New Mexico RN Programs

How to Become a Registered Nurse in New Mexico

There are two ways that you can become a registered nurse in the state of New Mexico; the first is to complete a program in a state approved institution and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. The other way you can work as a nurse in New Mexico when you have an RN license from another state is to complete a short course which teaches the requirements and regulations that apply to nurses in New Mexico and take a test to prove you have the proper training. The average RN salary in New Mexico is $78,340 a year, or $38 an hour.

Every state has its own rules and regulations but with a bit of study, patience and following procedures a registered nurse can work anywhere in the United States. There are two types of training programs that can be taken in New Mexico, the first is an Associate Degree in Nursing and the second is a Bachelor’s Degree. As in any other career, the Bachelor’s Degree takes longer, costs more money, but offers more training and preparation than the Associate Degree.

When the nursing pre-licensure education requirement has been met, the student can proceed to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is a national licensing test. Even if the nurse comes from another state where he or she was working as a registered nurse, they still have to take the test again to practice nursing in New Mexico. A criminal history review is the last trial the aspiring nurse must pass. New Mexico registered nurses must have a clean record with regards to anything with the exception of routine traffic tickets, accidents and similar incidents. Any crime above that will render the nurse unemployable.

New Mexico registered nurse programs are intensive and they include a lot of hands on experience. The shortest program accepted by New Mexico is a two year academic program with classes that range from medical ethics all the way to chemistry and psychology. The complete program will depend on the specialty chosen by each student; some of these are adult care, emergency room, surgery, general care, rural and many more. During the two year program the students take a combination of theoretical classes and practical classes.

People who become registered nurses should possess the will and desire to serve and to care for others. New Mexico has great need for nurses especially in the rural areas which is why they have excellent financial support and opportunities for those who want to study this career. Their sacrifice and dedication is memorable and this is why they receive not only good salaries but the love and appreciation of the patients they care for.

New Mexico Associates Degree RN Programs

Accredited New Mexico RN Schools

See our complete list of qualified RN nursing education programs in the state of New Mexico. The schools listed here offer pre-licensure nursing programs that meet the registered nursing education requirements set forth by the New Mexico State Board of Nursing. Although the schools listed on this page are accredited by the New Mexico Board of Nursing and approved by the state of New Mexico, they might not be accredited by national organizations such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Individuals should check to see if the state-approved nursing school they are considering also enjoys national accreditation status if they are seeking a school with both accreditations.