By 2030, Arizona is projected to be short 8,280 doctors, with 1,941 in primary care. Low-income areas are disproportionately affected, with some areas having more than 3,500 patients for every provider.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are uniquely positioned to help people in this state gain access to primary care. Arizona is a full-practice state, meaning NPs are not required to collaborate with or be supervised by a physician. State law does require NPs to practice only within the scope of their certification and to refer patients to other providers if they fall outside of the NP’s knowledge and experience. Generally, though, providers in this role have a lot of freedom to practice in Arizona.
Arizona also offers many opportunities for NPs to network and join professional organizations. Some of the most popular include the Arizona Advanced Practice Nurses Network, the Arizona chapter of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council.
There are many impressive hospitals in Arizona, offering a range of opportunities for clinical experiences and careers. Some of the top performers are the Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Joseph Hospital and Medical Center, and the Banner Health System in Phoenix, Oro Valley Hospital in Tucson, and Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff.
If you’re considering pursuing your education in Arizona or staying in the state after graduation, you’ll be happy to hear that there are plenty of ways to spend your free time. It offers amazing opportunities for those who love outdoor adventures. Tour Antelope Canyon, check out Saguaro National Park or Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park or soar over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter. If you’re more into city living, check out the museums, theaters, and more than 200 restaurants in downtown Phoenix, or head to the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, or Main Gate Square in Tucson.
Here are some top universities where you can pursue an NP degree in the Grand Canyon State.
Program Overview:
Arizona State University has roots that go as far back as 1886 – before Arizona was a state – when the Territorial Normal School opened its doors as the first higher education institution in the territory. At the university’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, students can access hands-on state-of-the-art simulations, and many nursing courses take place on the downtown Phoenix campus. ASU offers more NP options than any other university in the state. There are eight options here for those who want to pursue a career in this field.
Program Overview:
Northern Arizona University opened its doors as a teacher’s college in 1899; today, it has over 20 locations and offers more than 130 online programs. The School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services has educated nurses for over 60 years. Its hybrid FNP pathways are designed to prepare students to deliver primary care to underserved rural populations. The following two options are available:
Program Overview:
While the University of Arizona has roots going back to 1885, the School of Nursing didn’t open until 1957 with a class of only 42 students. Over the next several decades, the school expanded significantly. Today, its doctoral programs are rated 19th in the country by U.S. News and World Report. UArizona offers three FNP options, each of which is a doctoral program. They are:
Program Overview:
Midwestern University is unique in that it focuses strictly on healthcare professions. It was founded in 1900 outside of Chicago, Illinois. In 1995, the university purchased land in Glendale and expanded to Arizona. The University owns and operates five different clinics in the area so patients can get hands-on learning, working with patients and licensed professionals throughout their education. Midwestern offers two AGNP options:
Program Overview:
For more than 40 years, Grand Canyon University has prepared students to work in various healthcare positions. Today, it offers a range of online NP programs, including the state’s only RN to MSN bridge programs. Students hoping to pursue an NP degree at Grand Canyon University have six options:
NP Programs in Other States
New Mexico
Utah
California
Nevada
Colorado
Texas