Getting a PhD by professional practice: autoethnographic accounts by two mental health nurses and their supervisor

Changes in PhD regulations at several universities mean that there are a number of routes available to study for a PhD, other than the traditional PhD by research. Many offer a PhD by publication, which can either be via a retrospective route or a prospective route. Others offer a PhD by public works or professional practice, which are both retrospective. Both options may be available to mental health nurses, who may have contributed greatly to the development of the profession, but never had the time or encouragement to pursue PhD studies before. This paper features two autoethnographic accounts by two highly experienced mental health nurses, who achieved their PhDs in the last year. They reflect on their own backgrounds in mental health nursing and what persuaded them to study for a PhD. If you thought your own academic journey was finished, maybe you may need to think again