative application (information technology for nursing managers), educational applications and Research applications.
6. Consumer use of informatics
7. The future of informatics
II. Philosophy of Nursing Science and Theoretical Perspectives - 15 hrs
Course Overview. - This is an introductory course. It begins the students' integrative analysis of the conceptual and empirical base of the domain of nursing. This course enables the student to trace the historical development and current status of nursing science in the context of the philosophy and history of science. (Study of nursing as a scientific discipline) Course Objectives. - Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:-1. analyse the historical roots and current status of contemporary nursing science
2. explicate the paradigms of inquiry which influence the investigation of nursing phenomena
3. explore the impact of scientific issues on the development of nursing science
Syllabus:1. Introduction to the course, study of philosophy, history of philosophy
2. History and philosophy of nursing science
3. Nursing as a science and a discipline (Evolution and development)
4. Nursing knowledge and development
- Historical roots
- Domains of nursing
- Paradigms in nursing
- Knowledge development
5. Paradigms that influence approach to nursing science development.
6. Epistemological and ontological assumptions of diverse approaches to knowledge generation in nursing.
III. Nursing Theories and Theory Development - 40 hrs
Course Overview. - This course is designed to facilitate the refinement of the critical skills necessary for analyzing and evaluating theoretical formulations, synthesizing theoretical components into conceptual models and developing testable hypotheses. The interrelationships among theory and practice and research in nursing will be examined. Course Objectives. - Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:-1. to describe strategies for concept and theory development
2. to get overview of nursing theories
3. to evaluate theories used in nursing practices
4. demonstrate skill in developing and testing conceptual models that will impact nursing science
5. examine interrelationship among science, theory, practice and research in nursing.
Syllabus. - 1. Epistemology - 5 hrs• Concepts, statements and theories
• Strategies for theory development
• Evaluation of theories
• Metatheory
2. Overview of theory in nursing - 10 hrs
• Overview of theory
• Importance of theory in nursing
• Historical overview
• Classification of theories in nursing
• Issues in theory development in nursing
• Nursing Theory - an examination of the concept development of nursing theory.
3. Overview of nursing theories - 15 hrs
• The theorists and the theories
• On nursing clients
• On human being - Environment interactions
• On interactions
• On nursing therapeutics
• Other theories
(4, 5, 6, 7 = 10 hrs)
4. Analysis of Nursing theories & evaluation of nursing theories
5. Nursing theory and practice
6. Nursing theory and research
7. Inter relationships between science, theory, practice and research in nursing.
IV Research Methodology And Applied Statistics
Contact hrs = 60 hrs
Self-study = 30 hrs
Unit -I Introduction: Methods of acquiring knowledge, problem solving and scientific method. Research - definition, types, characteristics, terminology used in research, purpose, scope, and Research & Nursing: Purpose scope and need for Nursing Research, development of research in nursing, areas of nursing research. (3 hrs) Unit - II Research process overview: Statement of the problem and research objectives, concepts and constructs, variables assumptions, definitions hypotheses formulation and types, delimitation. (5 hrs) Unit - III Review of related literature need purpose and sources: Library, On-line search, retrieval of database from different CD-ROMs and use of A.V. Aids. (5 hrs) Unit-IV Research approaches and Designs: (25 hrs)• Historical approaches
• Survey and experimental approaches
• Qualitative research approaches, ethnography and phenomology
• Longitudinal, cross sectional and cohort studies - advantages and disadvantages
• Experimental designs - Purposes, characteristics, types of design, pre-experimental and quasi and true implemented design, steps of experimental research
• Sampling Methods - size, criteria's of population, techniques of sampling criteria, determination of sample size
• Data collection - Tools and techniques, types, purposes, characteristics and uses
• Scale/Construction of tools - Selection/Construction of tools, testing validity and reliability
• Techniques of data collection - Technique, tools used for qualitative research, observation, focus group discussion, measurement and record analysis and field trips.
Unit-V Data collection procedures, analysis & interpretation and data management (5 hrs) Unit - VI Ethical considerations in Nursing Research (2 hrs)- General considerations
- Ethical considerations specific to approaches, design and data collection procedures
- Ethics Committee - composition, role and importance
- Guidelines for ethical clearness
- Ethical issues the relation to scientific and professional community (Plagarism)
Unit - VII Qualitative and quantitative analysis (10 hrs)- Descriptive, inferential and advance statistics
- Parametric and Non parametric methods
- Multivariate analysis Unit - VIII Communicating research findings (5 hrs)
- Research critic
- Project proposal for funding
- Research utilization