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UArizona College of Nursing recruiting almost doubled in past four years
April 12, 2024
The University of Arizona College of Nursing has nearly doubled the number of pre-licensure students it has onboarded over the last four years, an impressive response to the state and national nursing shortage. In fiscal 2020, the College enrolled 283 new pre-licensure students and is projected to enroll close to 550 this year. This unprecedented growth is just the beginning as the college plans to surpass 1,000 enrollees by fiscal year 2030.
The increase stems from the strategic plan to aggressively grow pre-licensure programs in both Gilbert and Tucson. The college launched the Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Integrative Health at the Gilbert campus in 2019 with the capacity for 24 students per semester. The program now enrolls about 216 students per year. At the same time, the college’s Master of Science in Nursing – Entry to the Profession of Nursing program has grown from about 130 students a year in 2019 to 288 students in 2024.
Quote from Dean Ahn
In 2023, the college received a $9.2 million grant from the Arizona Department of Health Services to go towards addressing the state’s nursing shortage. With those funds, the college created 158 scholarships to cover the cost of tuition and fees for students completing the college’s MS-MEPN program.
“Master's level education strengthens the workforce by enabling nurses to lead health-care teams to improve patient and population health outcomes in the state of Arizona,” said Connie Miller, DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, a clinical professor and the principal investigator for the ADHS grant. “These nurse-leaders will provide excellent, evidence-based nursing care and potentially use their graduate education as future faculty members to teach the next generation of nurses.”
Historically, the College of Nursing has received far more applications than the number of new student openings. However, with the significant growth of the nursing programs, the college is now more actively recruiting students to keep the pipeline of new nurses flowing into the expanded program capacity.
“We work very hard to proactively recruit new students to fill the larger cohorts,” said Jill Hagaman, director of student and academic affairs at the College of Nursing. “A very popular new program we have launched to recruit nursing students is a guaranteed admission for UArizona graduates with bachelor’s degrees in health sciences fields if they meet GPA requirements.”
Hagaman estimates that about 60% of the college’s enrollment growth has been in Gilbert with the remaining 40% in Tucson. She said they have also increased enrollment in the Tucson BSN program by about 20 students a year.
Nursing programs rise in US News & World Report rankings
April 10, 2024
The College of Nursing makes major leaps in the U.S. News & World Report’s latest list of Best Graduate Schools.
TUCSON, Arizona — Two University of Arizona College of Nursing graduate programs significantly improved their rankings in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools list, released April 9.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program made a major leap in the Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice rankings. The program ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 19 overall, improving from No. 31 in 2023.
“We are thrilled to see the accomplishments of our growing DNP program recognized in the rankings. Our seven clinical specialties of the DNP program are helping to provide the country with more inpatient and outpatient advanced practice registered nurses, health care leaders, and nursing scholars and educators,” said Lindsay Bouchard, DNP, associate clinical professor and interim vice chair and DNP program director.
The Master of Science – Entry to the Profession of Nursing program jumped 11 spots in the Best Nursing School: Master’s rankings to check in at No. 30 overall and No. 19 among public universities.
“We take tremendous pride in the quality of education we provide to our graduate students, and these rankings are a clear indicator that the University of Arizona College of Nursing is one of the top destinations for nursing education in the country,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the UArizona College of Nursing. “We expect this upward trajectory to continue as we expand our education portfolio to prepare the next generation of compassionate and highly skilled nurses to positively impact health care outcomes and enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities.”
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program allows students to obtain doctorates in as little as 2.5 years of full-time study. The hybrid program utilizes online didactic coursework, on-campus intensives and practicums, and clinical placements.
“The hybrid format of our program suits the needs and promotes the professional goals of a wide variety of students, supported by our team of expert clinician faculty who deploy innovative and supportive teaching strategies. Our graduates go on to become high-performing clinicians, effective leaders, and members of nursing faculty teams,” Bouchard said. “We look forward to seeing what is on the horizon as we continue to transform the DNP program by deploying additional teaching innovations and utilizing student feedback to expand our program’s strengths and potential.”
The Master of Science – Entry to the Profession of Nursing is a 15-month program offered in both Gilbert and Tucson, Arizona. Students are trained to demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability for nursing practice, apply clinically appropriate information technology to promote patient safety and health care quality, and provide, coordinate and manage health and illness care for patients.
“Master’s-level education empowers nurses to become dynamic leaders, guiding health care teams toward enhanced patient and population health outcomes,” said Connie Miller, DNP, clinical professor and chair of the Nursing and Health Education Division at the College of Nursing. “Embracing the complexities of modern health care, our Master’s Entry to the Profession Program equips nurses with the knowledge, skills and compassion needed to drive positive change in the ever-evolving landscape of health care. Graduates are not only prepared to excel in their clinical roles, but also poised to inspire and educate future generations of nurses as esteemed faculty members, bridging the gap between practice and academia with their invaluable expertise.”
U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges and universities based on 16 measures of academic quality. The measures considered for national universities include graduation and retention rates, assessment by peers and counselors, faculty resources (such as class size, benefits and salaries), student selectivity, financial resources for students, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance, which is the difference between actual and predicted graduation rates.
Aleeca Bell, PhD, RN, CNM: Pioneering Midwifery and Research for Maternal and Infant Well-being
March 19, 2024
In a remarkable blend of personal experience and professional dedication, Dr. Bell embodies the essence of midwifery's transformative power in healthcare. Her journey from experiencing the profound joy and pain of childbirth under the care of a midwife, to becoming a beacon of research and education in the field, is a testament to her commitment to enhancing maternal and infant health.
