Introduction: Although nursing education is being strengthened globally, there is considerable variation in the level and standards of nursing education both within and between countries. Alignment, comparison, and analysis of various educational program components with those of other countries is one of the effective strategies to improve the quality of educational curricula. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the nursing doctoral programs in Iran and Rush University in Chicago. The two programs were examined and compared in terms of details such as history, definitions, goals, mission and vision, competencies and responsibilities, admission criteria and procedures, characteristics and structure of the doctoral program, and educational strategies.
Materials & Methods: This comparative study was conducted in 2023 using Bereday’s four-step model to describe, interpret, juxtapose, and compare the doctoral nursing education systems of Iranian nursing schools and Rush University in Chicago. Data were gathered through internet searches on the official websites of the respective universities. The extracted information was then categorized and compared based on the study objectives.
Results: There is no clinical doctoral degree (DNP) in nursing in Iran; the doctoral nursing program in Iran is full-time and in-person. In contrast, Rush University offers both clinical (DNP) and research-based (PhD) nursing doctorates, delivered online and available in both full-time and part-time formats.
Conclusion: Among the strengths of Iran’s nursing doctoral program are its alignment with Islamic values and the provision of financial support for students. However, weaknesses include the lack of focus on clinical programs and the absence of a DNP program, the inability of nursing faculties to select students independently, and insufficient planning of courses aimed at preparing specialized academic faculty.