What is a postdoc?

Now that I am a postdoctoral fellow, I am asked, “What is a postdoc?” almost as much as I used to be asked, “What do you do with a PhD in nursing?” The mysterious postdoctoral fellowship isn’t well understood by many people outside of academia or research. Even for those in research, there is no one model. Just like doctoral programs, every postdoctoral fellowship is not created equal.

In a general sense, a postdoctoral fellowship—often referred to as a postdoc—is a program that allows those with doctoral degrees to gain additional experience in mentored research before beginning teaching or research careers. The fellowship is typically completed in a period of one to two years. During this time, postdocs—the term is also used to identify those in a postdoctoral fellowship—are given protected time to work on research projects, publish manuscripts, and strengthen their résumés with research experience. It is an opportunity for novice researchers to gain additional experience before they are hired into teaching or research positions and left to their own devices.

Ales-A/iStock

Gainful employment

A postdoc is essentially a job. Postdocs are paid, typically from a training grant, to conduct research, and the grants are usually customized to meet the needs of the people in the fellowship. Each postdoc works on his or her research and reports back to the other fellows regularly. Sometimes, they are also required to take additional research courses or other classes that increase their knowledge in a specific research area. Often, these courses are audited or taken for no credit. However, it is becoming more common for postdocs to matriculate as graduate students and earn a master’s degree at the end of their fellowship.

When I first entered my PhD program and learned more about postdoctoral fellowships, I was sure I did not want one. No way was I going to graduate with a PhD only to go back to school! I knew I wanted to teach and thought I would apply for assistant professor jobs during my last year in school. However, during my second year in my PhD program, I attended the annual Summer Research Institute sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and loved it! I knew then I wanted to continue learning about and conducting research, while being mentored by amazing researchers.

I originally thought I would apply for a traditional postdoc in the Penn School of Nursing, but in my next to last year as a PhD student, I learned of a new postdoc called the National Clinician Scholars Program. This postdoc is an iteration of the widely successful physician-only Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. I loved that NCSP supported physician-nurse collaboration. I loved that the fellowship combines clinical practice, research knowledge, and health policy in a way that allows fellows to seek hybrid careers in direct patient care, academia, and government. I also loved the idea of going through my postdoc as part of a cohort, instead of just working on my individual research, alone in my apartment.

First nurse in first NCSP cohort

As fate would have it, I was the first nurse accepted into the first NCSP cohort at Penn. Although I am a proud nurse, my postdoc is housed in and ultimately run by UPenn’s Perelman School of Medicine. Because this is my first research experience working with physician colleagues, it took me a while to get used to the environment. I still find it odd to call physicians by their first names, but it is quickly becoming my new normal. Whether nurses or physicians, as postdocs we are all on the same playing field. We are here to gain more research experience, and we are committed to public service. We are learning from one other and helping each other grow, both inside and outside the classroom. To participate in this fellowship, I had to leave a life of comfort and move 2,300 miles across the United States. I don’t regret it one bit.

My goal is to use the next two years to continue building my research portfolio. I also plan to become more involved in health policy again. I really enjoyed the work I previously did with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (See my blog post “Maternal-child health nursing in Indonesia” for a glimpse into my time as an international frontline health worker advocate.) Involvement in advocacy and helping to shape policy is not only necessary, I thoroughly enjoy it.

Finally, I want to use the time in my postdoc to narrow down a potential career. While teaching will always be my first love, it’s been nice to think about working in an area that I didn’t previously consider. Whatever the case, you-all will be along for the ride. I’m excited to see where the next two years takes us!

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.

Why I am smiling

On 10 June 2016, my PhD was conferred! I am officially Tiffany M. Montgomery, PhD, RNC-OB, C-EFM, so you can now call me Dr. Tiffany Montgomery! The journey was long and very difficult at times, but I made it. I have a ton of respect for those who came before me, and I promise to make myself available—whenever possible—to mentor those coming behind me.

I love sharing with others all the things I wish someone had shared with me. It’s one of the reasons I’m grateful for the opportunity to write for Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL). This blog, “Taking hold of my dreams,” is the perfect platform to share some of that wisdom. As Mr. Mattson, the editor of RNL, and I agreed when I began posting entries in June 2011—my first post was titled “I’m going to Disneyland!—I would use my blog to share my PhD journey with readers.

You can now call me
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery!

