Western New Mexico University Nursing School Review
Founded in 1893, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) serves as a serene learning environment for the people of New Mexico, the neighboring Arizona and beyond. The university is located very close to the lush Gila National Forest, giving students an opportunity for many outdoor activities like hunting, camping and backpacking. In addition to the main campus located at Silver City, WNMU has extended campus sites in Gallup, Deming, Lordsburg and Truth or Consequences. The university offers close to 80 programs: 41 baccalaureates, 10 master and 27 2-year associate and certificate programs.
Nursing at Western New Mexico University
The school of nursing at WNMU offers four nursing programs; two of which prepare candidates to become registered nurses (RN). The tracks are a generic associate degree in nursing option, an advanced placement option for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and a baccalaureate completion program for registered nurses. A 4th program is a short Certified Nurse Assistant course that trains entry-level candidates to enter the nursing profession. The associate programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission while the baccalaureate option is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Certified Nurse Assistant
This is a short 60-hours theory and 90-hours clinical course designed to prepare entry-level students to work as nursing assistants in health care facilities. The course prepares students to take certification exams to become licensed as nursing assistants.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
This is a limited admission program with only 32 students admitted per year. The program is offered at the WNMU main campus and the Mimbres Valley Learning center. Candidates must have certified nurse assistant status before applying to the program otherwise; a nursing assistant course must be taken after admission and licensure obtained.
The curriculum consists of 72 credit hours designed to be competed in four semesters and 2 summer sessions. Upon completion, students become eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses and graduate with an associate of science in nursing degree.
Associate Degree in Nursing- LPN to ADN
The LPN to ADN option is meant for New Mexico or multi-state licensed practical nurses who wish to become professional registered nurses. Due to the limited space in the registered nurses program, admission into the advanced standing option is based upon space availability in the sophomore year class of the ADN program.
To facilitate credit transfer and for advanced standing, students must complete 2 freshman years courses and CLEP exams. Upon earning advanced status, practical nurses complete a maximum of 66 credits including 5 of a nursing articulation course. Successful completion of the curriculum leads to eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN exam for the transition to professional nursing.
RN to BSN Program
This program is designed or registered nurses who wish to complete the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program. Candidates must be graduates of accredited associate and diploma programs and have active RN licenses. Graduates of Associate nursing programs can automatically transfers all lower division nursing courses but diploma graduates must have their courses evaluated before transferring.
Registered nurses take a minimum of 50 upper division courses: 36 nursing, 12 outside the major and 2 electives. All nursing courses in the RN to BSN program are offered online, including most of general education courses. This online format enables RN to earn a baccalaureate degree without giving-up their employment. Basically, the track takes 2 semesters and 2 summers to complete.
Contact:
Western New Mexico University
1000 W. College Street, Silver City
NM 88062
