Yuma — To address the nursing shortages affecting the community, Arizona Western College expanded its nursing program to admit 20 more students each semester.
This spring, AWC began enrolling 60 students into its nursing cohort and currently has 54 students enrolled. Previously, the program only accepted 40 students each in the fall and spring.
“Yuma County is a rural area that needs more healthcare workers, especially as our community continues to grow,” said AWC Nursing Director Cynthia Alvarez. “Our community partners have received the expansion very well, so it is exciting to lead the nursing program in the expansion. The university is excited to continue serving the Yuma community.”
The 2021 AWC Nursing Program graduate employment rate was 97.6%, and the employment rate in Yuma County was 82.6%.
“During a national nurse shortage, the Arizona Western College nursing program continues to build a workforce of knowledgeable and qualified nurses to help fill the gap,” said AWC. said Reetika Dhawan, Vice President of Workforce Development and CTE at .
The AWC Nursing program prepares students for a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. After completing her first three semesters of the program, the student may finish the program by taking the LPN exam, or complete the last semester of nursing school and be eligible to take the exam for the Registered Nurse (RN) License. can be obtained. This program also includes the opportunity to become a Certified or Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA, LNA). Learning experiences include classroom, laboratory, clinical, and online settings, as well as computer-based interactive learning and simulations.
Learn more about AWC’s Nursing Program here. Enrollment in the AWC Nursing Program may lead to eligibility for admission to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program as part of a concurrent enrollment program with Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University or the University of Phoenix. When students enroll in her AWC RN program, they can graduate with a bachelor’s degree and graduate with an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
The AWC Nursing Program is approved by the Arizona Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Nursing Education.
