Nursing Schools in Arizona

Healthcare in the United States is growing at a very rapid rate due to an increasing number of elderly people in the general population requiring care and improvements in medical technology. Today, there is a high need for competent individuals who are trained to operate medical equipment, and bridge the gap between doctors and patients when it comes to treatment. Nursing is no longer simply a profession involving changing bandages and ensuring that patients take their medication. Today, these professionals are involved in diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatment protocols for patients from multiple backgrounds. Many students are also using nursing as an entry point into the healthcare industry. But what options does a student have? And where can one receive the training needed to become a qualified nurse? This article will help you gain some direction towards finding an answer.

Nursing Schools
Nursing schools are specialized institutions offering various degree programs in the field of nursing. These vary in their length and rigor, and lead to different degrees. Depending on your personal and professional preferences, you could choose to earn a degree from a variety of options.

Types of Degrees
The quickest way to becoming a nurse is to obtain a basic diploma by completing a certification program in nursing offered through a hospital. These will train you in skills like administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to apply splints, and provide basic treatment to patients. These courses are very short in their duration, and you can enter the professional field as a basic nurse in as little as a year.

Those who want to go further in their career could choose to complete a two year program in nursing at a community college. This leads to earning an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN). Over the course of two years, students are taken through a more intense curriculum covering topics in biology and chemistry. Additionally, practical training modules are also offered to help students apply their theoretical knowledge and become comfortable working in a hospital setting. Students with an ADN have more mobility in their careers than those with basic qualifications.

A Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the third and most comprehensive degree one could earn. These programs usually last four years, and go beyond the standard curriculum of an ADN program. Students will not only cover topics in biology, chemistry, and other areas relevant to nursing; they will also be taken through courses in humanities and social sciences, along with some basic math. These courses help groom the students to become more efficient and empathetic individuals in the workplace. Students with this level of training could go on to become registered nurses (RN), which is a senior position in the workplace. They could also specialize in fields such as anesthesiology or midwifery.

Those looking for nursing schools in Arizona to obtain their training could find additional information from the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Students could find a list of accredited schools - those authorized by the state to teach nursing curriculum - where they could apply to enter a degree program.