8 Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico – 2024 Rankings
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Thinking about a career as a nurse in New Mexico? A nursing career in the Land of Enchantment has a lot to recommend it! Registered nurses in New Mexico earn average salaries of $85,580 a year. They’re in high demand, too: RN employment is expected to expand by 13.93 percent in the next 10 years. Students at nursing schools in New Mexico will have opportunities to customize their educational schedules to fit their needs. Whether you want a full-immersion campus nursing school experience or online courses, you’ll find a program tailored to your preferences. Keep reading to find out about the 8 best nursing schools in New Mexico for 2024.
RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS
WHAT ARE THE BEST ACCREDITED NURSING SCHOOLS IN NEW MEXICO?
(After closely assessing all nursing schools approved by the New Mexico State Board of Nursing, based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the best accredited nursing schools in New Mexico offering ADN programs.)
Entering the field of patient care as a registered nurse can be a promising career move, as entry-level nurses are increasingly in demand in the healthcare system. Eastern New Mexico University prepares you for this career with its rigorous RN program that spans across three years. The first-year entails completing pre-requisite courses in human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and math. The following two years are divided into two levels of the core coursework. The first level aims at developing your clinical reasoning, communication skills, and builds up your medical-surgical nursing knowledge. The second level into the program, you will advance into learning about psychiatric nursing, pediatric and nursing care of women’s maternal newborn and women.
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San Juan College’s nursing education prepares you for the NCLEX-RN and your role as a registered nurse. If securing a BSN is on your plan of study, the college partners with the University of New Mexico, allowing you to earn a dual degree of ADN and BSN at the same time. This two-year nursing program in NM requires you to complete general education and nursing courses with a minimum grade ‘C”. Classes and clinical experiences throughout the program are held mainly during the day, hence working while pursuing this degree may not be a good idea. Upon graduation, you will be proficient with nursing concepts, health assessment, nursing care of chronic and acute patients across the lifespan.
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The nursing education at New Mexico Junior College is grounded in evidence-based and patient-centric nursing care. You can gain the professional knowledge and skills required to practice entry-level nursing with this two-year Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program. The curriculum is a fine blend of basic sciences, health sciences, general education, and nursing courses, giving you a well-rounded education. Upon completion of the program, you can either opt to work as a registered nurse at an array of clinical settings, or transfer to a four-year college, both ways the program serves you well as the coursework provides a solid foundation for success in your nursing career. Moreover, the college’s articulation agreements with prominent universities and colleges in the region promise a seamless transfer of your credits towards a BSN degree.
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If you find your calling in healthcare, then completing a two-year nursing degree at New Mexico State University can be given a thought. This RN program in New Mexico spans through four semesters and requires completion of 70 credits. To gain eligibility into this program, you must have completed your nurse assistant training. Once enrolled, you will undergo extensive didactic courses and clinical experiences that ably prepare you for the challenges of this career. Graduates of this program will demonstrate the competence to provide culturally relevant nursing care for a diverse population. Eligible LPN graduates with an active license can enter directly into the second year of the coursework.
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Central New Mexico Community College prepares competent entry-level nurses who play a vital role within the community by providing holistic care for individuals in addition to promoting healthy living. The 68-credit Associate of Applied Science curriculum spread over six-terms is a balance of classroom lectures and hands-on learning through laboratory training and clinical experience sessions. The coursework is a combination of arts, sciences, and nursing. Subject areas you will study include mathematics, composition, human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, developmental psychology, principles of nursing practice health and illness concepts, nursing pharmacology, professional nursing concepts, and care of patients with chronic conditions.
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The associate degree in nursing curriculum at Luna Community College is designed based on a concept-based delivery model aimed at promoting active learning and critical thinking. You are required to earn a total of 71 credits, which includes 25 credits in pre-requisite courses. All pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to entering this program. Courses are offered in sequential order, and you are required to score 77% or better in each course to progress from one course to the next. Post-completion, you will be well-prepared to take the NCLEX-RN. After obtaining your licensure, you can start working as an RN or advance your career by completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree.
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University of New Mexico - Gallup started its first ADN class in 2002 and since then has produced several dedicated and competent nurses, serving communities across the state. Admission to this 70-credit nursing degree in New Mexico is competitive, and only a limited number of students are selected for classes starting in January and August. Preference is given to students with higher ATI TEAS scores and a higher GPA. You will also have the option of enrolling for a dual degree program, where you will earn an ADN from UNM-Gallup and a BSN from UNM College of Nursing - Albuquerque. You are not required to travel to Albuquerque as classes for the BSN part of your dual degree will be offered online or via video classes. A maximum of eight students are selected every year for this dual-degree option.
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The two-year nursing education of Northern New Mexico College is centered on concepts essential to excel as a nurse, such as evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, informatics, and leadership. The college has been training associate degree nurses for more than 30 years and is currently one of the largest programs in the region. This full-time program starting once every year in fall will take you a total of five-semesters (68-credits) to graduate, including one semester of pre-requisite courses (14-credits). Students have the option of exiting this program with a practical nursing certificate after completion of three semesters. Every year around 30 to 40 students graduate out of this program either with the LPN certificate or with an ADN degree.
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