RN Programs in New Mexico

New Mexico is a great place to start a career as a registered nurse (RN) because there is consistently a severe nursing shortage that has overwhelmed the state for many years. RN programs in New Mexico have to turn down qualified nursing students because there is just not enough nursing facility to teach them.

RN schools in New Mexico are hard to get into; nevertheless, students who are accepted are able to find work quickly. New Mexico RN programs are constantly struggling to meet the demand for nurses in the state, and potential students should not get discouraged if they are wait-listed.

Registered Nurses (RNs) provide routine care, emergency treatment, and take care of patients in schools, doctor’s offices, clinics, and in many different settings. Being an RN is an exciting and rewarding career. There are two ways to become an RN. One way is to complete a two-year Associate Degree, and the other way is by completing a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Graduating from either program qualifies the graduate to take the national exam that leads to licensure.

RN Licensure in New Mexico

Students who graduate from an accredited RN program may apply for licensure in New Mexico. They must take the NCLEX-RN and pass it before their license is issued.

New Mexico RN Registry

New Mexico Board of Nursing

6301 Indian School Road NE

Suite 710

Albuquerque, NM 87110

 

RN Jobs and Salary in New Mexico

Registered nurses in New Mexico make an average wage of $30.55 per hour and $63,550 per year. The most in-demand nursing jobs in New Mexico are concentrated in its more populated areas, like Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and in Eastern New Mexico. Qualified Registered nurses are needed to fill every type of RN position across the state.

The following list is of some of the largest employers of registered nurses in New Mexico:

Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Espanola

Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Santa Fe

Community Health Systems, Santa Fe

Core Medical Group, Los Alamos

Soliant Health, Santa Fe

Strategic Healthcare Staffing, Santa Fe

Fresenius Medical Care, Santa Fe

Spectrum Healthcare Resources, Espanola

AMI Healthcare, Inc., Santa Fe

Maxim Healthcare Services, Santa Fe

RN Programs in New Mexico

Each RN program has its own requirements for admission. Applicants are encouraged to apply about one year in advance. The following RN programs lead to an Associate Degree in Nursing. Most of these programs take two years to complete.

Santa Fe Community College

Nursing Department

6401 Richards Avenue

Santa Fe, NM 87508

 

This RN program leads to an Associate Degree in Nursing. Students must first be accepted into the college and meet all admission requirements. They may then apply for admission to the Nursing Program. Students must maintain a 2.75 grade point average for non-nursing courses. All nursing courses must also be 76% or better.

 

San Juan College

Department of Nursing

4601 College Blvd.

Farmington, NM 87402

 

Future students must submit their application and take a placement test to see which courses they will be placed in. Attending an orientation session is required before registering for classes.

 

Western New Mexico University

School of Nursing

P.O. Box 680

Silver City, NM 88062

 

Applicants must meet with an admissions counselor to plan their courses and schedule at the university.

 

University of New Mexico-Gallup

Department of Nursing

200 College Road

Gallup, NM 87301

 

Approximately 28 students are accepted into the RN program each January and August. Prerequisite courses must be completed at the time of application to the program. The Test of Essential Academic Skills from Assessment Technologies Institute must be completed.

 

New Mexico State University Alamogordo

Department of Nursing

2400 N. Scenic Drive

Alamogordo, NM 88310

 

This two-year program has a limited entry and only accepts a certain number of students. Pre-nursing courses must be completed before being admitted to the RN program.

 

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell

Division of Health

P.O. Box 6000

Roswell, NM 88202-6000

 

Enrollment to the RN program is limited. Students must enroll in the university first, and then to the RN program.

 

Breckinridge School of Nursing at

ITT Technical Institute

School of Nursing

5100 Masthead Street NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

 

Applicants must have graduated from high school or have a GED. They must also meet with a representative of the college and pass an admissions test. If an applicant has taken the SAT exam, a minimum score of 800 is expected or a score of 17 on the ACT. Students must also arrange a tour of the school before being admitted to the program.

 

University of New Mexico-Taos

Department of Nursing

1157 County Road #110

Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

 

Applicants must work with an academic advisor to set their schedules and required courses. A high school diploma or GED is required, plus students must completed prerequisite courses with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. They must also be computer literate.

 

University of New Mexico

Nursing Education

280 La Entrada

Los Lunas, NM 87031

 

Applicants are encouraged to have completed college preparatory classes in high school. They must have at least a 2.50 grade point average from high school. In addition, they must take the ACT and score at least 22 on it or the SAT and score at least 1080.

 

Navajo Technical College

Department of Nursing

P.O. Box 849

Crownpoint, NM 87313

 

Students must take a placement test to determine which prerequisite courses are required before entering the RN program.

 

New Mexico Junior College

Department of Nursing

5317 Lovington Highway

Hobbs, NM 88240

 

Applicants must meet with a counselor and take a placement exam.

 

The following RN programs take four years to complete. They lead to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

 

University of New Mexico

College of Nursing

MSC09 5350

Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

 

They must have at least a 2.50 grade point average from high school. In addition, they must take the ACT and score at least 22 on it or the SAT and score at least 1080.

Those who do not have the prerequisite courses must take them before being admitted to the RN program.

 

Grand Canyon University

Department of Nursing

5901 Harper NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

 

Applicants may be accepted without prerequisite courses, but these will need to be completed while a minimum grade point average is maintained. This does not guarantee acceptance into the RN program.

 

New Mexico State University

School of Nursing

MSC3185 Box 30001

Las Cruces, NM 88003-80001

Students must meet admission requirement for the university and for the RN program.

For reviews and a full list of RN programs in the state, please visit Nursing Schools in New Mexico.