Students from Paradise Valley Community College’s Nursing Program joined peers from across the country and around the world for a week of learning, connection, and professional growth at the National Student Nurses' Association Convention in Houston, Texas last month.
The trip, which also included two PVCC nursing instructors, was made possible through the Arizona Department of Health Services Nurse Expansion Grant, designed to grow, sustain, and support nursing programs across Arizona by strengthening areas such as equipment, faculty development, and both student and professional advancement. Experiences like attending a national conference align directly with the grant’s mission by fostering leadership, engagement, and continued growth within the future nursing workforce.
“Nursing is more than what students see day-to-day in their coursework or clinicals. This conference allowed our students to witness firsthand what it means to be part of the nursing profession as a whole, and to see the many opportunities and possibilities that await them,” said PVCC Nursing Faculty Tina Barney, who attended the conference.
Throughout the week, students explored emerging trends in healthcare, gained hands-on skills, and built lasting professional networks. Breakout sessions, designed to strengthen both their academic preparation and clinical knowledge, included daily NCLEX review sessions focused on testing strategies, common pitfalls, and key content areas such as obstetrics, pediatrics, and mental health, which helped students prepare for the national licensure exam required to become a registered nurse. Additional sessions covered topics including pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, non-traditional nursing career paths, and emerging areas like the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Students also earned their certification in seizure recognition and first aid, gaining practical skills they can carry into clinical settings.
“The conference was amazing,” said PVCC nursing student Elisabeth Green. “I was able to speak with so many nursing leaders across a variety of fields, and it was a great chance for me and my peers to share some of our experiences.” Green is in block four and will complete her Associate of Applied Sciences in Nursing this month, while concurrently working on her bachelor’s at Northern Arizona University.
Reflecting on the conference, Green described it as an invaluable opportunity to connect with nursing leaders and peers across a wide range of specialties. She attended sessions on pharmacology strategies, clinical decision-making, and neurocritical care, gaining insights into patient assessment, treatment approaches, and the diverse roles nurses play within healthcare systems. She also explored specialty pathways such as wound care nursing and engaged with evidence-based research projects addressing community health issues from across the globe.
“I cannot imagine being a part of another school’s nursing program,” said Green, who serves as president of PVCC’s Student Nurses’ Association (SNA). “The instructors at PVCC work hard to engage you in your learning and to find ways to improve students’ understanding of complex topics. It is important to find your people in nursing school – those you can spend hours and months studying with, while also being open to new experiences and people. Healthcare is constantly changing, so by being open and welcoming, you can broaden your perspective and the empathetic care you provide.”
Candy Migaud, also in block four of PVCC’s nursing program, said the conference exceeded expectations, offering a wide range of learning and networking opportunities. “The networking was unbelievable with over 100+ booths from schools, organizations, volunteer, research, and educational resources (UWorld, Archer, Hurst, etc).”
Migaud also highlighted the need for earlier engagement in PVCC’s SNA to encourage students to build connections and explore the profession beyond the classroom from the start.
“There needs to be more outreach to the incoming blocks to motivate them to explore all of nursing while they begin this journey,” Migaud explained. “Yes, books and learning are important but making connections, interacting in a professional manner, and networking are all important too. I believe nursing school as a collective needs to move away from the fear factor and towards the excited and motivated side.”
Like, first-year nursing student Josh Carpenter, who also described the conference as extremely valuable, noting that the breakout sessions provided practical, real-world knowledge he can apply immediately in his training and future career. “These conversations gave me a clearer understanding of the steps I need to take moving forward and helped me begin building relationships for future opportunities,” he said.
PVCC’s Student Nurses’ Association plays a key role in creating these opportunities for students, offering leadership development, professional growth, community involvement, and peer connection throughout the program. Experiences like the NSNA Convention reflect the organization’s commitment to preparing students not just for graduation, but for meaningful, impactful careers in healthcare.
To learn more about PVCC’s Nursing program, visit the website.