Contributions of Doctoral Training in Cuban Nursing

Abstract

Introduction: Doctoral training is a necessity for the consolidation of nursing practice.

Objective: To present the results achieved in Cuba by nursing professionals during doctoral training.

Methods: A descriptive study was carried out in the period 2005-2018. The 57 graduates from the different areas of knowledge were analyzed: one of Communication Sciences, six of Health Sciences, five of Medical Education Sciences, 23 of Pedagogical Sciences and 22 of Nursing Sciences. The source of information was the doctoral theses.

Results: Results were obtained that constituted contributions to the different areas of knowledge; for example, methodologies for defining nursing functions, the identification of competences in the area of neonatology, and the development of capacities to carry out research on policies and systems of health. Theoretical models of practice were also provided for the care of patients with ophthalmological conditions, the provision of humanized care to women during labor and delivery, the care of patients with trauma and orthopedic conditions, and the consolidation of the nurse-patient-caregiver relationship in the hospitalized geriatric service.

Conclusion: The results provided improve interdisciplinary praxis during professional performance and also represents new challenges, which still require increasing the number of doctor of sciences and, in view of this, consolidating the link between the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.