Alignment and Contribution of Nursing Doctoral Programs to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

BackgroundDifferent social segments from several regions of the world face challenges in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nursing, representing the greatest number of health workforce in the globe has been dealing with these challenges in different paths, among them the training of human resources. In this context, the goal of this study was to compare the relationship between the objectives and research areas underlying nursing doctoral programs in Latin America and the SDGs.MethodDocument research comparing data of Latin American nursing doctoral programs and the SDGs, conducted between January and March 2020.ResultsMost nursing doctoral programs have contributed to SDG 3, in addition to Goals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 16, revealing that the training of nursing PhDs is essential to fulfilling these goals, also indicating a need of programs to remain committed to relationships that enhance nursing skills to cope with the current challenges in terms of global health, such as investments for the reduction of social and gender inequities.InterpretationThe doctoral training of nurses in Latin America needs to be better aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since there is a high concentration in SDG 3. We believe that nursing will bring a greater contribution to the movement to protect planetary health as precepts that govern the praxis of the profession are better aligned with international health demands and agendas.FundingCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal do Nivel Superior, Brazil.