When Laura Byers-Wells, MSN, RN, first picked up a Cherry Ames novel at the age of 12, she had no idea it would spark a lifelong passion for nursing. “I devoured them,” she recalled. “Just the different aspects, the different experiences, and it all seemed so exciting to me.”
Reading about Cherry, a nurse and the central character of a series of mystery novels, lit a spark that led her to a career that has spanned nearly four decades and has included critical care, cardiovascular work, and now the classroom.
“I have been a nurse since 1987,” Laura said. “I started my journey in the hospital in critical care and…it was so incredibly crazy.”
After years in the telemetry unit, cardiac rehab, and interventional radiology, Laura found herself drawn to education. “I thought, maybe this is something I could do to leave a legacy and impart what I have learned to students.” Laura went on to earn her master’s degree in nursing education and joined Arizona College of Nursing as full-time faculty in March 2025.
Guiding Students From Classroom to Clinicals
In her current role as Simulation Manager, Laura guides students as they build clinical competency through simulation-based learning. She challenges them to reflect on their experiences, fostering critical thinking and clinical judgment beyond task performance. In addition to managing the simulation program, Laura recently taught Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Evidence-Based Practice courses and supervised clinical rotations. “I had about eight students in my Med-Surg I practicum and around 14 students in both Med-Surg and Pharm I,” she shared.
For Laura, clinical days and now the simulation lab are where the real magic happens for her and her students. “It’s a whole different feel and vibe when you’re able to observe the students, help them with different skills, and then talk about it afterwards during a debriefing period,” she said. “I really enjoy both aspects. These can be long days but are great experiences.”
For clinical, students start early in the morning, arriving at the hospital by 6:30 am to receive reports from nurses and shadow them throughout the day. Laura shared that they help with everything, including passing trays, repositioning patients, taking vital signs, and even helping with wound care and more as they progress. “They are so excited. I remember one group jumping up and down when they started their first IV. It was just so cute!”
Simulation days begin at 8:00 a.m., with students rotating through a series of hands-on scenarios that allow them to apply and refine their clinical skills. Each session concludes with a guided debrief, where students reflect on their experiences, recognize strengths, and identify areas for further development.
Bridging the Gap Between Learning and Teaching
Though Laura’s experience is vast, she is quick to point out that teaching has taught her just as much as nursing ever did.
“I love to see the light bulb come on,” she said. “It is so rewarding when what [I’m telling them clicks]. I love that moment.”
Her own journey as a student helps her relate to those currently taking her classes. “I know what they are seeing in Canvas. Of course, the instructor side is new, but it’s exciting to bridge both perspectives,” she explained.
For Laura, what truly sets Arizona College of Nursing apart from other nursing colleges and careers is the team. “I love the staff here. My mentor is fantastic, and our Dean is phenomenal. It has been a great experience,” she said. “We are always striving to do better, not just settling for good enough. Arizona really has a standard of excellence.”
That culture of support and collaboration motivates Laura to keep giving it her all, both in and out of the classroom. “When you’re in an environment that’s not conducive to excellence, it brings [everything] down,” she reflected. “But here, it is the opposite. It seems like we’re always striving to do better.”
In April 2026, Laura even watched her first group of students graduate. “Some of them are ready to go right into practice, others have aspirations to be nurse practitioners, and it’s just very rewarding to see what we’re producing, and how excited these students are.”
Laura believes her role at the College is more than just teaching. It is paying forward the care, skill, and resilience that defined her own career as a nurse. Seeing her students’ growth reminds her just why she became a nurse in the first place.
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 September 8, 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.