Learning Opportunities

Learning Opportunities in Adolescent Nursing

The Center for Adolescent Nursing seeks to improve the health of adolescents by enhancing professionals’ capacity for adolescent health leadership in academic and public health settings. Through both graduate courses and continuing education programs, the Center offers a variety of training options to health professionals in a variety of disciplines including nursing, education, medicine, nutrition, oral health, psychology, public health, and social work.

Graduate Education in Adolescent Health

The Center for Adolescent Nursing supports and engages graduate students in meaningful research and practice to advance the health and care of young people locally, nationally, and around the world. Exploring the diverse roles of the nursing profession, graduates will delve into the social causes of adolescent health problems, understand and advocate for evidence-based changes in service delivery systems, and create primary prevention and health promotion programs. 

The School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota offers Master of Nursing (MN), Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD programs. Students in all graduate programs can complete adolescent health-focused courses. These include: Critical Readings in Adolescent Health (NURS 5016), and the Summer Institute in Adolescent Health (NURS 5604). The Center for Adolescent Nursing provides opportunities for students to work on youth health issues in a variety of settings such as community and school-based clinics, state and local health departments, non-profits serving youth, after-school programs, and city-wide initiatives. DNP and MN students are able to work with Center for Adolescent Nursing faculty on youth-focused scholarly capstone projects. 

PhD in Nursing: Students enrolled in the PhD program focused in adolescent health develop advanced adolescent health knowledge/skills, participate in research focused on youth issues, and learn strategies for effective research translation and dissemination, including advocacy through policy change. Advisors are faculty with expertise in adolescent health whose research and practice expertise centers on the health needs of young people. PhD graduates excel in research and education roles while becoming leaders not only in health care settings, but also in policy development and advocacy on behalf of youth.

Professional Development

The Center for Adolescent Nursing offers professional development opportunities for practicing health professionals, aiming to enhance skills and understandings of nurses and others who provide adolescent services. Through a variety of webinars, conferences, and institutes, we are able to provide educational opportunities accessible to all.

The Center for Adolescent Nursing offers its Summer Institute in Adolescent Health annually in July. This institute is designed for all who work with young people including nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, youth workers, teachers, coaches, and doctoral students. Graduate credit and continuing education certificates are available.

Learn more about past Institutes.