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 Brandi Victor as she shares some of her journey to nursing:
Patient Turned Nurse
Meet AZCN Values Scholarship Recipient, Brandi Victor, a Nursing Student at the AZCN Cincinnati Campus. Brandi’s journey into nursing was inspired by her own health challenges, including diabetes and kidney failure. She chose to pursue nursing after a nurse at her dialysis clinic encouraged her, recognizing her natural ability to educate and help others.
Brandi Shares Her Path to Nursing
After having both of my children I began to get ill. I started dialysis at 34 years old. My dialysis healthcare team encouraged me to become a nurse because I educated myself and would teach other patients about organ transplants. I received my kidney transplant in 2016 and went to school in 2017. I became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2018. I then got a second transplant and received a pancreas. It was quite an adjustment, but I was willing to do it. I went back to school to obtain my Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) but unfortunately had to withdraw because my pancreas rejected. I learned so much about healthcare being a “professional” patient my entire life. I know my life experiences will help others.
Q&A with Brandi
Q: How did you find Arizona College of Nursing?
A: I was at a different school…and during one of the lessons, they were not teaching accurate information. I said, ‘These are my cohorts, and these are people’s lives that you’re dealing with.’ I don’t want other people to be damaged potentially by learning improper information. I was asked, ‘How do you know?’ And I said, ‘Because I live it.’ So, when you’re talking about diabetes and you’re talking about nephrology, I live that daily even to this day. You need to know accurate information. So, I talked to the counselor, and I said, ‘I think I need to withdraw.’
…I researched other schools and [thought], ‘Okay, you’re going to graduate with your ASN to turn around and get your BSN. Might as well go straight for your BSN.’ I went through the process, I filed the application, I was contacted, I interviewed, and I just kind of fell in love with the fact that everyone there has gone through and at least got their master’s in nursing and is teaching us. So, from experience, that motivated me, and I felt like I was making a good decision.
Q: How has AZCN been for you so far?
A: It’s a family. Each of the teachers and each of the classmates are willing to help one another and they make themselves available. Every faculty has the same attitude. [They are] willing to go above and beyond, set study hours with you outside of class, on breaks, and do different things like that to help you achieve. It is very supportive and very encouraging to know that we have such a strong support system between ourselves and the faculty that we work with. It’s an amazing school.
Q: Do you have any standout moments from your time at AZCN so far?
A: I was in microbio and I wanted to be successful. The teacher, Doctor Broughton, was amazing. He would show us how moving around the room activates different parts of our brain to help you with recollection of what you’re learning. He made class fun. It was very interactive and memorable. And it was on his exam that I got the absolute highest score. I tried to not scream and jump for joy…I started to leave, and he came over and was like, ‘you are absolutely amazing, you’re going to be an amazing nurse.’ Afterwards, I texted him and said, ‘I want to thank you for being a phenomenal teacher. You made me want to learn.’ I was excited to come to his class. I’m excited to go to all classes, but I was really excited to come to his class. He was very encouraging to the whole class, so I think that was my most memorable moment, getting the highest grade on the final and being able to go off into core happily.
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.