This is a multi-part series celebrating Arizona College of Nursing students, their stories, and their embodiment of the AZCN values.
In 2023, Arizona College of Nursing established the AZCN Values Scholarship Fund as a way to celebrate our values with our colleagues, our students, and the communities in which we serve. Each time an AZCN colleague recognizes another colleague for demonstrating our values, $5 is added to the scholarship fund. These add up to $5,000 scholarships awarded to students the following year who have demonstrated our values within their communities.
Join us in celebrating 2025 AZCN Values Scholarship recipient Amanda Anile as she shares some of her journey to nursing: 
From CNA to BSN Student
Meet AZCN Values Scholarship Recipient, Amanda Anile, a Nursing Student at the AZCN Falls Church Campus. Amanda began her career as a certified nursing assistant, and her journey is shaped by a strong desire to help others and the values instilled by her immigrant parents.
Amanda Shares Her Path to Nursing
From an early age, I have aspired to become a nurse, driven by a deep desire to help others and give back to my community. Growing up in an immigrant family, I witnessed firsthand the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. My parents immigrated from Sicily in the 1980s in search of better opportunities, but like many families new to the country, they were unaware of the healthcare resources available to them. I remember living in a small two-bedroom apartment with my siblings and grandmother, watching my mother struggle to access basic healthcare services such as WIC and Medicaid. Without guidance, she did not fully understand the importance of preventive care, routine check-ups, or managing chronic conditions.
These experiences instilled in me a strong commitment to bridging the gap in healthcare access and education. I want to be a nurse who not only provides high-quality care but also serves as an advocate and educator for individuals who face similar challenges. No one should have to struggle alone when seeking medical assistance, and I want to be a resource for those who may feel lost or underserved.
Q&A with Amanda
Q: How did you find yourself at Arizona College of Nursing?
A: [Once] I decided to pursue a career in nursing; I searched various campuses. It took me a few years before I decided that Arizona College of Nursing was the right fit for me. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I knew this was the place for me.
Q: How was your experience at AZCN when you started?
A: I felt welcome when I started. The professors were amazing. Everybody’s helpful…everybody was welcoming, and it was just an easy campus to get around on because I like these smaller community campuses. The teacher-to-student ratio was great for me because I learned better that way. It’s attentive to me if I need anything, and the teachers are willing and accommodating. That helped me out and made me feel like I was at the right place.
 
Q: How have you grown through your nursing journey at Arizona College of Nursing?
A: I think that this journey has helped me gain more confidence and more independence, especially after everything that I’ve been through in the past 6 months. Also, it’s a reassurance that I know that I can do whatever I put my mind to and that nobody’s going to stop me from doing what I want to. I have the determination, and my parents instilled all those values in me [and set] the building blocks for me to be successful in life, to gain my own independence and my own identity, and be the person that I want to be and the person that I am now.
Start Your Future in Nursing Today
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Information in this post is accurate as of .
*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.