By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Dec 28, 2007 at 9:08 AM

Have your doctorate in nursing? If you do, you didn't get it at any Wisconsin college or university.

Marquette University announced today the launch of the state's first program for graduate nursing students working towards a doctorate degree. This first of its kind program begins in fall 2008.

The program will require 57 graduate credits for the health care systems leadership option and 66 graduate credits for the advanced practice options in nurse midwifery, pediatrics, adults, older adults or acute care. It places emphasis on development of nursing practice expertise at the highest level, including translational research, epidemiology, informatics, health policy, statistics and professional issues.

The doctorate in nursing practice will eventually replace the College of Nursing's master's level advanced practice programs. Guidelines set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing call for all programs designed to prepare nurses for advanced practice and nursing administration to be doctorates of nursing practice by 2015. 

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”