Pioneering Night Clinicals: How AZCN and Banner Health Are Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce

In healthcare, innovation often happens at the bedside. But sometimes, the most impactful innovations occur in how we prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. The partnership between Banner Health and Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) is proving this through a forward-thinking approach to clinical education: implementing night clinical experiences for prelicensure nursing students.

The Nursing Workforce Reality

The demands of healthcare don’t follow a 9-to-5 schedule—and neither should nursing education. Recent data from Banner Health facilities in Arizona, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming reveals a striking reality: 61% of new graduate nursing positions are for night shifts, with only 39% for day shifts. Current vacancies follow a similar pattern, with 60% of open positions being for nights.

Yet traditionally, nursing students have received clinical education almost exclusively during daytime hours, creating a disconnect between education and workplace realities. At Banner Health facilities, only 8.3% of available night shifts were being utilized for student learning, compared to 42.2% of day shifts.

“There’s a common misconception that night shift nurses don’t do anything on nights and the patients don’t do anything but sleep. Nothing could be farther from the truth,” explains Becky Childs, BSN, RN, Facility RN Clinical Education Specialist at Banner Health. “Nights are hopping, you just have fewer ancillary personnel on site. It’s a great way to develop your critical thinking skills because you must figure out how to handle critical situations without as much help.”

Benefits for BSN Students

For nursing students in the BSN program at AZCN, training during evening hours offers unique advantages that day experiences simply cannot provide.

The pace of nights allows for more focused learning and reflection, giving students the opportunity to absorb information without the distractions of daytime hours. Evening and overnight rotations can offer more one-on-one teaching opportunities for preceptors to mentor and guide students.

“This setting also challenges students to adapt to different routines and patient needs, building flexibility and resilience,” notes Kristie Gill, RN Operations Support Specialist in Medical-Surgical at Banner Health. “Overall, the experience supports the development of critical thinking, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills, all of which are essential for a smooth and successful transition into professional nursing practice.”

This innovative approach particularly benefits Medical-Surgical rotations, where students can experience a different rhythm of patient care and develop confidence in their clinical decision-making with supportive preceptors who have more time to teach.

Flexible Options for Today’s Nursing Students

One of the most significant advantages of this initiative is how it accommodates the diverse needs of today’s nursing students, many of whom are balancing work, family, and education.

For career-changers and working parents—who make up a significant portion of AZCN’s student population—evening clinical rotations provide flexibility that traditional daytime hours cannot. AZCN student demographic data indicates that approximately 47% of students have children or dependents and many work while pursuing their degree, making flexible options that fit around existing commitments essential for keeping BSN programs more accessible.

Students often express that they need educational options that work around their busy lives rather than forcing difficult choices between family responsibilities and career advancement. The opportunity to complete clinical hours during evening hours allows many to maintain part-time work while gaining the hands-on experience needed to launch a nursing career.

Implementation Success

This innovative approach didn’t happen overnight. It began as a pilot in Fall 2022, with two to three evening shifts per student in specific rotations. By Summer 2023, the initiative expanded to include more pediatric clinical experiences and began recruiting dedicated faculty for evening and overnight hours.

As this approach grew, so did its impact. By Spring 2024, Banner Health was seeing stabilization of the nursing workforce with fewer preceptorships needed and more night shift placements available. Faculty development focused on various shift times and mid-shift conferences was introduced, further enhancing the educational experience.

The results have been impressive. AZCN has become a Preferred Partner with several large Banner Health facilities, largely attributed to flexibility and creative utilization of available capacities. Students now generally understand that working various shifts is a normal part of the curriculum, and a strong faculty pool has developed to support these experiences.

Meeting Workforce Demands Head-On

This innovative approach directly addresses the most pressing needs in today’s healthcare workforce. With most new graduate positions and current vacancies at Banner Health being for evening and overnight shifts, students with varied clinical experiences enter the workforce better prepared for the realities of hospital staffing.

The partnership between AZCN and Banner Health exemplifies how educational institutions and healthcare systems can work together to align workforce needs with educational preparation. This collaboration has created a pipeline of BSN-prepared nurses who are ready for the challenges of working all shifts and who can step into high-demand positions with confidence.

What began as a response to clinical partners’ needs has evolved into a valuable educational enhancement. Evening and overnight rotations offer learning opportunities that complement daytime experiences and create more well-rounded graduates ready to enter the workforce.

The Future of Clinical Education

The partnership continues to maintain approximately 30% of clinical experiences during evening hours, with an ongoing commitment to offering student preferences for shift assignments when possible. This balance ensures students gain comprehensive experience while still having options that accommodate their individual situations.

The partnership between Banner Health and AZCN continues to evolve, with regular check-ins between campus leaders and clinical partners ensuring the approach remains responsive to both educational goals and workforce needs.

This collaborative model represents a fundamental shift in nursing education. Rather than simply filling shifts, it’s about better preparing nurses for the full spectrum of what healthcare delivery entails across all hours of the day and night.

Start Your Nursing Journey

This forward-thinking clinical approach is just one example of how AZCN’s BSN program prepares students for success in today’s healthcare environment. By combining comprehensive classroom learning with diverse clinical experiences, including valuable evening and overnight rotations, graduates enter the workforce with confidence and competence.

If you’re considering a career in nursing, this partnership offers a distinct advantage: real-world preparation that aligns with actual workforce needs. Students benefit from flexible scheduling options, supportive faculty, and clinical experiences designed to build the skills most in demand by employers like Banner Health.

Ready to learn more? Explore AZCN’s BSN program and discover how this innovative approach to nursing education could be the perfect fit for your future career.

This article was developed in partnership between Banner Health and Arizona College of Nursing to highlight innovative approaches to nursing education and workforce development.

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Information in this post is accurate as of September 12, 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.