By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Arizona has the worst nursing shortage in the nation, according to the state nursing board, and an accelerated Tucson program is helping students get into the field more quickly.
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Arizona was projected to have 28,100 nursing vacancies by 2025, making it the worst nursing shortage in the country.
Jennifer Morelli, nursing program director at Pima Medical Institute, works as a bedside nurse and sees the shortage firsthand.
“It’s harder to round on all the patients, give that quality care that all the patients obviously deserve,” Morelli said.
Students notice the shortage during their required clinicals.
“The nurses are constantly overrun with patients and they need help, but they can’t get any help, and we’re kind of their best help,” said Gavin Small, a nursing student at Pima Medical Institute.
Small said nurses shouldn’t have to rely on students, and that’s one reason he wants to enter the field as soon as possible.
“It is, in my opinion, the definition of human compassion,” Small said. “If you enjoy being with people and you enjoy taking care of them, it is perfect.”
Pima Medical Institute has an accelerated program to get students into the nursing field faster.
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“The sooner we can get students out there with an associate’s with the hands-on skills is key, knowing they can continue their education once they’re out there and working,” Morelli said.
National Council Licensure Exams for Nursing show 91 percent of Pima Medical Institute students pass the exam, on par with the Pima Community College program.
The accelerated program costs around $60,000 for 20 months of instruction. Small said the cost makes sense when compared to a four-year university.
“It kind of cuts some of that time down. It can cut down on cost because it doesn’t have all that living expenses,” Small said.
Small said he’ll start his career of compassion as soon as possible.
“There’s something deep-rooted in it, where you just want to do it,” Small said.
The deadline to enroll in the nursing program for fall is coming up in August.
Isabela Lisco is a Report for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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