The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program: An overview.

• Students in the RWJF FNS program were funded to complete the PhD within 3 years. • As of May 1, 2022, 181 scholars graduated with 20 scholars still enrolled. • The FNS program provided students with financial support, mentorship, and a concentrated leadership development program. • Nurses from 46 schools pursued their PhDs as Future of Nursing Scholars. Following the 2010 report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation created the Future of Nursing Scholars program to increase the number of PhD-prepared nurses who could assume leadership roles earlier in their careers by shortening the PhD education trajectory and developing leadership skills. The purpose of this paper is to describe the state of the field at program launch, the program development, and operations. A descriptive narrative was used, which relied on literature review focused on nursing PhD program completion and presentation of FNS program objectives and findings. Nurses from 46 schools pursued their PhDs as Future of Nursing Scholars. As of May 1, 2022, 181 scholars graduated with 20 scholars still enrolled. Preliminary results suggest accelerate PhD programs featuring intensive mentoring and financial support can produce well-prepared nurse researchers ready for postdoctoral positions and leadership roles. Program attributes including financial support and leadership development initiatives may be replicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]