Grand Canyon University in Tucson helping reduce shortage of nurses
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 194,500 registered nurse positions are open each year.
www.kgun9.comHere are the latest developments I could verify about Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions:
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GCU announced that it expected to graduate more than 4,100 undergraduate nursing students in the 2025–26 academic year across BSN, RN-to-BSN, and accelerated BSN programs. This highlights a continuing expansion of capacity to address the national nursing shortage. The announcement frame emphasizes both the volume of graduates and strong licensure outcomes as indicators of program quality. If you’d like, I can pull the full press release text or a summary with exact figures and terms. [Source: PR Newswire coverage of GCU’s 2025–26 nursing graduation projections][1]
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GCU has expanded its ABSN (Accelerated BSN) footprint with 11 sites nationwide, including locations across Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, and Florida. These sites operate with a hybrid model combining online coursework, in-person labs, and simulations, enabling quicker pathways into nursing careers for students with prior college experience. This expansion aligns with national efforts to widen access to BSN education. [Source: PR Newswire release and GCU communications][1]
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In Arizona specifically, GCU opened or expanded nursing sites previously in Chandler and other Phoenix-area locations, part of a broader multi-site strategy to increase throughput and accessibility for nursing students in the region. The Chandler site, opened in 2023, represents the ongoing push to address local and regional nursing shortages by increasing capacity. [Source: Chandler city press release and GCU coverage][2]
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Third-party profiles and university news channels have highlighted GCU’s nursing program strengths, including strong NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates (above national averages) and a broad pipeline approach that blends traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, and ABSN pathways. These signals suggest a sustained focus on outcomes in addition to volume. [Source: RegisteredNursing.org post and GCU News coverage][3]
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GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions emphasizes simulation labs, clinical placements, and a blend of online and on-campus learning to prepare nurses for licensure and practice. The program branding consistently points to real-world readiness and servant-leadership within healthcare. [Source: GCU promotional materials and program descriptions][8][9]
Would you like:
- A concise one-page summary with key numbers (grad counts, pass rates, site locations) and a short interpretation of what it means for workforce supply?
- Direct links to the primary sources (PR Newswire release, GCU News articles, and channel-specific pages) for deeper reading?
- A quick comparison of GCU’s nursing pathways (BSN, RN-to-BSN, ABSN) and typical time-to-degree across sites?