Doctoral Education Pathway for American Indian/Alaska Native Nurses

The American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population experiences some of the most serious health disparities in the U.S., yet there are very few AI/AN nurses, especially those with graduate degrees who can serve as advanced practice nurses and nursing faculty.

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing’s Doctoral Education Pathway for American Indian/Alaska Native Nurses supports AI/AN nurses in completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD degree at the University of Minnesota.

Students can earn a DNP degree preparing them to be a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse leader and innovator, nurse informaticist, or specialist in integrative health and healing. Students can also earn a PhD degree preparing them to be a nurse researcher.

The holistic support provided for AI/AN nurses enrolled in the DNP or PhD program includes:

• Mentoring from AI/AN/Indigenous faculty
• Cultural community created through connections with other AI/AN/ Indigenous faculty, staff, and students across UMN campuses
• Peer support and mentoring
• Promote cultural identity through traditional gatherings and celebrations

Both the PhD and DNP programs enable students to complete degree requirements from a distance. On-campus requirements for each program will vary, but can be as little as one time a year.