Omaha City Wire

Creighton University’s College of Nursing has been awarded $11.9 million from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Of that total, $5.9 million will go toward scholarships for 80 accelerated nursing students and supporting their success with the hiring of an additional academic counselor, a clinical placement coordinator and a program manager. The other $6 million will go toward further enhancing Creighton’s campus in Phoenix, pushing forward the University’s intentional plan to create cutting-edge academic spaces to help meet the future healthcare needs of Arizona.

“Creighton’s commitment to Arizona has been longstanding and this incredible investment will strengthen our ability to provide the state with highly trained nurses,” said the Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, SJ, president of Creighton University. “We feel honored and blessed to be able to help address critical nursing shortages and boost access to care for people across the state.”

Nurses play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities, and the need for them in Arizona is critical as the state’s population continues to grow. Nurses who graduate from Creighton’s accelerated 12-month program with this scholarship will be clinic-ready and committed to working in Arizona for at least four years, ultimately creating a more talented and diverse nursing workforce within the state.

“We are grateful for this support and the recognition that Creighton’s national reputation for excellence will help to attract some of the best and brightest students to Arizona,” said Catherine Todero, PhD, dean of Creighton’s College of Nursing and vice provost of Health Sciences Campuses. “By providing exceptional nursing education and meaningful clinical experiences Creighton is equipping graduates to serve and succeed in Arizona, delivering a significant return on investment for the state.”

Creighton University’s efforts to provide better healthcare in Arizona began in 2005 with medical student rotations at St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 2021, Creighton opened a $100 million health sciences campus in Phoenix that features a full four-year medical school and physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and nursing programs. By 2025, Creighton’s Phoenix campus will be home to nearly 1,000 health sciences students. 

Original source can be found here.