---
title: "The Social Scrub Squad: How One Student Is Documenting Her Nursing Journey"
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/social-scrub-squad-how-student-is-documenting-her-nursing-journey/"
type: post
date_published: 2026-01-27
date_modified: 2026-01-27
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 895
reading_time: 5 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/social-scrub-squad-how-student-is-documenting-her-nursing-journey/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nursing-Program-Student-Alexandria-Rodriguez.webp"
categories:
  - Nursing School
topic:
  - Campus Life
  - Nursing
---

# The Social Scrub Squad: How One Student Is Documenting Her Nursing Journey

![Nursing Program Student Alexandria Rodriguez](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nursing-Program-Student-Alexandria-Rodriguez.webp)

What does it actually look like to transition from general education to the 
demanding “core” of nursing school? If you ask Alexandria Rodriguez, a student
in semester 8 at
[Arizona College of Nursing’s Phoenix campus](https://arizonacollege.edu/phoenix-nursing-school/)
, she will tell you it is a mix of “nursing trauma” bonds, playing lunch-box
Tetris in the student lounge, and a whole lot of heart.   

But Alexandria isn’t just surviving nursing school. She is documenting it,
celebrating it, and lifting up her fellow classmates as an active leader in the
Social Scrub Squad. As part of the squad, participating students collaborate
with the AZCN Social Media Team to create fun, light-hearted, and engaging
content that showcases student life and the
[nursing school experience](https://arizonacollege.edu/phoenix-nursing-school/location/)
. Content may include day-in-the-life posts, study tips and tricks, self-care
routines, or other aspects of student life that reflect the nursing community. 

Alexandria is proving that you can juggle a rigorous schedule, maintain a
high-level creative output, and be a pillar of support for your peers at the
College. 

![Alexandria Rodriguez at Nursing School in Arizona](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Alexandria-Rodriguez-at-Nursing-School-in-Arizona.webp)

It wasn’t long ago that she was navigating the transition from general education
into the core nursing classes. Alexandria describes nursing school as a “big
roller coaster, to be honest.” She shares that “you have your beginning stages
where you are very excited, you’re happy, you went into core, you’re getting
transitioned into the heavier classes, so honestly, at first and still now, I’m
very excited to be progressing into the next semester.”

This positive momentum is fueled by her “nursing besties” and a commitment to
mental wellness.

“It’s important to have those classmates to help you mentally because nursing
school is a lot. It is a mental mess, and you need that balance. Balance is key
when it comes to nursing school,” she said. “Though we want to study all the
time because we want to pass our exams, we also want to slow down and remember
that our mental health is important and not become burnt out before we even
become nurses.” 

For Alexandria, the Social Scrub Squad has been a vital part of her nursing
journey, allowing her to bridge the gap between campuses and semesters. 

“It helped me connect with 
[all the Arizona College of Nursing campuses](https://arizonacollege.edu/campus-locations/)
 throughout every state. It’s nice to hear everyone’s different experiences 
through different states, as well as being able to connect with people who are 
basically going through the same thing that you are.” 

Documenting her life has also allowed Alexandria to see her own growth in
real-time. She notes that being a part of the Social Scrub Squad has helped her
document her nursing journey from when she first started in Semester 6, and now,
she can see the ways she has grown and improved in her future career by the end
of Semester 7.  

“Seeing how [we] tie in knowledge from semester 5 or 6 into semester 7 and how
much more like our critical thinking [has grown] or how my day-to-day is
different is a big reason why I joined the squad,” Alexandria said.  

While she consistently puts in the hard work, the squad adds an element of fun 
and reward, noting that “it helps motivate [her] to put out content that is
relatable.” 

Beyond the perks, her mission is deeply personal, rooted in her own survival as
a NICU baby who was once pronounced dead for five minutes.  

“I want to be the advocate. I want to be the voice for the ones who cannot
[advocate for themselves]. It is more than the NICU babies. It is for the sick
little infants that don’t have a voice and that need a strong advocate to make
sure they are able to grow up,” Alexandria explained. 

Her dedication has even come full circle at home, as she even inspired her own
sister to [enroll at AZCN](https://arizonacollege.edu/admissions/) next year. 

“When I saw my older sister being my advocate, something clicked in me that made
me want to do that for other people. Now, I inspired her to go back and further
her education. It just shows that you can do it at any age. Wanting to reach
your dreams does not have an age limit.”  

The Social Scrub Squad provides a space where students throughout their nursing
journey at AZCN can be real about the struggles and successes they all are bound
to face. All of the content is reviewed and captioned by the AZCN Social Team to
ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal guidelines, allowing
students to share their own original content on personal accounts while
fostering community awareness. 

As Alexandria says, “I like to inspire other people to join, not just the social
media Social Scrub Squad team, but nursing school. I want to inspire other
people to follow their dreams because it is possible.” 

Whether she is hosting a Facetime study session until the crack of dawn with her
fellow classmates or gearing up for her clinical shift, Alexandria is proof that
with the right “squad,” you can conquer anything nursing school may throw at
you. 

**Categories:** Nursing School