Reclaiming Nursing Science in Doctoral Education: A Narrative Review

Background: This review highlights the critical need to balance the advancement of nursing-specific research with active participation in interdisciplinary collaboration. It advocates for a reflective and deliberate approach to nursing doctoral education; one that safeguards the discipline’s core identity while embracing opportunities for integrative scholarship and innovation. Purpose: The review aims to explore how nursing distinguishes itself from other sciences and to analyze the unique contributions of nursing research, theories, philosophical, and doctoral education in advancing nursing knowledge as an autonomous profession. Methods: The PRESMA framework was used to organize and present the paper process, including data sources, study design, inclusion criteria, search methods, and thematic analysis. Reaults: The findings highlight nursing's classification as an applied science and demonstrate the interconnected influence of nursing philosophy, theory, research, and policy in shaping and advancing curriculum development. Together, these elements form a cohesive foundation that guides the evolution of nursing education to meet the complex demands of healthcare practice and scholarship. Conclusion: The review concludes that nursing is a distinct science, firmly grounded in unique philosophical and theoretical foundations that articulate its professional identity. Implications for Nursing: The paper underscores significant implications for advancing nursing science and strengthening professional identity across three key domains: education, policy, and clinical practice. Keywords: Nursing science, Nursing doctoral education, Philosophy, Theory, Nursing policy