Native American nursing degree programs

The American Indian Program at NAU

The School of Nursing’s American Indian Program (AIP) is the first and only reservation-based pathway to an entry-level nursing degree. Since 1996, more than 150 Native American nurses have entered into practice as licensed RNs, serving the healthcare needs of native peoples in reservations and adjacent communities.

What degree will I get?

Students in this program complete prerequisite courses through NAU or a local community college, then apply for admission to NAU’s traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. In the BSN program students learn to provide nursing care for individuals, families, and communities in urban and rural settings. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and begin a rewarding career in healthcare.

How does the program work?

AIP admits 10 students each fall semester. We give priority to Native Americans who are members of federally recognized tribes. Students in the program gain classroom and clinical experience in facilities located on the Flagstaff Mountain campus, in Indian Health Service facilities, and at hospital and community locations adjacent to the Navajo Nation.

Participants will complete the program in Flagstaff. On Monday and Tuesday are lecture and lab, with simulations on Wednesday and clinical rotations on Thursday. There is also an online class with flexible scheduling. In the last semester, AIP students can complete their preceptorship in their own community on the reservation or anywhere in the state of Arizona.

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Get information on prerequisites, dates and deadlines, and application requirements.

Undergraduate programs

Graduate programs