SPIRAL PROCESSES OF BECOMING - WOMENS EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF DOCTORAL EDUCATION

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore women's experienc es of being a doctoral student. We report on interviews from 11 women, 8 of whom were Caucasian and 3 of whom were African-American. Partici pants in the study described their experiences as doctoral students in ways that reflected a spiraling process of becoming. This process inc luded experiences of confidence, support and self-discovery. This rese arch has implications for nursing faculty and women engaged in doctora l education as well as for women who anticipate entering doctoral prog rams.