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Arizona Transition to Practice Program

As of April 2023, and designated in A.R.S. § 36-1804, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) contracted with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) as a consultant to assist with the administration and implementation of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program.


About the program

The Arizona Transition to Practice Program aims to support and develop nurses who are new to the profession or transitioning to a new specialty within nursing through two main offerings:

  1. New Graduate Registered Nurses: The goal is to support and develop new nurses, provide evidence-based professional development, accelerate the novice nurse to a component nurse more rapidly, and address resilience and emergency preparedness.

  2. New to Specialty Nurses: The objective is to provide nurses transitioning to specialty areas with evidence-based content to help them become competent more rapidly and offer opportunities for professional growth with an added benefit of specialty certification preparation.

Learn more about the program benefits.


Program success stories

Read about how the Arizona Transition to Practice Program has touched the lives of some of our participants.

Mentoring gives new grads the support they need - Kathy Roat's mentoring experience

Mentoring provides support to new graduate nurses through the Arizona Transition to Practice Program - Tammy Franqueiro's mentoring experience

Providing support and boosting confidence through the Arizona Transition to Practice Program - Bradie Blair's story

From doubt to confidence: How the Arizona Transition to Practice Program builds confidence in new nurses – Brandee King’s story

From teaching to nursing: One new grad’s journey through the Arizona Transition to Practice Program – Lauren Carpenter’s story

From student to leader: How the Arizona Transition to Practice Program shaped one nurse’s teaching journey – Andrea Carrell’s story

Program contact information 

Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, RN
Director, Transition to Practice Program
[email protected] 
602-445-4337

Larisa Solo, BSN, RN
Manager, Transition to Practice
[email protected]
602-445-4301

Whitney Jackson 
Program Support Specialist 
[email protected] 
602-445-4320 

Hashim Rahman
Project Manager
[email protected] 
602-445-4313