In February of this year, I asked Mr. Mattson—I told him up front that’s what I would always call him—if he wanted me to continue writing “Taking hold of my dreams” or if I should wrap it up. He responded: “I definitely do not want you to wrap up ‘Taking hold of my dreams.’ As you know, ‘dreams’ is plural in that title, and I’m watching to see more of your dreams become reality.” So, 45 blog posts after I began my journey, here I am, and I hope to continue sharing my experiences with wide-eyed, eager undergraduate and graduate nursing students for many years to come.

If I were to select a handful of past blog posts I’d like future PhD students to read, they would come from various points in my journey. After taking a little time to think about it, I came up with a short, five-post reading list. The following entries are very telling of my time as a PhD student. They reflect conversations I had, things I learned (usually by trial and error), and wisdom I gained. Follow me, if you will, on the five-year journey that I shared with RNL readers. And check out the reader comments!

10 things I learned in my first quarter as a PhD student (December 2011)

This post was an overview of my crash course Grad School 101. When I began my PhD program, I had been an L&D nurse for six years, but I didn’t have the slightest clue as to what it would take to be a successful doctoral student. Nonetheless, I quit my full-time job, took a per-diem position, and dove headfirst into life as a PhD student. I quickly learned that being in a PhD program is starkly different from being in an MSN program. Thankfully, I made a routine of those things that were beneficial to me and let go of anything I found detrimental to my success. Seeing as I completed my first term with a 4.0 GPA, I must have done something right. I hope these tips yield the same positive outcome for you.

What do you do with a PhD in nursing? (October 2012)

After being asked this question more times than I would have liked, I decided to write about it. Must have been a good decision because this post became one of the most-read articles in the history of RNL. I’m glad to know readers had such a great interest in the topic. And, seeing as I am still asked this question fairly often, it’s helpful that I have somewhere to point inquiring minds. Until PhD-prepared nurses are regularly seen outside the hallowed halls of Ivory Tower, people—nurses and non-nurses alike—will continue to ask this question. We still have a ways to go before people realize the importance of nursing research, but we’re further along today than we were when I began my PhD program. As long as we keep moving, we’ll get there.

PhD or DNP? How to choose (November 2012)

This is another topic that came up fairly often while I was pursuing my doctoral degree. Many nurses have the desire to obtain a doctorate, but they are often unsure of the difference between the terminal doctoral degree (PhD) and the practice doctoral degree (DNP). I like to think this blog post does a great job of explaining the differences between these two degrees and helps potential doctoral students decide which one is best for their chosen career path. Neither doctoral degree in nursing is better than the other, although they are vastly different. It’s important to understand and acknowledge these differences before deciding which degree is the one for you.

Ready, set, write: 5 tips for becoming a better writer (April 2015)

Writing is not an aspect of higher education that most students enjoy. When you are forced to write a dissertation, your disdain for writing can turn into pure hatred. As someone who actually enjoys writing, even I found it difficult to write my dissertation. There are many resources available to help doctoral students who are dealing with an aversion to writing. This blog post was my attempt to share what worked for me. Oddly enough, it was my time away from writing—time spent running—that helped my writing the most. In addition to the health benefits of running and the camaraderie I experienced with women in my running group, I was able to take lessons I learned to become a better runner and apply them to my writing. For me, it was running. For you, it may be something totally different. Whatever the case, the tips in this blog post will help you to increase your writing quality and productivity.

Selecting your dissertation committee (January 2016)

This is arguably the most important blog post I have written to date. It is common practice for the chair of a doctoral student’s dissertation committee to determine its members. And while the chair’s ability to work with other members of the committee is of utmost importance, it is also important that all bases are covered from the viewpoint of the student. I cannot overemphasize the need to have a “cheerleader” on your committee. Things happen. Unanticipated hurdles must be overcome. Your cheerleader will be the one to help lift your spirits and keep you headed toward your goal—graduation. I will spare you the details here of what I experienced toward the end of my PhD journey, but I needed all the support I could get. Had I not thought long and hard about the people I needed—yes, needed, not simply wanted—on my committee, I may not be writing this post today. One member in particular was my saving grace. She kept me grounded when everything was going awry. Please do not take this part of your journey lightly. Selecting your committee members is a big deal.

