AN INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE PREVALENCE AND EFFECT OF SPONSORSHIP IN THE ACADEMIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF NURSES.

Description

This study analyzed career development in two groups of academic professionals: members of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and a group of non-member Ph.D. nurses. The career analysis served two purposes. The first purpose was to analyze sponsorship influences in the academic careers of these persons. The second purpose was to gain knowledge about the development of successful academic careers by nurses. The effects of sponsorship factors (financial, personal/emotional, job placement and publication support) on career success (research and publication activities) were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the groups in the kind of sponsorship support received and only publication support predicted career success for both groups. Academic career development was investigated two ways: (1) by categorizing responses describing ten career events; and (2) by exploring predictors of research and publication activities. Ten career stages evolved from these data. Work experiences and earned academic degrees were early career events. Critical academic career experiences include teaching, research, publication, service, and administrative activities. Rank and tenure status and frequent job changes were career development issues. FAAN members focused more on publication and research activities and the Ph.D. group focused on teaching activities as the salient feature of career development. More FAAN members held deanships and departmental chair positions than the Ph.D. group. In general, the FAAN group reported events that indicated greater career advancement in academe than did the Ph.D. group. Predictors of research and publication rate include: (1) academic appointments in research universities, (2) marriage to a professor or to a physician; and (3) affiliation with one or more mentors who are nurse colleagues working within highly rated institutions. Differences between groups include: (1) more FAAN members held appointments in highly rated universities, (2) published at a higher rate, (3) networked actively with colleagues, and (4) held prestigious network positions than the Ph.D. group. These data have implications for graduate faculty and students involved in the socializing aspects of academic career development and faculty development proponents interested in nursing's scholarly adaptation to the university.

Subjects