From the Stage to the Clinic: Doherty’s Path to Nursing

Life has a funny way of leading us down unexpected roads. For many, the journey into nursing is a direct one, fueled by a lifelong passion. But for Professor Joseph Doherty at Arizona College of Nursing – Las Vegas, his road to teaching and nursing started not in a science lab, but on a different kind of stage: as a musical theater major with a concentration in dance.

“I was torn between that and nursing—two totally different things,” he recalls. At the time, he was even preparing to take over a dance studio. So, what made him trade in his dancing shoes for scrubs?

The Pull Towards Healing

Even amidst his artistic pursuits, Doherty felt a deeper calling. “I’m an empath,” he shares, “and I’ve always been driven to help people. And I’ve also been fascinated with the human body, just anatomy and physiology, and just the science of medicine, really.”

While he considered medical school, a push from an unexpected source solidified his direction.

“One of my good friends’ mothers was a nurse, and she had three sisters, and they were all nurses,” Professor Doherty explains. “They were like, ‘You need to go to nursing school!'”

That, combined with his dad’s practical advice that a dance studio didn’t necessarily require a degree, meant he could pursue his nursing education. “And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” he states emphatically.

The Thrill of the ER

Professor Doherty dove right into emergency nursing, starting in a Nurse Apprenticeship Program in Boston. He quickly knew it was the right move.

“I got right into the ER and I just fell in love. I was like, this is where I want to be.”

His innate ability to explain things and his remarkable patience quickly became evident. Just a year into his nursing career, he was asked to precept new graduates.

“I’m a new grad,” he remembered thinking, “but [I] love to explain things and have the patience that’s needed for a new graduate nurse coming into the ER setting.”

What truly captivated him in emergency and critical care was the autonomy and the demand for critical thinking. He explains that “you really have to have a good solid foundation as well as critical thinking skills.”

“Very important to anticipate the patient’s needs… I’m at the bedside, I’m doing the assessments, and then I’m already anticipating what the provider’s going to order based off of my assessment. So, I loved that.” This drive for deeper understanding even led him to pursue his master’s as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

A Move to the AZCN Classroom

After years on the front lines of healthcare, Professor Doherty realized he missed a crucial element from his past: teaching.

“I missed teaching when I sold the dance studio and moved to Las Vegas,” he explains. So, when he stumbled upon an educator position at Arizona College of Nursing, it felt like fate.

“I clicked apply and I thought nothing of it, and I got a call and interviewed and, again, one of the best decisions of my life was taking this position. It’s brought me back. It’s combined both my passions really, right, with teaching and with nursing.”

He has taught everything from fundamentals with the students he describes as “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” to critical care, where he now guides those who are “one foot out the door.” This unique perspective allows him to witness the entire transformational journey of his students.

But what truly fills Professor Doherty’s cup is the success of his students.

“Honestly, it’s the students,” he says. “I love the job, but I love seeing the progression… I just like to see others succeed. I think that’s what I love so much about the job and really helping those that are struggling and don’t think that they can do it.”

When teaching fundamentals, he took it upon himself to hold 20 extra, two-hour math sessions to ensure every student passed their dosage calculation exam with 100%. “Every student passed that dosage calc exam,” he beams. “And I don’t do it for the praise. I do it so they get the praise, right? So, it’s a feeling of I’m fulfilled because they are fulfilled.”

As an NCLEX Success Specialist for the college, his commitment continues to pay off. “I’ve had three students take their NCLEX [recently], and all three have passed!” he proudly shares.

A Personalized Approach to Nursing Education

Professor Doherty believes that nursing education, like nursing itself, isn’t black and white. “It’s because I make it a point to connect with each and every student as an individual,” he explains. “Everyone has a backstory. Everyone’s going through something.”

For those unsure about their path, Professor Doherty offers powerful reassurance: “Push through… There’s so many jobs out there that don’t require you to do bedside nursing. The job market is just… so diverse.”

Professor Doherty’s inspiring journey from the stage to critical care, and now to the classroom, exemplifies the diverse paths that lead to nursing and the profound impact dedicated educators have on the next generation of healthcare professionals. We are incredibly proud to have him as part of the Arizona College of Nursing family.

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Information in this post is accurate as of October 20, 2025.

*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.