In coming months and years, I will continue blogging about my experiences as a nurse researcher. I recently started a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Wait, I know what you’re thinking. “School of Medicine? Why not the School of Nursing?” These and many other questions will be answered in coming blog posts. I hope you enjoyed following me as I worked toward my PhD, and I hope you will continue to journey with me through my postdoctoral fellowship and into my first job in academia … or the nonprofit sector … or government. There are so many options to choose from. But we’ll discuss that in a future blog post as I continue to take hold of my dreams.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.

Dealing with disappointment

Against my better judgment, I tried out to be selected as one of the student speakers at graduation. One speaker is chosen to represent each of the four degrees that will be conferred during the 11 June 2016 ceremony. I originally hadn’t planned to try out because I don’t like the spirit of competition. I personally know one of the people with whom I would be competing. And the “selection committee”? An audience full of students! Students who believe I am a hardnosed educator. Students who didn’t receive grades they wanted while enrolled in my class. The odds were stacked against me, and I knew it, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

In 2005, I was the student speaker at the San Jose State University Black Graduation, a ceremony that highlights achievements of black/African-American graduates and anyone else who wants to participate. Giving that speech was my proudest moment at SJSU. For weeks before the big day, I wrote and rewrote what I wanted to say. I had 10 minutes to congratulate the class of 2005, inspire graduates and ceremony guests, and leave them desiring to truly make a difference in this world. I was able to do all that and more! People still remind me of the words I spoke at graduation and the impact it had on them. So, although I was scared to death that I would not be selected as one of the graduation speakers at UCLA, I still decided to throw my hat in the ring.

Adam Kazmierski/iStock

As I suspected, I was not selected to represent the PhD graduates. I had mixed feelings about the entire situation. On one hand, I was really proud of myself for doing something that terrified me. Facing our fears is always admirable. On the other hand, although I wasn’t surprised by the decision, I was still disappointed. When I expressed my disappointment to some friends via social media, I received responses such as these: “Girl, you will be at the graduation getting your PhD!!!!! What a blessing in itself,” and “You are graduating, getting a PhD, moving to Philly to start an amazing postdoc. Now tell again, what is the problem?” Another friend sent me a text message saying, “Ummmm, you’re graduating Dr. Montgomery.”

Although these messages were meant to help me see the good in a bad situation, they really struck a negative chord with me, and I’ll tell you why. As someone who has been labeled an overachiever and perfectionist (neither of which I use to describe myself), I am almost always expected to be the best, do the best, and come out on top. When that doesn’t happen, people tend to make comments that actually make me feel worse than if they had said nothing at all. It’s almost as if I’m never expected to fail and, when I fall short of my goals, not to feel bad about it.

In speaking with some of my colleagues, I learned that my experience is not an isolated one, but we rarely share our feelings with friends and family. More often than not, the people who love us the most have no idea what we deal with as PhD students. And, while I can’t speak for all PhD students, I’m sure many will agree with the sentiments of this post.

Dealing with disappointment can be compared to grieving the loss of a loved one. No matter what anyone says, they’re probably going to say the wrong thing. When you are grieving, you typically don’t want to hear someone say, “I know how you feel,” or “It’ll be all right.” And, you certainly don’t want them to compare the person you lost to people who are still with you. You know, “Well, at least he wasn’t an only child,” or “You still have your other grandparents.” In nursing school, we’re taught that these types of comments are nontherapeutic. They harm far more than they help. In a similar fashion, comments I received from my friends about being turned down as a graduation speaker were not helpful. I’m disappointed that I was not selected to address colleagues, family, and friends at my graduation ceremony. Only time will heal that pain.

If I could give any advice about comforting someone who is dealing with disappointment, especially someone you consider to be an overachiever or perfectionist, it would be, “Don’t say a word!” Give him or her the space to be human. Allow that person enough time to experience a range of emotions, which will include anger, hurt, and sadness. In the case of PhD candidates, don’t remind them that they are on the road to receiving a PhD. Obtaining a PhD doesn’t negate our feelings as human beings. Getting that degree doesn’t mean we will never experience disappointment, pain, or sadness. It doesn’t mean we have no other goals we’d like to accomplish. It isn’t the pinnacle of our life’s worth. It just means we worked hard to achieve something that most people will never achieve. It doesn’t make us superhuman.

