The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing PhD in Nursing program prepares students to become leaders in nursing research and practice. By combining science, theory, and extensive research opportunities, this program aims to develop nurse scientists who advance health care and improve patient outcomes. Students benefit from flexible scheduling with courses held one day per week and have the option to study full- or part-time. Through partnerships with over 160 agencies, UWM offers a pathway for future educators, researchers, and clinical scientists in a rapidly evolving field.
Susan Poppele, MSN, RN, CNE, is a current PhD student. She is an Assistant Professor at Bellin College in Green Bay and is passionate about nurse education. She is a first-generation student and has always felt called to go into the healthcare field. We chatted with her about her passion for the field of nursing and how that led to pursuing her PhD.
What inspired you to be the first one in your family to go to college?
I always wanted to go to college, I wanted to be a pediatrician at first but I decided to go to nursing school. I was drawn to the medical field because I’m a caregiver at heart, a nurturer. I just knew that was something I wanted to do.
Why did you decide to pursue your PhD and what interested you in UWM’s PhD in Nursing program?
I was happy teaching nursing students and I wanted to teach the nurse educator master’s students because I’m so passionate about it. In order to teach at that level, I needed to get a PhD. Some of my peers had started at UW-Milwaukee, so I sent out feelers and emailed Jennifer Carrera (the Graduate Program Manager). That very night, I had a Zoom meeting with her and the program director, Dr. Julia Snethen. They took the time to answer all of my questions. It made me feel like I’m not just a number. And you can tell Dr. Snethen is personally invested in every one of the student’s in the program. She’s now my major professor, but this program is her heart, you can truly tell.
What is your research focus and why are you focusing in that area?
I work with a lot of college senior nursing students as you know. As they transition into nursing practice, that transition is very stressful, resulting in a lot of nurses leaving their initial unit or leaving nursing completely that first and second year. I wanted to look at how or why these people are leaving during transition, and I wanted to see if there was a connection between emotional intelligence and the transition into nursing practice. I’m looking at the levels of emotional intelligence in freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students and seeing if there’s a difference between them. If there is a difference, what does that indicate and where should we start?
Any special highlights of the program you’ve enjoyed?
There’s twelve of us in the online program and I feel a sense of community. We’re always touching base with each other, and you don’t see that often in an online program. The networking aspects have also been great, I’ve had a couple of opportunities to present a poster from our research practicum. I was able to present at the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) and Building Bridges.
What advice would you give someone debating earning a PhD in Nursing or why should someone consider it?
Make sure the program meets your need as a learner. Would it be a program that’s going to support you or are you just another number?
The reasons for earning a PhD are different for every person. You need to think of your “why.” For me, it was a goal I never thought I would have the opportunity to achieve but if you told me while I was in nursing school I’d be teaching at the master’s level I would have told you you’re crazy! But there’s such an importance to educate nurses who want to educate the nurses of tomorrow. I’m just really passionate about nursing education and I hope through this program and my role as a nurse educator, I can inspire others to want to be an educator and have that same passion. If we don’t have nurse educators, we’re not going to have nurses of tomorrow.
Interested in learning more about the PhD in Nursing program? Check out the program page or contact us for more information.