Brandi Victor is a student at the Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) Cincinnati campus. She was recently named a 2025 AZCN Values Scholarship recipient. This scholarship is given to students who demonstrate the college’s core values in their communities. The AZCN Values Scholarship Fund was established in 2023. It collects $5 for each time a colleague recognizes another for showing these values. Each year, the fund awards $5,000 scholarships to selected students.
Victor’s decision to pursue nursing was influenced by her own health experiences. After the birth of her two children, she was diagnosed with diabetes and kidney failure. She began dialysis at age 34. Her healthcare team noticed her ability to support and educate other patients, especially about organ transplants. Their encouragement led her to consider a career in nursing.
Victor received a kidney transplant in 2016 and started her studies in 2017. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2018. Later, she received a pancreas transplant. She faced challenges, including a pancreas rejection that required her to leave an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. Despite these setbacks, she continued her education. She says her experiences as a patient help her in her nursing practice…