Not being selected as the graduation speaker was disappointing, but all is not lost. While my classmates won’t ever get the chance to hear my speech, I thought it would be nice to share it with my readers. I hope it resonates with you:

Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Well here we are, graduating with terminal degrees. That’s progress. But, man, O man, was it a struggle! We’ve seen long days and even longer nights. We’ve laughed together, cried together, and, at times, had to convince each other we weren’t losing our minds. Life didn’t stop because we were in a PhD program. We’ve celebrated births and engagements, and held each other up when loved ones transitioned or relationships didn’t last. While supporting one another as best we could, we endured the lonely road of earning a PhD—emphasis on “earning” because we can all attest to the fact that those three letters were not simply handed to us. But after all the papers, conference presentations, and chapter revisions, WE MADE IT!

From our research on music therapy and hookah smoking to care of elders and text-message interventions, we’ve given voices to the voiceless, provided evidence for changes in practice and policy, and inspired a future generation of nurses to be daring, provocative, and innovative.

We are graduating at a time when the healthcare community realizes the impact nurses have on the health and well-being of people all around the globe. After centuries of viewing nurses as handmaidens, our colleagues in medicine are eager to engage in interdisciplinary practice. Now is the perfect time for us to seize the opportunity we have been given. We have the keys to unlock doors that many people don’t want to walk through, doors that are nonexistent to some and not able to be opened by others.

Today, we join an elite group of nurse scholars. Among the fewer than 1 percent of nurses who have earned a PhD, we have truly accomplished an extraordinary feat. We deserve to celebrate this accomplishment the whole weekend through. But, after the celebration ends, let’s do our part to reach back and help others along their way. Let’s commit to serving as mentors to the nursing students who are following in our footsteps. Let’s take on leadership roles in our various nursing organizations and societies. Let’s leverage our authority as experts in our field to highlight ways under-represented populations continue to be marginalized. And let’s work together to decrease health disparities. Let’s do whatever it takes to fight for changes we want to see in healthcare and in the Ivory Tower.

This is not the end. It is only the beginning. We have long and fulfilling careers in education, research, and administration ahead of us. We have the world at our feet. With cherished memories of our time at UCLA forever engrained in our minds, let’s go forth and change the world. Never stop asking questions. Never stop searching for answers. Let’s go out there and show them what we’re made of. Congratulations, doctors. We made it!

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.

Working while pursuing a PhD? Count the costs!

The costs of obtaining a PhD are numerous. There are financial costs associated with tuition and fees, conference attendance, and research expenses. There may be physical costs, such as times of exhaustion, nights of insomnia, and physiological responses to stress. And, there are emotional costs, such as questioning one’s purpose, dealing with impostor syndrome, and deciding to maintain or dissolve certain relationships. Most people are probably well aware of the financial toll of a graduate degree. But, I’ve found that many are unaware of the costs of working while obtaining a PhD.

In the five years I’ve been in my PhD program, I’ve sat on several new-student orientation panels, and I’ve had plenty of private conversations with men and women who want to earn a PhD. Whenever I talk with potential PhD students, I always try to focus on the costs of working as an employee while working toward your PhD. No matter whom I talk to, my advice remains the same: Work as little as possible.

What do you mean, don’t work?

Thea Design/iStock

The typical response to this advice is a look of surprise (“What do you mean? I have to work!”) or defeat (“Oh no, she said it, too. I guess it’s true.”). Almost any PhD student will tell you that you shouldn’t work unless it’s absolutely necessary. The fact of the matter is, the more you work, the less time you have to devote to your studies. There is no gray area here. It is completely black and white. For most people, quitting a job to obtain a PhD is out of the question. They view working as a necessary evil. There may be children, a spouse, or other relative to consider. There may be bills and other finances that are non-negotiable. Employment may be used to subsidize medical benefits. And, for some, their current position may be a steppingstone to a first job after graduation.

As someone who has been funded by scholarships and fellowships since my time as an undergraduate student, even I understand the need to work. While I am grateful that my PhD fellowships covered the cost of my tuition, fees, and health care, they did not cover all of my living expenses. After paying my mortgage and utility bills, buying gas for my car and other auto expenses, and purchasing groceries and toiletries, I still needed money for clothing, grooming, and entertainment. I mean, really, being a PhD student doesn’t mean you should sit at home naked, unkempt, and bored out of your mind, but I digress. No matter what your situation may be, you should work only as needed.

Trade-offs

Before I ever enrolled at UCLA, I realized that being a working PhD student meant I’d have less time than my non-working colleagues to read, less time to complete assignments, less time for meetings with professors, less time to attend campus seminars and workshops, and less time for pretty much anything school-related. So, I decided to decrease my work status from full time to per diem. This meant I was only required to work eight days every 12 weeks. I could break up my schedule how I wanted, and I didn’t need permission to stay away from work for weeks at a time. I can’t overemphasize the need for flexibility while going through a PhD program. For me, working per diem was the answer.

