ARIZONA FACT SHEET 2013
ARIZONA ACTION
COALITION (AZAC)
The Arizona Action Coalition
was established in March,
2012 to guide the
implementation of the
recommendations of the
Institute of Medicine’s Future
of Nursing Report.
Significant projects include:

A self-study of
Arizona’s current
nursing climate

Aligning nursing
curriculum with
practice expectations

Plan to establish an
AZ Healthcare
Workforce Center
ARIZONA DEMOGRAPHICS
Arizona has a much higher proportion of Hispanic or Latino citizens and
lower proportion of Black or African Americans than other states. Arizona
has the largest American Indian population among the United States. Over
the next decade, the average age of Arizona’s population will rise. By 2020,
one-fourth of all Arizonans will be over the age of 60. Approximately onesixth of the population of Arizona qualifies for Medicaid.
ARIZONA NURSES
Approximately 84% of nurses in Arizona are Caucasian with the next highest
ethnic category being Hispanic at approximately 5-6 %.(CHIR, 2009). The
ratio of RNs employed in nursing to 100,000 residents increased from 748 in
2000’s to 934 in 2011 (CHIR, 2012). The percent of currently licensed RNs
educated at the baccalaureate in nursing or above is below the national
average at 37%. Approximately 32% of working nurses are age 55 and older.
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES
Nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives enjoy numerous privileges
in Arizona including independent practice and full prescribing. Certified
registered nurse anesthetists lack full prescribing privileges and must
administer anesthesia in the presence of a physician. Clinical nurse
specialists lack prescriptive privileges.
NURSING EDUCATION
AZ hosts seven practical nursing programs, 24 associate-degree RN nursing
programs, eight baccalaureate entry nursing programs and one master’s
entry nursing program. Registered nursing program graduates have
increased 165% in the last 10 years from 1074 to 2852. (Randolph, 2012).
Baccalaureate degrees were earned by 33% of Arizona RN graduates in 2013
(AZBN, 2013). AZ has embraced a concurrent AD/BSN enrollment model to
increase the proportion of BSN prepared nurses. RN to BSN, Master’s and
Doctorate programs have all more than doubled graduates in the last 5 years.
NURSING RESIDENCIES
Less than half (46%) of a sample of employed newly licensed nurses reported
that their employer offered a residency program in 2012. Ninety-three percent of those whose employer offered a
residency program worked in acute care settings; 3% worked in long-term care. The most common length of the hospital
residency programs was 2-3 months (31%). (Randolph, 2012)
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Arizona Action Coalition www.futureofnursingaz.com
Nursing Statistics in AZ (May 10, 2013)
Registered Nurses
74.516
Licensed Practical Nurses
11,013
Nurse Midwives
211
Clinical Nurse Specialists
201
Nurse Anesthetists
640
Nurse Practitioners
4,205
Nurse practitioners and certified nurse
midwives enjoy numerous privileges in
Arizona including independent practice and
full prescribing.
PRIMARY CARE IN AZ
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Arizona needs
700 more primary care physicians to meet the national average. In 2010,
Arizona ranked 43rd in number of primary care physicians per 100,000
people with 68 as opposed to the national average of 79. At the root of this
shortage is a lack of residency programs that can attract and retain primary
care physicians in the state.
ARIZONA MEDICAID
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona's
Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents.
Individuals must meet certain income and other requirements.
HELP IMPROVE HEALTH IN ARIZONA
All Arizonans are affected by health care (whether as a patient, provider,
family member or friend) and all have a stake in how care is delivered. By
joining the Arizona Action Coalition you have an opportunity to be part of a
movement that is striving to increase access to care and advance the health of
Arizona residents through the advancement of nursing.
WE NEED STAKEHOLDERS TO:




Choose a committee of interest to you (Finance, Practice, Education, Leadership, Communication and
Outreach and Workforce) that is working on the eight recommendations from the IOM report
Provide the AZAC with connections and resources that can help increase advocacy efforts and sustain
longevity of the coalition
Provide funding
Increase networking possibilities by recruiting other entities to join the coalition and solicit their
support/create a Arizona Action Coalition presence at business events
CO-LEAD ORGANIZATIONS & CONTACTS
Pamela Randolph (prandolph@azbn.gov )
Greg Vigdor (gvigdor@azhha.org)
Robin Schaeffer (robin@aznurse.org)
Marie Fredette (info@azhomecare.org )
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Arizona Action Coalition www.futureofnursingaz.com