Eftkhar Alroyley

Fourth year Ph.D. student Eftkhar Alroyley is on track to complete her degree within the next two years. Currently, she is in the dissertation phase of her program, and she shared some of her insights and accomplishments so far.

What attracted you to the field of nursing?
My grandparents always encouraged me to become a doctor (physician) since I was a kid, and that dream stayed with me for a long time. However, when my grandparents were hospitalized in the ICU and CCU, it became very clear to me that the nurses were the closest people to them — consistently providing care and comfort in what must have been an incredibly difficult time for them. That’s when I realized that nursing is about more than caring for patients, it’s also about compassion, empathy and giving back.

Why did you choose this degree program?
After I earned my master’s degree in nursing education from Indiana University, I felt that the best way to continue learning and growing in this field of work and research was to enroll in a Ph.D. program. I'm excited about this opportunity to further my knowledge and skills as a nurse and continue making a positive impact on others. Pursuing my Ph.D. degree will allow me to gain new insights into the diverse aspects of nursing, including patient care, health systems, research methods and more.

Who are your faculty mentors? Do you perform any research with them?
My faculty mentors, Drs. Lenny Chiang-Hanisko and Joy Longo, have been guiding me through my research projects. I’m deeply grateful for their support, and I look forward to working together as I progress in my Ph.D. journey.

As a Ph.D. candidate, did you receive any awards?
As an international student, I received a scholarship from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to pursue my Ph.D. degree in nursing, and I also received the Patricia Liehr Doctoral Research Scholarship for 2022-2023. In addition, I received the Best Poster Award from Sigma Iota Xi at-Large Chapter in 2022. I hope my experience abroad will be both rewarding and educational, and allow me to come back to my country with a wealth of knowledge that will help me in my future career endeavors.

Has your research been published? If so, where?
I have had several opportunities to present my research at conferences, such as the International Association for Human Caring (IAHC), Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS), Academy of Neonatal Nursing and Sigma Iota Xi At-Large Chapter Research Day. This has given me invaluable experience and feedback from those in the field, which has helped shape my research project considerably.

How has the College of Nursing helped you on your academic journey?
I express my appreciation for all of the professors and classmates at FAU whom I’ve worked with during my coursework and research practicum. The opportunity to learn from expert researchers has been an invaluable experience that has helped me grow both professionally and academically. These experiences helped me to broaden my horizons and grow as a scholar by working with different researchers from different disciplines and that has been helpful in improving my writing, research and communication skills, as well as preparing for my dissertation and future research.

What career or academic pursuits are you interested in after you graduate?
I’m a faculty member at Al-jouf University in Saudi Arabia, and I planned to return to my country to continue my faculty position. I’m interested in pursuing my career in higher education and nursing research.