Once I actually became a PhD student, it was clear that working as a teaching assistant (a requirement for the second and third years of my fellowship) and working per diem meant less time to reflect on my research questions and research design. It also meant less time to write my dissertation proposal or to apply for research grants. There were times when I worked at the hospital one day per week, and there were times when I worked at the hospital once every other week. I did what I had to do to stay afloat in school. I also wanted to ensure I had the time to maintain relationships with family and friends—and time to myself. So, I chose to sacrifice money for time.

When I advanced to candidacy, I made a huge mistake: I started working more. Because I was no longer writing every day, I assumed I had more time on my hands. And I desperately wanted to get rid of the debt I had acquired during my PhD program. So, I began working two days per week in labor and delivery and one day per week in the OB-GYN clinic. I did this for a few months before I realized something had to give.

I had underestimated the difficulty of mentally jumping back and forth between school mode and work mode. After working a 12-hour shift in the hospital, going home to do schoolwork was the last thing on my mind. Just thinking about writing was difficult after a full day of vaginal deliveries and crash caesarean sections. And, it was just as difficult to be in the middle of a fabulous writing groove, only to have to stop writing and start winding down for bed because I had to be up for work at 5 a.m. So, I decided to transfer from labor and delivery to the OB-GYN clinic. I needed to be in a less stressful work environment, and I needed to work fewer than 12 hours per day.

Flexibility is good!

Going back to the OB-GYN clinic was one of the best work decisions I ever made! My new manager allowed me a level of flexibility I had never experienced. To accommodate my need to be at home making phone calls, sending emails, and doing other study-related tasks in the morning, she agreed to let me come in to work from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Consequently, even on the days I had to work, I was still able to devote time to my schoolwork.

However, after working in the clinic two days per week for most of the final year of my PhD program and conducting a larger-than-anticipated dissertation study, I decided to stop working altogether until I finished writing my dissertation. (I recruited literally twice the number of participants I had originally planned for. What a great problem to have!) While it was not an easy decision to make, working during this phase of my PhD journey means less time for data analysis, less time to write up my findings, and, ultimately, less time to complete my dissertation.

Even with the option of working in the afternoon, I almost always have the dilemma of quenching my writing momentum or stopping study-related tasks so that I can leave for work on time. (Plenty of times, my writing gets the best of me, and I show up to work late. I’m thankful that my manager is very understanding.) With graduation less than four months away, I can’t continue to jeopardize my writing. My decision may seem extreme, but in talking to recent PhD graduates, professors, and others familiar with the process of writing a dissertation, I realize it’s common for PhD candidates to take a leave of absence at work in order to complete their dissertations. Good to know! Now, I don’t have to feel so bad.

We all have the same 24 hours in each day. The question each of us must answer is, “What do you want to do with your 24?” The more time you spend working (or with friends and family, watching TV, or playing around on Facebook), the less time you have to dedicate to your studies. You can sacrifice sleep to get your schoolwork done, but I don’t recommend this because, at some point, you will crash from exhaustion.

Making work or financial sacrifices while in school isn’t for naught. Living on a smaller budget may mean moving to a less expensive apartment, using public transportation instead of driving, eating out less, or refraining from retail therapy, but those sacrifices will pay off in the end. I guarantee it! Just know that there are costs associated with every decision we make. This includes the decision to work while going through a PhD program. My advice is to count the costs, and be sure not to overspend yourself.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.

Selecting your dissertation committee

The selection of a dissertation committee is one of the most important decisions a PhD student can make. The members of this committee serve as dissertation “overseers.” They have been through the process of completing a PhD and have, it is hoped, helped countless others also navigate the process. Your committee will be with you every step of the way. They hold the key to your degree.

I started thinking about potential members for my committee during the break between my first and second year of study. As a first-year PhD student, I had the opportunity to interact with numerous faculty members in the school of nursing. I had also taken a couple of courses in other departments, so I knew non-nursing professors as well. During the summer between my first and second years, I let my faculty adviser know I wanted her to chair my dissertation committee. The type of research career I would like to have closely mirrors her research career. We share the same passion for women’s health and intervention research, so it seemed to me the perfect fit. Just as I imagined, she gladly accepted my invitation.

