Registered Nursing (RN)

Carrington’s registered nursing program trains future nurses to provide health care duties including taking medical histories, recording vital signs and symptoms, performing diagnostic tests, drawing blood, giving injections and more.

Courses, which are a mix of classroom lectures, practical training and clinical exercises, cover topics including anatomy and physiology, microbiology, maternal child nursing, medical-surgical nursing and pharmacology.

In addition to technical coursework, this degree program will include a broad base of general education course offerings focusing on:

• Communication skills
• English composition
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social sciences

A career as a registered nurse is more than a job, it’s a whole life. Successful RNs care about people and want to help others. When you complete Carrington College’s Registered Nursing program, you will be comfortable in all aspects of life as a registered nurse. From communicating with patients to clinical duties, Carrington’s lectures, training and clinical exercises mean you’ll have hands-on experience before you get to your first job. 

Upon completion of the Registered Nursing program, graduates will be able to: 

• Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to utilize the nursing process to provide care to clients in a variety of clinical settings 
• Demonstrate academic preparedness to take the NCLEX-RN examination 
• Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and professionalism

Carrington College’s Registered Nursing program is available at five campuses in three states. To learn more about each location, explore their pages.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mesa, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Reno, Nevada

Tucson, Arizona

We know college is a big step. But education can be the first step in building a better future. Your instructors, administrators and fellow students are there to help if you ever hit a bump in the road along the way. Carrington College offers a lot of great student support services designed to help you succeed.

Student Finance

From scholarships and grants to loans, we will help you understand how to search and apply for financial aid.²

Tutoring and Study Groups

For help with schoolwork, your instructors and Student Success Center staff are often available for tutoring or you can join in an open student study group.

Fixed Tuition Promise

How would you like to know what you’re going to pay, right from the beginning? We promise your tuition won’t change through the length of your program. It’s our commitment to you.³

Externships, Clinical Rotations and Fieldwork

Most programs include an opportunity to learn in the real world before you even graduate! You’ll earn impressive experience that looks great on your resume.

Career Services

After graduation, we’ll help you with your career search with everything from resume writing help to job search support to interview tips.

Registered Nurses provide patient care in a variety of settings including hospitals, private medical offices, clinics and home health care services. Between 2018 and 2028 the employment for registered nurses is expected to grow 12%, much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics⁴. 

The national average salary for a registered nurse is $71,730 per year or $34.48 per hour⁴. For detailed regional information please visit https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm

Because patients in hospitals and nursing facilities need 24/7 care, nurses often work in shifts. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be on-call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice.

Education is a major investment, but it’s an investment in your future. Every student comes to Carrington with unique financial needs. Carrington College is committed to helping you achieve your education goals. We participate in most financial assistance programs, both federal and state, as well as private financing. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Student loans, grants and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

For complete information on current tuition costs please see the Academic Catalog. 

The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call (602) 492-1086 to set an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) requires that the following student achievement outcome data be made publicly available.

• Graduates’ success on the licensure and/or certification examination
• Students’ completion of the nursing program
• Graduates obtaining a job

To view this information for Carrington College’s ACEN – accredited nursing programs, click here

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) requires that the following student achievement outcome data be made publicly available.

• Graduates’ success on the licensure and/or certification examination
• Students’ completion of the nursing program
• Graduates obtaining a job

To view this information for Carrington College’s ACEN – accredited nursing programs, click here

Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the US Department of Education. 

Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at accjc.org. 

The Registered Nursing program at the Reno campus is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN www.acenursing.org. 

The Registered Nursing program at the Phoenix campus is accredited, with conditions, by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)  www.acenursing.org. 

The Arizona Board of Nursing certifies that Mesa, Phoenix, and Tucson campuses have satisfactorily fulfilled requirements and are granted full approval. 

Carrington College holds approval for the Reno campus from the Nevada State Board of Nursing, nevadanursingboard.org.

Upon graduation from the Registered Nursing program, students are eligible to sit for the state licensing exam, which is required to achieve the Registered Nurse licensure.

The New Mexico Board of Nursing certifies that Carrington College is granted full approval in the State of New Mexico, bon.state.nm.us. 

For comprehensive information on Carrington’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation.