Mesa Community College (MCC) is expanding its health care career education opportunities with the relocation of the Nurse Assisting Program to its Red Mountain Campus.
A new, 1,646-square-foot facility is being created by a renovation of the Acacia Village building, which will feature a 10-bed laboratory for student training. Although the new facility is based on the best aspects of the former nursing assistant teaching space on the Southern and Dobson Campus, federal Carl Perkins funds are being used at the Red Mountain site to provide all new, state-of-the-art equipment and media.
“In addition to this new facility, we have restructured our former full-semester program into eight weeks so we will be able to serve more students interested in this in-demand occupation,” said Diane Dietz, Nursing Department chair. “The course includes lectures, lab and clinical experience to prepare students for the State of Arizona exam to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or licensed nursing assistant (LNA).”
Nursing Assistants In Demand
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for nursing assistants is expected to continue to increase at a much faster pace than most occupations. Nursing assistants provide basic care to young and old patients under the direction of nursing staff. Diane added that the MCC program is highly regarded and extremely affordable compared to for-profit colleges.
The Nurse Assisting Program often is where many students begin their journey to becoming a registered nurse (RN). The MCC Nursing Program is ranked No.1 in the RegisteredNursing.org list of 2019 Best RN Programs in Arizona. The ranking is based on analysis of National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) RN pass rates, comparing the percentage of graduates who pass the exam on the first attempt among the 27 RN programs in the state.
Pending site evaluation and approval by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, the Nurse Assisting Program at the Red Mountain campus is scheduled to begin in the Fall 2019 semester. For registration information about the Nurse Assisting Program, contact Tamara Lawrence, nursing administrative specialist-senior, at tamara.lawrence@mesacc.edu.
MCC Red Mountain Campus
The MCC Red Mountain Campus is known for its stunning desert environment, undergraduate research opportunities and STEM education. Dedicated to sustainability and the environment, the campus has been an important partner with AZGFD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden in protecting threatened wildlife species.
Transfer agreements with MCC university partners can put students on the most direct path for those pursuing bachelor’s degrees. At MCC, students pay 75 percent less than at most four-year institutions and save on free services, which quickly can add up on other campuses, such as admission, parking, tutoring, placement testing, career advising, counseling and help finding a job.
Find out more about the MCC Red Mountain Campus at mesacc.edu/red-mountain, or go to mesacc.edu for details about becoming an MCC student, including financial aid and registration.