Steve Debenport/iStock

During the first quarter of my second year, I met with my chair to finalize the list of potential committee members from the school of nursing. Next, I asked each professor on that list if they would consider being a member of my committee. Finally, after taking a non-nursing course with a fabulous psychology professor, I met with my chair again to discuss adding this person as the “outside” committee member.

For each academic institution, there are specific guidelines for selecting members of dissertation committees. Most PhD programs require a minimum of three to five members, one of which should be from a department other than the student’s home department. Typically, a maximum number of committee members are allowed. Regardless of the number you choose, I have identified, in addition to the mandatory committee chair, a few key roles you should include in your committee. Depending on the size of the committee, one person may take on multiple roles. It is also possible that several committee members may share the same role. No matter how the roles are divided, I’ve found that each role is necessary.

Committee chair

The chair of every committee comes from the student’s home department. The first member of the committee to be selected, the chair is the shot caller, the head honcho, the person in charge. They have the final say on every decision made by the committee, as well as the final say on who should be asked to join the committee. The chair may or may not be the most senior faculty member on the committee. His or her length of time in academia is less important than familiarity with the dissertation topic. The most important aspect of the committee chair is the person’s relationship with the student. When selecting a chair for your committee, consider personality compatibility. If in the past you and a potential chair have not worked well together, find a different person to fill that role.

Content guru

At least one person on your committee should be an expert in the subject matter of the dissertation with extensive publications in that area. Their names should be synonymous with the subject matter. If they teach a course on the content, that’s even better! The content guru will serve as the go-to person when writing the literature review chapter.

Methods expert

Similar to the content guru, the methods expert should be well versed in qualitative or quantitative methodology. If the dissertation is a mixed-methods study, both qualitative and quantitative experts are needed. These experts will serve as the go-to persons when writing the theory and methods chapters.

Committee regular

The committee should have a member who has been on numerous other dissertation committees. This is very important! If the dissertation committee consists of only faculty members who are experts in their fields but have not been through the dissertation process many times, the student may get caught in the middle of trial-and-error issues. Someone who has had experience in dealing with multiple committees can shed light on the dissertation process, appropriate timelines, and disagreements, whether major or minor. Because they have a history of participating in many dissertations, they will have the wisdom needed to help the student navigate the dissertation writing and defending processes.

Cheerleader

Lastly, every committee needs a cheerleader, a person the student can go to when times are tough. The cheerleader will help the student remain focused on the end goal. He or she should also support the student when disagreements arise. The main job of the cheerleader is to ensure that the student does not become discouraged or feel alone.

As the dissertation committee is being formed, remember to remain flexible. Always have a list of back-up faculty members in case a potential member falls through. For instance, one of the people I wanted on my committee was already over-committed. I totally understood and had no problem asking someone else. Then, after having my committee approved by the graduate division, I lost two committee members.

One had to attend an out-of-state meeting on the day I was to defend my dissertation proposal. There was no way to reschedule my defense, so I had to reconstitute my committee. Another member took a position at a different university after I had advanced to candidacy. That required me to reconstitute my committee again. I began with six committee members (the maximum number allowed), but I am currently down to four (the minimum number allowed). I have learned to go with these types of unexpected, uncomfortable changes.

Do your homework!

Before selecting a committee, do your homework. Talk to other students to determine how well potential members work with students and other committee members. Each committee member from my department has served as dissertation chair for at least one of my colleagues. So, before selecting committee members, I had a good idea of how they worked with students. Furthermore, I had attended quite a few dissertation defenses in my department, and someone from my own committee had chaired the vast majority of these committees. So, in addition to talking to students about their experiences with my committee members, I have also had the opportunity to see those members “in action.”

After speaking to other students, select, if at all possible, only committee members with whom you have worked. For instance, I have taken a class with everyone on my committee. In fact, from one of my committee members, I took three classes and also worked as her teaching assistant for two years. Before agreeing to be on my dissertation committee, each potential member was familiar with my topic, knew my writing abilities, and my personality.

Whomever you choose to serve on your committee, remember that they are supposed to be working for you—not the other way around. They should be helpful, available, and committed to the successful completion of your dissertation. You shouldn’t have to chase them down to pose a question. They shouldn’t make your life any more difficult than it already is. Consider these things before collaborating with your chair to create a short list of potential committee members. At the end of your journey, your committee will be the only thing standing between you and your degree. Choose wisely!

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.