When the pathway to your goal seems endless, gather strength by reflecting on how far you've come and by stopping once in a while to enjoy the view.

Photo by James E. Mattson

Faculty members and dissertation chairpersons advise us, as nurses pursuing PhDs, to find time for self in the midst of studies and development of dissertation proposals. Time off is important, because it leads to rejuvenation. When pursuing seemingly mindless activities, unformed but potent ideas can suddenly take shape. It is also important, of course, to distinguish between downtime—time taken to relax and recharge one’s mental batteries—and dawdling, which is procrastination designed to put off dealing with pending deadlines.

On the long road to a PhD, we’ve discovered ways to help us handle stress and enjoy the journey, but you don’t have to be a doctoral candidate to apply what we’ve learned. We think these suggestions will help anyone—including nurses new to the profession—handle the pressures of daily life.

Baxley: When I look back on the past several years, I recall times of confusion, frustration, pure terror—that was during statistics and theory—and miles and miles of proposal and dissertation writing. Reflecting on what I’ve learned, I’ve compiled a list of tips that I hope will help fellow PhD students decrease stress and enable them to enjoy the journey.

• When you feel like you are hanging by your feet, don’t go it alone. Keep hanging on and call for help.
• A team or community always goes further.
• Take turns being the leader.
• Stop and listen, then proceed.
• Enjoy time for yourself.
• Faculty members are learning, too, and need our help sometimes. Offer it freely.
• Leave your mark on the faculty and the school.
• Have someone who can pick you up and start you off again when you think you can’t go on.
• Dance and sing.
• Form lasting friendships, and protect your friends.
• Laugh at yourself and with your friends.
• Share food and celebrate with friends and family.
• Remember those who came before you, but don’t let them intimidate you.
• Dress up and begin to do scholarly things—or at least play like you are a scholar. One day, you will find you are one.
• Keep on going and stay on task.

I believe in the power of yoga, of re-centering and finding balance in each day. I practice yoga every day, enjoying its combined benefits of tranquility and exercise.

Ibitayo: I find writing poetry helpful in communicating thoughts to others, and it’s useful shorthand for myself in pursuing ideas. Poems synthesize disparate knowledge into a contained structure that can be shared with others, if desired. For me, it’s a perfect way to de-stress from my PhD studies. Here’s an example of my poetry: 

 Yellow Dreaming Place

 I love the sun.
 My favorite color is yellow.
 I bought a wooden rocker
 With matching ottoman,
 Padded and colored up
 In the flavor of lemon laughter.

 I daydream near the window bay,
 A peaceful moment in my corner space,
 The yellow dreaming place.

—by Kristina Ibitayo 

 

[Another poem by Ibitayo was published in the Fourth Qtr. 2008 issue of Reflections on Nursing Leadership.]

 

There is power in creativity. It’s an essential piece of a PhD nursing student’s success, something he or she needs to tap into. The form of creative expression is not what matters. What does matter is discovering self. The creation of something unique—be it small or large, noticeable or not—comes from within. It is an expression of self, a personal marker on a PhD journey.

Baxley and Ibitayo: We believe in the power of friendship. It is absolutely crucial to our success as PhD nursing students. After all, it was the PhD program that introduced us to one another. We encourage each other to always move forward, despite setbacks, toward degree completion. Friendship and camaraderie with fellow students provide a springboard for professional collaboration. Our friendship tie has been strengthened by trust, proven during times of joy and sorrow. We rejoiced in the birth of Susan’s two grandsons and remembered Kristina’s dad in funeral memorials. We support each other during personal and professional moments. Friendship, indeed. 

We believe in the power of family. Strong family bonds keep us rooted. They know us best. They know how to nurture our hearts and encourage us to flourish in our academic pursuits. Even if they do not fully understand our research and extrapolation efforts, they support us anyway. Our families also provide distractions that sometimes rejuvenate or frustrate, but ultimately gird us for the task of continued scholarship. They are our center core. They know us best and love us unconditionally, without proof of professional success. To them, we are who we are: wife, mother, daughter, sister, even grandmother.

In summary, there are many important things one can discover on a PhD nursing journey, but three have been the most crucial to our success: having support of family, becoming colleagues with faculty members and making new friends. 

Students pursuing PhDs have their own journeys to take, with wonderful adventures beckoning. We have given you a few of our suggestions for success: Find daily balance. Be yourself. Appreciate each day and every new friend. Enjoy this growing and stretching period.

One day it will be over and you will miss this time of joy, sorrow, confusion and frustration. Remind yourself frequently: I will succeed. Learn to de-stress, and enjoy your PhD nursing journey. RNL

 

Kristina Ibitayo	Susan Baxley

Prior to entering the PhD nursing program at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Kristina Ibitayo, RN, MSN, and Susan Baxley, PhD, RNC-OB, were practicing RNs who had worked in various capacities, including management, at health care organizations. Baxley, who was in the program’s first cohort of students, began the PhD process later in life, when others her age were planning career retirement parties. Ibitayo, who was in the second cohort, entered the program immediately after earning her MSN from another university. Baxley, who recently received her PhD, now serves as a project manager and teaches nursing students pursuing their master’s. Ibitayo works as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Nursing Scholarship and Technology at UTA’s School of Nursing.