---
title: "Living the AZCN Way: How a Future Nurse Inspires Excellence in Others"
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-a-future-nurse-inspires-excellence-in-others/"
type: post
date_published: 2025-05-06
date_modified: 2025-05-06
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 1555
reading_time: 8 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-a-future-nurse-inspires-excellence-in-others/"
categories:
  - Nursing School
---

# Living the AZCN Way: How a Future Nurse Inspires Excellence in Others

_This is a multi-part series celebrating Arizona College of Nursing students, their stories, and their embodiment of the AZCN values._

_In 2023, Arizona College of Nursing established the AZCN Values Scholarship Fund as a way to celebrate our values with our colleagues, our students, and the communities in which we serve. Each time an AZCN colleague recognizes another colleague for demonstrating our values, $5 is added to the scholarship fund. These add up to $5,000 scholarships awarded to students the following year who have demonstrated our values within their communities._

_Join us in celebrating 2024 AZCN Values Scholarship recipient **Eliza Smith** as she shares some of her journey to nursing:_

---

## Meet Eliza Smith: Student Leader, Author, and Advocate for Mental Health

Meet AZCN Values Scholarship Recipient, Eliza Smith, a Nursing Student at the
[AZCN Tampa Campus](https://arizonacollege.edu/tampa-nursing-school/). Eliza is
the Campus Student Nurse Association (SNA) Vice President, a peer tutor, and a
published Author of a Mental Health poetry book.

---

## Empowering Others Through Words and Action: Eliza’s Essay

Before I explain how the AZCN values influence my daily life, let me introduce
myself. Hello! My name is Eliza Smith, and I am in my fifth semester at
AZCN-Tampa. At 18 years old, I am a published author of a book on mental health
poetry and have spent 10 years competing in pageants. On campus, I am well known
as a peer resource. I have served as a Federal Work-Study Peer Tutor, am
currently the Vice President of the Student Nurses Association, and act as a PAL
Mentor. These roles have taught me the importance of making a positive impact on
others in my community.

Passion: My journey at AZCN has been fueled by a deep passion for nursing and a
desire to support my peers. As a former FWS peer tutor, I had the privilege of
helping fellow students overcome academic challenges, ensuring they have a solid
understanding of the material. However, even though I may not be a work-study
student, I extend my resources and support to those around me who are in need!
My enthusiasm for nursing is contagious, as I strive to inspire those around me
to pursue excellence in their studies and future careers. I truly have a passion
for helping others.

Excellence: Excellence is not just a goal; it is a standard I uphold in every
aspect of my life. As the vice president of the Student Nurses Association, I
have worked diligently to organize events and activities that promote
professional development and community engagement. I have also maintained a high
academic standing, striving to deepen my knowledge and skills in nursing. This
commitment to excellence ensures that I am well-prepared to provide the highest
quality care to my future patients but also be able to provide them with
education to make informed decisions regarding their care.

Adaptability: The evolving nature of healthcare requires adaptability.
Throughout my academic journey, I have learned to navigate various challenges
with resilience and flexibility. Whether adapting to new learning environments
or staying updated with the latest healthcare practices, I embrace change and
view it as an opportunity for growth. This adaptability will be crucial in my
nursing career, allowing me to provide effective care in diverse and dynamic
settings.

Accountability: Accountability is a cornerstone of nursing, and I hold myself
accountable for my actions and responsibilities. In my role as a peer tutor and
vice president, I have demonstrated reliability and dependability. I take pride
in fulfilling my commitments and ensuring that I am a trusted resource for my
peers and the community. This sense of accountability extends to my clinical
practice, where I will prioritize patient safety and well-being.

Integrity: Integrity guides my decision-making and interactions with others. I
believe that honesty and ethical behavior are essential in building trust and
fostering positive relationships. As a nursing student, I adhere to the highest
ethical standards, treating patients, peers, and faculty with respect and
compassion. My commitment to integrity will be the foundation of my professional
practice, ensuring that I provide ethical and compassionate care to all.

