ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the differentiation between the ‘nontaught’ and ‘taught’ doctorates, and examines why and how different doctoral approaches in nursing have evolved. The major forms of doctoral education examined are: professional doctoral programmes (mainly taught), doctorates by published work, and doctorates by portfolio; doctoral study via distance education is also explored. Within our discussion we draw out benefits and challenges of these diverse doctoral approaches in nursing, all of which are equally robust and aim to contribute to knowledge for practice.
