Arizona is home to some of the top hospitals in the country, with many of these hospitals having received Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence from the American Nursing Association. This means that Arizona’s nurses provide top-of-the-line care with minimal downtime and lower mortality rates.
In 2007, the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply released a statement calling for an effort to expand baccalaureate-level nursing programs, citing research that has found a direct correlation between the level of nursing education and the quality and safety of patient care. Additionally, RN to BSN programs give nurses access to higher salaries, career advancement opportunities and sets the foundation for master’s-level education and advanced practice licensure.
An example of positions advertised internally within Arizona’s hospitals for RNs holding BSN degrees in February of 2015:
- RN Clinical Informatics – St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
- Infection Control Nurse – John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, Phoenix
- RN Education Specialist – St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
- RN Medical Telemetry Unit – Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert
- RN Nurse Case Manager – St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
Because Arizona hospitals are dedicated to excellence in nursing, many of them offer tuition assistance to employed RNs looking to return to school. Just one example of this is John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital in Phoenix, which offers its RNs scholarships and tuition reimbursements, allowing them to enroll in the Hospital’s in-house RN-BSN program.
Enrolling in RN to BSN Programs in Arizona
RN to BSN programs are offered through local universities and hospital-university partnerships in order to help RNs advance their career without missing a beat in their daily lives.
To do this, many of these programs are offered exclusively online, with only the clinicals taking place at local hospitals or on-campus.
To be admitted into an RN-BSN program, most Arizona universities require that current RNs meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Have Graduated from an Accredited RN Program
- Maintain a 3.00 GPA in Pre-Professional Courses
- Maintain a Current Arizona RN License
Components of RN to BSN Programs in Arizona
Because RN-BSN programs are developed for RNs with ADNs, these programs are designed with minimal course overlap. An RN will be able to transfer in most of their previous ADN credits, generally between 64-90 credits, depending on what type of school the RN is transferring from. After transferring these credits, RNs will take any of the following RN-BSN courses that have not already been transferred:
Pre-Professional Requirements:
- General Pathology
- Fundamental Chemistry
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Applied Nutrition and Food Selection
- Human Nutrition
- Introduction to Statistics
- Applied Statistics
Professional Requirements:
- Nursing as a Discipline and Profession
- Health Assessment for Registered Nurses
- Basic Principles in Palliative Care
- Gerontology
- Nursing Research
- Family Nursing Roles
- Manager of Care/Health Care Systems
- Public Health Nursing & Lab
- Field Work
Some hospitals that RNs may be able to complete their clinical training at include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Banner Health Centers– Baywood, Phoenix, Boswell, Desert, etc.
- University of Arizona Medical Center – Tucson
- Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center – Phoenix
- Mercy Gilbert Medical Center – Gilbert
Arizona Hospitals that Facilitate RN to BSN Programs
Arizona is home to many nationally acclaimed hospitals, many of which offer tuition and scholarship assistance to their RN employees. The following list contains just some of the hospitals offering tuition assistance to support RNs interested in achieving a BSN degree:
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital – Phoenix
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital is truly dedicated to their nurses, having received the Magnet award three consecutive times and the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence four times. It’s no wonder why this hospital ranks as one of the highest in the country, since it has career development programs specifically designed for advancing nurses. Qualified RNs at John C. Lincoln can grow through their RN to BSN program, and pursue a MSN degree as well, through their partnership with Grand Canyon University. Employees may be eligible for tuition reimbursement benefits, for this RN-BSN program. On-site courses, clinical nurse educators, and an annual nursing leadership retreat are offered to employees as well.
University of Arizona Medical Center – Tucson
This nationally-ranked hospital received the Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence from the American Nursing Association, meaning that their nurses are highly educated and experienced. This advanced education and experience leads to the University of Arizona Medical Center providing shorter hospital stays, increased satisfaction, and lower mortality rates. To help nurses continue to be as educated as possible, this medical center offers tuition reimbursement for employees looking to return to school.
Mayo Clinic in Phoenix
The Mayo Clinic was recognized as the best hospital in the nation for 2014-2015. Because of this, the Mayo Clinic takes care that their employees are some of the most educated and best trained employees in the nation. Tuition assistance through the Clinic’s Professional Development Assistance Program allows RNs to pursue further education.
St. Joseph’s Medical Center
St. Joseph’s prides itself in being a teaching hospital, where nurses can go to develop their career and personal goals throughout their career. Because of this, St. Joseph’s not only offer s a Career Advancement Rewarding Excellence Program, but it offers tuition assistance and scholarship programs for the employed nurses looking to return to school.
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center – Gilbert
Mercy Gilbert believes that nurses are the heart and soul of their organization, and because of that, they constantly look for ways to enhance employee’s lives. Some of the ways they do this are through the non-traditional benefits of tuition reimbursements, scholarship programs, and student loan repayment.