Receiving the Arizona College of Nursing Values Scholarship will significantly
impact my ability to make a positive difference in my community. This
scholarship will alleviate the financial burden of my education, allowing me to
focus on my studies and community engagement. With this support, I will have the
opportunity to participate in more community outreach programs, volunteer
initiatives, and professional development activities.

My goal is to become a nurse who not only provides exceptional care but also
contributes to the betterment of the community. I plan to use my skills and
knowledge to educate and empower individuals, promoting health and wellness. By
embodying the values of passion, excellence, adaptability, accountability, and
integrity, I will be a positive force in the healthcare field, making a lasting
impact on those I serve.

---

## Q&A with Eliza

**Q:** How did you get started at AZCN?

**A:** I think what got me there was because I just really appreciated the fact
that [the admissions representative] laid everything out, all the details. You
know, there wasn’t any loose holes because I feel like a lot of the times there
are when it comes to college searching and then when we were on campus for
admissions and learning about the college, everybody on campus was super nice
and they still have been super nice.

**Q:** How has your experience been with the
[AZCN Tampa Campus](https://arizonacollege.edu/tampa-nursing-school/location/)?

**A:** We have a lot of support on campus, even though we are a small school.
And I think that one thing that gravitated [me] towards AZCN was also the
small class size because I learn better in smaller environments. And it really
helps that we also have great professors on campus, that are really there for
you to support you and want to see you succeed.

**Q:** What resources have helped you at AZCN?

**A:** I think a good resource for me is ATI [Assessment Technologies Institute
learning system]. It helps you prepare for [the NCLEX exam]. So, in Semester
9, you’re going to do lots of ATI prep and it’s going to determine the
predictability of how you’re going to pass [the NCLEX]. For me it has been
really beneficial because we get material from it, including textbooks. And
these textbooks simplify the information for you in a way that’s so much easier
to understand… So, it does a great job of making everything concise.

**Q:** Do you feel like Arizona College of Nursing is preparing you to become a
future nurse? 

**A:** Yes, so actually our current [class], all passed the NCLEX, which is
incredible. AZCN is doing something correct to help the students here pass. And
I think one thing that’s super important to kind of recognize is the professors,
they’re the ones that are the backbone behind the school, and the ones that are
giving us this information. And what I love about my professors is they truly
show us how to be competent, critical thinkers, but also how to be caring
nurses. And, you know, even at clinicals, if we see something being done, our
professor explains why this is happening. I think one thing that AZCN is going
to prepare me for is being a good nurse in terms of having this knowledge and
being able to actually apply the knowledge.

**Q:** Tell me about a nursing student memory that you’ll never forget.

**A:** I have so many. Let me try to think of a good one. So, I’ll say this one
because I think it was really a great way to build community with my fellow
peers. After we took an exam, our very first exam, we actually all went out and
we got breakfast together and I just remember laughing with all my classmates
and talking about, you know, how relieved we were to finally take our first
nursing school exam for CORE. And it was just a great way to really build
relationships with those around us but also know that we have people around us
that care and that want to see you succeed and are there for you. There’s only
17 of us in my current cohort, but we’re all tight, you know, we’re all close
with each other. We have a group chat and it’s like, “Hey, what assignment was
due on Tuesday again? Can somebody let me know or, you know, any updates we get,
we send screenshots of announcements and send it in the group chat.” So, we keep
each other on our toes, keep each other and organize in together.

And then obviously I have my best friend. We’re literally the same person, we
think the same. It’s really funny because one day we went out to get coffee
together and study for an exam and we were doing practice questions, and we said
the same exact metaphor and reference. And I’m like, this is why we’re friends.
We just get each other. And I think having her throughout nursing school thus
far has been so helpful to have. She’s like an older sister to me and I love her
so much.

**Categories:** Nursing School