If you’re preparing for a future in nursing, understanding nutrition is essential. At AdventHealth University, you will learn how to care for the whole person and not just treat an illness. Assessing someone’s nutrition is a key part of that mission and a vital skill you’ll rely on throughout your health care career.
The habits and insights you build here can lead to greater wellness, personal fulfillment, and professional confidence.
As an Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing student, Nutrition for Healthcare is a required course designed to prepare you for real-world clinical practice. Offered every trimester in an asynchronous format, this course gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Class size ranges from 30 to 60 students, allowing for meaningful engagement and personalized support.
This 45-hour online course combines science, self-reflection, and practical application. You’ll study topics such as:
- Digestion and metabolism
- Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals
- Healthy eating patterns and nutrition across the lifespan
- Diabetes and nutrition-related health conditions
You’ll also participate in a diet analysis project, tracking what you eat and drink over a three-day period with Cronometer, a high-tech app that helps to monitor food intake. This hands-on experience helps you better understand nutrition on a personal levels – so you can confidently guide patients in the future. To broaden your perspective, you’ll review nutrition-focused films on topics such as eating disorders, plant-based diets, and the longevity-inspired lifestyles of Blue Zones. Your learning is reinforced through exams that ensure you’re building a solid understanding of nutrition science.
If nutrition is a passion you want to pursue further, AdventHealth University is exploring the possibility of offering a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. This program would prepare you to pursue the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Potential coursework would include biomedical nutrition science, medical nutrition therapy, population health, and clinical rotations. With increasing demand for highly skilled nutrition professionals, this advanced degree could position you for a long, meaningful career in outpatient, inpatient and community-based wellness settings. In addition, we are exploring a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Lifestyle Medicine, with nutrition education an overarching aspect of that program.