A Personal Journey into Midwifery
For Dr. Bell, the decision to enter the field of midwifery was deeply personal. The birth of her son at home, attended by a midwife, was a pivotal moment that inspired her to pursue a career focused on providing nurturing, respectful, and informed care to women during childbirth. This experience ignited her desire to offer the same level of wise and compassionate support to other women, especially those seeking to trust their bodies in childbirth after previous disappointing or traumatic experiences. Dr. Bell’s advocacy for out-of-hospital births, attended by qualified professionals, stems from her belief in its benefits for most low-risk women, a stance supported by data on health outcomes.
Research Passion: The Well-being of Mothers and Infants
Dr. Bell's passion has extended beyond one-on-one care into the realm of research, where she explores the multifaceted aspects of maternal and infant health. Her work focuses on the benefits of physiological childbirth, the epigenetic influences of life experiences on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes, and the promotion of mother-baby synchrony. Her current NIH-funded R01 randomized clinical trial examines the impact of a multisensory infant massage in mother-baby dyads where the mother has a history of childhood adversity/trauma, aiming to enhance mother-baby engagement (synchrony) and investigate the epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system. This groundbreaking research holds the promise of improving the lives of vulnerable populations by fostering parental-child synchrony through the modulation of oxytocin regulation.
Support from the University of Arizona College of Nursing
The University of Arizona College of Nursing has been instrumental in fostering Dr. Bell's research excellence. By providing an environment that supports her ambitious projects, such as the affectionately named Mothers and Babies Project, the College has enabled her to thrive. The welcoming community, coupled with the collaboration of brilliant faculty, dedicated staff, and skilled students, underscores the College's commitment to advancing nursing research and education.
A Lifelong Commitment to Midwifery
Dr. Bell’s association with the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) spans over 26 years, reflecting her longstanding commitment to the profession. Her upcoming induction as a Fellow at ACNM not only marks a personal achievement but also symbolizes the evolution of midwifery in the U.S. From her early days when home birth midwives were marginalized, to her current role as a respected perinatal researcher, Dr. Bell’s journey through midwifery illustrates the profound impact dedicated professionals can have on healthcare.
Advice for Aspiring Midwives
Dr. Bell emphasizes the urgent need for midwives in the U.S. to address severe maternal morbidity and mortality rates. She encourages those aspiring to become Certified Nurse Midwives to explore the diverse possibilities within the profession. Her career path, which has included roles as a researcher, instructor, home birth care provider, and clinic reproductive care provider, highlights the versatile opportunities available to CNMs, from hospital practice to community health services.
Dr. Bell's journey is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating how personal experiences can fuel a lifelong mission to improve healthcare. Her dedication to midwifery, coupled with her pioneering research, continues to contribute significantly to the well-being of mothers and infants, setting a gold standard for care and compassion in the field.
Dr. Bell’s illustrious career has reached a new pinnacle with her forthcoming induction as a Fellow at the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). This honorable distinction, set for May 6th, 2024, recognizes her substantial contributions to the field of midwifery and her unwavering commitment to improving maternal and infant health.
UArizona College of Nursing Ranks 13th among Public Institutions in NIH Funding Recipients
Feb. 19, 2024
In 2023, the University of Arizona College of Nursing achieved significant recognition, securing the 13th position among public universities and the 19th position overall among nursing schools in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, as reported by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR). The College of Nursing obtained approximately $5.02 million in funding during the fiscal year 2023, marking a notable increase from $3.73 million in the fiscal year 2022. This signifies a $1.28 million increase in grants compared to the previous year, reflecting a remarkable growth of 34%.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff whose dedication and efforts have led to this significant accomplishment for our college. I would like to express special appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Dr. Judith Gordon, serving as the Associate Dean for Research, and Dr. Terry Badger, in her capacity as the Director of Research Initiatives. Alongside the NIH grants, our faculty have also been successful in securing numerous non-NIH research and educational grants during the fiscal year 2023.” said Dean Hyochol Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN.
The recent rankings underscore the remarkable productivity of our faculty and highlight the significance of their research and scholarship in advancing health and well-being nationwide. Faculty members at the College of Nursing are engaged in pioneering interdisciplinary research and scholarship endeavors aimed at elevating healthcare delivery, enhancing health outcomes, tackling health equity issues, and addressing the nursing shortage.
Below are brief synopses of the projects and researchers that received NIH funding in 2023:
| PI | Grant # | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| Hyochol Ahn | R01NR019051 | Combination Therapy of Home-based Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mindfulness-based Meditation for Self-management of Clinical Pain and Symptoms in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis |
| Judith Gordon | R01AT011500 | Testing the Efficacy of A Scalable, Telephone-Delivered, Guided Imagery Tobacco Cessation Intervention |
| Terry Badger | R01CA263714 | Adaptive Symptom Self-Management to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve Symptom Management for Survivors on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors |
| Kathleen Insel | R01NR020261 | Digital Technology to Support Adherence to Hypertension Medications for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment |
| Elise Erickson | R00NR019596 | The Clock is Ticking: Epigenetic Age Acceleration as a Biomarker of Uterine Function in Pregnancy |
| Elise Erickson | R01HD111125 | Oxytocin sensitivity and postpartum hemorrhage: testing genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for improving maternal morbidity |
| Thaddeus Pace | R01CA264047 | Leveraging social connection by including informal caregivers in an internet video conference-based compassion meditation intervention to reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivors |
| Thaddeus Pace | R21OH012386 | Reducing Psychological Distress in Fire Fighters with an Asynchronous App-based Meditation Intervention |
| Rina Fox | K08CA247973 | Improving sleep in gynecologic cancer survivors |
| Aleeca Bell | R01NR018828 | A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Mother-Infant Synchrony Among Women with Childhood Adversity |