---
title: "From the Stage to the Clinic: Doherty’s Path to Nursing"
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/from-stage-to-clinic-dohertys-path-to-nursing/"
type: post
date_published: 2025-10-20
date_modified: 2026-04-10
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 950
reading_time: 5 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/from-stage-to-clinic-dohertys-path-to-nursing/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/How-to-Become-an-ER-Nurse-1.webp"
categories:
  - Nursing School
topic:
  - Nursing
---

# From the Stage to the Clinic: Doherty’s Path to Nursing

![How to Become an ER Nurse](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/How-to-Become-an-ER-Nurse-1.webp)

Life has a funny way of leading us down unexpected roads. For many, the journey
into nursing is a direct one, fueled by a lifelong passion. But for Professor
Joseph Doherty at
[Arizona College of Nursing – Las Vegas](https://arizonacollege.edu/las-vegas-nursing-school/)
, his road to teaching and nursing started not in a science lab, but on a
different kind of stage: as a musical theater major with a concentration in
dance.

“I was torn between that and nursing—two totally different things,” he recalls.
At the time, he was even preparing to take over a dance studio. So, what made
him trade in his dancing shoes for scrubs?

## The Pull Towards Healing

Even amidst his artistic pursuits, Doherty felt a deeper calling. “I’m an
empath,” he shares, “and I’ve always been driven to help people. And I’ve also
been fascinated with the human body, just anatomy and physiology, and just the
science of medicine, really.”

While he [considered medical school](https://arizonacollege.edu/admissions/), a
push from an unexpected source solidified his direction.

“One of my good friends’ mothers was a nurse, and she had three sisters, and
they were all nurses,” Professor Doherty explains. “They were like, ‘You need to
go to nursing school!'”

That, combined with his dad’s practical advice that a dance studio didn’t
necessarily require a degree, meant he could pursue his nursing education. “And
it’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” he states emphatically.

## The Thrill of the ER

Professor Doherty dove right into emergency nursing, starting in a Nurse
Apprenticeship Program in Boston. He quickly knew it was the right move.

![Emergency Room Nurse from AZCN Nursing Program](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Emergency-Room-Nurse-from-AZCN-Nursing-Program.webp?w=300)

“I got right into the ER and I just fell in love. I was like, this is where I
want to be.”

His innate ability to explain things and his remarkable patience quickly became
evident. Just a year into his nursing career, he was asked to precept new
graduates.

“I’m a new grad,” he remembered thinking, “but [I] love to explain things and
have the patience that’s needed for a new graduate nurse coming into the ER
setting.”

What truly captivated him in emergency and critical care was the autonomy and
the demand for critical thinking. He explains that “you really have to have a
good solid foundation as well as critical thinking skills.”

“Very important to anticipate the patient’s needs… I’m at the bedside, I’m doing
the assessments, and then I’m already anticipating what the provider’s going to
order based off of my assessment. So, I loved that.” This drive for deeper
understanding even led him to pursue his master’s as a Family Nurse
Practitioner.

## A Move to the AZCN Classroom

After years on the front lines of healthcare, Professor Doherty realized he
missed a crucial element from his past: teaching.

“I missed teaching when I sold the dance studio and moved to Las Vegas,” he
explains. So, when he stumbled upon an educator position at Arizona College of
Nursing, it felt like fate.

“I clicked apply and I thought nothing of it, and I got a call and interviewed
and, again, one of the best decisions of my life was taking this position. It’s
brought me back. It’s combined both my passions really, right, with teaching and
with nursing.”

He has taught everything from fundamentals with the students he describes as
“bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” to critical care, where he now guides those who
are “one foot out the door.” This unique perspective allows him to witness the
entire transformational journey of his students.

But what truly fills Professor Doherty’s cup is the
[success of his students](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/).

“Honestly, it’s the students,” he says. “I love the job, but I love seeing the
progression… I just like to see others succeed. I think that’s what I love so
much about the job and really helping those that are struggling and don’t think
that they can do it.”

When teaching fundamentals, he took it upon himself to hold 20 extra, two-hour
math sessions to ensure every student passed their dosage calculation exam with
100%. “Every student passed that dosage calc exam,” he beams. “And I don’t do it
for the praise. I do it so they get the praise, right? So, it’s a feeling of I’m
fulfilled because they are fulfilled.”

As an
[NCLEX Success Specialist](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/nclex-exam-prep/)
for the college, his commitment continues to pay off. “I’ve had three students
take their NCLEX [recently], and all three have passed!” he proudly shares.

## A Personalized Approach to Nursing Education

Professor Doherty believes that nursing education, like nursing itself, isn’t
black and white. “It’s because I make it a point to connect with each and every
student as an individual,” he explains. “Everyone has a backstory. Everyone’s
going through something.”

For those unsure about their path, Professor Doherty offers powerful
reassurance: “Push through… There’s so many jobs out there that don’t require
you to do bedside nursing. The job market is just… so diverse.”

Professor Doherty’s inspiring journey from the stage to critical care, and now
to the
[classroom](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/curriculum/),
exemplifies the diverse paths that lead to nursing and the profound impact
dedicated educators have on the next generation of healthcare professionals. We
are incredibly proud to have him as part of the Arizona College of Nursing
family.

**Categories:** Nursing School