NAU’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Arizona State Board
of Nursing.
Nursing education at NAU involves challenging and rewarding coursework
that reflects the standards of professional nursing and prepares you
to be a competent professional practicing in a variety of health-care
settings. Our programs also prepare you for admission to graduate school.
Through our programs, you learn to think critically, work collaboratively,
and function interdependently, using a systematic approach to plan and
implement nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities
in a variety of urban and rural settings.
We emphasize the health-care needs of rural and diverse populations,
especially American Indians. We prepare you to function as a leader,
innovator, and caring practitioner in health-care settings and professional
nursing organizations, and we focus on holistic nursing principles and
practices that reflect a body of knowledge based in nursing art and science
as well as the natural and social sciences, humanities, and arts.
Clinical experiences are an integral component of NAU’s nursing
program. Because our program focuses on rural health, you participate
in a wide variety of clinical learning experiences in health-care
facilities and community agencies throughout Arizona. Please be aware
that your
are responsible for your own travel and overnight expenses during
all clinical experiences.
Northern Arizona University School of Nursing uses innovative instructional methods to facilitate
learning that may include face to face experiences in the traditional classroom setting, video
conferencing to distance sites, on-line learning, simulation laboratories, and clinical experiences in
various health care and community agencies located throughout the State. These innovative
approaches are purposefully interwoven into our degree programs and are a vital part of our student
learning experiences.
Traditional Classrooms
All pre-license BSN students will have some coursework in traditional classrooms. All classrooms in
Flagstaff and at distant sites are “smart classrooms” with LCD projectors, computers, and VCRs. The
Proxima LCD projectors allows for electronic projection of slides, movies, and the Internet. Computer
based presentation systems let faculty quickly display information related to their class and spend
less time manually writing and drawing on whiteboards. This technology lets faculty spend more time on
content and student interaction. In addition, state of the art classrooms provide students experience
with using multimedia approaches to presentation, preparing them well for professional communication
in various real-world settings.
On-Line Learning
Electronic course delivery throughout the state offers opportunities to create programs that gather
students from many locations. Web course also afford the greatest flexibility for students who may be
place-bound or who have hectic schedules that prevent them from sitting in traditional classes.
The School of Nursing uses on-line courses to promote learning and to help develop technology
skills for Arizona’s workforce. Rather than gathering in a traditional classroom, students meet on-line
and interact asynchronously with each other and the course instructor. This method of instruction
creates a platform (known as Blackboard Vista) where you discuss, debate and actively participate in
course subjects. You are able to download the syllabus and other course materials, including library
materials. Web- casting technology is often used in conjunction with asynchronous web courses to
bring the student s and faculty together for real time learning activities. RN students pursuing BSN and
MS degrees take courses in the online format, while selected courses are offered to the pre-license BSN
student.
Some courses are taught completely on-line and other courses use a blend of instructional approaches.
Regardless of the instructional approach, Blackboard Vista “shells” are created for all courses, enabling
faculty to provide students with internet access to materials and other online learning tools.
Simulation Laboratories
The School of Nursing uses uniquely designed clinical simulation experiences to bring pre-license BSN
students into real-world environments for nursing practice. The clinical simulation learning laboratories
assist students to become familiar with assessing patients, formulating nursing diagnoses, designing and
implementing nursing intervention and evaluating the outcomes of care for patients in various clinical
situations across the life span. Students use critical thinking skills to make clinical judgments and key
decisions that impact the patient’s care. In addition, students are given the opportunity to learn about
and perform nursing techniques (such as medication administration or sterile procedures.) When
students enter the actual clinical setting, they are better prepared and more competent in performing
nursing roles. The clinical simulation learning laboratories at each site are equipped with beds,
mannequins, and high fidelity men, women, children and infant simulators.
Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences for students are individualized to meet requirements of the degree program,
individual course learning outcomes and the specific learning needs of students. Because of our belief in
the importance of providing health care in rural Arizona to culturally diverse populations, an emphasis is
placed on capitalizing on the unique resources of the area. Clinical agencies are chosen as appropriate
for objectives of each clinical course and include community health agencies, medical centers,
community hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and Indian Health Service agencies. Clinical coursework,
or practica, provide the student with hands-on experience in the various health care facilities. These
experiences allow the student to apply theory to the practice of nursing. Many undergraduate courses
have a 9- 12 hour/week clinical practicum; graduate clinical practica vary with the selected track of the
MS program.
Students need to apply for admission
to the nursing program in addition
to admission to NAU.
