In the state of Arizona, aspiring registered nurses may enroll in any of the accredited nursing schools established throughout the state. Candidates must graduate from a nursing program such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN); or a nursing diploma program.
Program Curriculum
The nursing curriculum of RN programs in AZ focuses on nursing knowledge and clinical practice. The bachelor's program provides a more holistic understanding of the nursing practices over four years of study. It includes coursework in communication, critical thinking, and social and physical sciences, as these subjects are becoming more and more important for the nursing practice. ADN and diploma programs usually take two to three years to complete. They focus on providing training in nursing, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and other behavioral sciences.
The coursework also includes supervised clinical experience in departments such as pediatrics, maternity, psychiatry, and surgery. Students may gain this practical experience at hospitals, home health agencies, extended and long-term care facilities, public health departments, or ambulatory clinics. However, completion of a degree program does not qualify you as a registered nurse; it only makes you eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) for registered nurses. This exam will test candidates in the following topics:
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Health Promotion and Maintenance
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Safety and Infection Control
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Management of Care
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Basic Care and Comfort
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Reduction of Risk Potential
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Psychosocial and Physiological Integrity
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Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Online Education
Online programs are less time consuming than traditional programs. Students' study schedules may be flexible and they could proceed at their own pace. Online educaiton is a great option for individuals who are working full time. Video conferencing and computer based instruction allows the theoretical components to be completed online. The required clinical components could be completed at a nearby healthcare facility.
What You Will Learn
As registered nurses are expected to perform a variety of tasks, your education will equip you with the knowledge needed to provide effective nursing care. Generally, you will learn how to monitor patients for possible side effects or reactions after administering medications, how to maintain patient records, and how to run health screenings, blood drives, immunization clinics, and other outreach programs.
You will also learn about the following:
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Performance of diagnostics tests and interpretation of the results
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Operation of medical equipment
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Patient observation and recording these observations
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Team work involving consultations with doctors and other healthcare professionals
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Administration of medicines and treatment
Occupational Outlook
The current shortage of registered nurses experienced by healthcare facilities over the country is expected to worsen in the coming years. Thus, the employment outlook for these professionals is quite good. As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; their employment is anticipated to grow by 26 percent from 2010 to 2020. With the same qualifications, you could also work as a nurse educator, medical writer and editor, researcher, hospital administrator, or as a salesperson for pharmaceutical and medical supply companies.