Many nursing students worry about whether they’ll feel prepared for the realities of patient care. At Arizona College of Nursing, faculty like Laura Enright, MSN, RN, iRNPA, bring decades of real-world experience into the classroom to bridge that gap.
Enright’s journey to nursing education began with a late start in college and a clear passion for people-oriented work. Nursing, she discovered, was the perfect fit.
“I have not one regret. I love being a nurse,” she says.
Building a Career on Passion and Purpose
For Enright, nursing has always been about two core passions: patient-centered care and empowering others. Her approach to patient care is guided by a simple, yet powerful, philosophy.
“At the end of the day you just have to look at them, and if this is the person I loved most in the world, how would I want them to be treated?” she shares.
Equally important to her is the empowerment of her students. She understands that working in the healthcare field can be a challenge, and she focuses much of her time and effort on ways she can give new nurses the tools to feel confident. Her goal: to ensure that what her students and future nurses do is not only safe but also meaningful.
Enright wants every student to leave her classroom feeling like they can truly make a difference, not just as a professional, but as a person.
“I strive to make sure students – and all nurses – feel empowered,” she shares.
From Bedside to Educator
Enright’s extensive clinical background spans from intermediate care to working at a Level 1 trauma center ICU in Chicago. These experiences provided her with a deep understanding of high-acuity nursing. However, a unique opportunity came to her while working in the ICU. It was here that she was asked to become a nurse educator for a medical equipment company.
“I learned what perceived education should be, what nurses respond to,” she says. “I became their lead clinical educator, and […] I found out I really wanted to teach.”
This role opened her eyes to the exciting and seemingly never-ending world of education. She discovered her passion for teaching and knew that she wanted to expand her skills beyond just one clinical area.
Then, she found Arizona College of Nursing, which she explains offered the perfect opportunity to teach across multiple areas, including didactic, lab, and clinical. This “three-pronged” approach is a significant advantage for AZCN students, giving them the opportunity to learn from an instructor who can guide them through the full spectrum of their training.
By seeing the same faculty member in each environment, students experience more consistency and are able to have a level of mentorship that deepens their learning at every step.
Enright loves being in the lab, where she can get hands-on with students and help them truly understand the material.
Celebrating Student Success and Innovation
Enright enjoys working at Arizona College of Nursing for many reasons, including its focus on student success. She is proud of her team for constantly evaluating and improving the curriculum to ensure students are well-prepared for their careers.
“It’s always student focused and it’s always about making sure they are ready to get out of here the best way,” she explains.
One of her proudest achievements has been the development of a skills boot camp. This program uses data to identify areas where students are struggling and provides them with targeted support. It is a testament to the college’s commitment to creating confident and competent nurses.
The greatest reward, she says, is seeing students graduate and begin their careers.
“It has been awesome lately to hear from our alumni that are… winning like 3 DAISY Awards,” she says.
The DAISY award is a nationally recognized honor that is given to nurses who provide exceptional, compassionate care. For Enright, seeing her former students earn this award is a reminder of their dedication and the impact they will make in the field.
For Enright, the “a-ha!” moments in the classroom and the joy of seeing her students succeed are what keep her motivated. Her journey from the ICU to the classroom is a powerful reminder that nursing is not just a job, but a calling to empower and care for others.
Start Your Future in Nursing Today
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Information in this post is accurate as of January 12, 2026.
*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.