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Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses starts sixth cohort

Group of nurses

The September 2025 cohort started on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) is proud to announce that the sixth cohort of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses has commenced.

The program supports and develops new nurses, provides evidence-based professional development, accelerates the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly and addresses resilience and emergency preparedness.

“It’s an honor to lead this program into its sixth cohort,” shares Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, R.N., vice president of care improvement at AzHHA. “Our mission remains clear: to support new graduate nurses with the structure and guidance they need to thrive in their early careers. By focusing on rural and critical access areas, the Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses is helping ensure that communities across our state have access to skilled, supported nursing professionals.”

The sixth cohort of the program includes:

  • 13 new graduate nurses
  • 34 preceptors
  • 8 participating facilities

The Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses is the first program that promotes the overall retention of registered nurses statewide. AzHHA works with a national curriculum vendor, OpusVi (Latin for workforce), to deliver this 12-month program. The Arizona Transition to Practice Program is made possible by funding and support provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Governor’s Office.