Nursing Schools in New Mexico

NMSU nursing students score bext NCLEX pass rate in program's history

Nursing students at New Mexico State University have set a record by achieving the highest pass rate on a national exam in the history of the Department of Nursing. Nursing students must pass the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN, before they can be licensed as registered nurses in New Mexico.

Last year, 58 nursing students were graduated from NMSU. Fifty-four of these students passed the NCLEX-RN the first time they took it. That's a pass rate of over 92 percent for first-time test takers. Two students passed the exam on their second attempt. Nationally, the pass rate for first-time NCLEX-RN takers was 81.2 percent last year.

Mary Hoke, academic department head for nursing at NMSU, said the state looks to fund programs that have high NCLEX pass rates. She added the high achievement can help with recruiting efforts because students considering earning their nursing degrees at NMSU will be aware of the Nursing Department's highly successful program of study. "I think the stability of the faculty has been a great help," Hoke said.

Nursing Schools in New Mexico

One of the fastest growing healthcare fields, nursing, draws men and women who desire a variety of work opportunities, like to assist with healing others and don't mind being intellectually challenged. The nursing field has opportunities for individuals with a great diversity of abilities and talents. In all States and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license.

Our site contains pertinent information regarding nursing degree programs, various job opportunities, and career options in the growing arena of nursing. If you are starting to contemplate switching from your existing job to a more rewarding career and you could benefit from advice on how to get started or maybe you are being faced with choosing the best nursing school to suit your requirements. You may have questions about what to expect as a student nurse or seek details regarding the NCLEX-RN exam and how to prepare for this essential licensing examination.

Here one can find out about the education and training necessary to become a registered nurse or a CNA in New Mexico including available nursing degree programs, work duties for CNA, LPN, and RN, and also possible nursing career benefits and opportunities. To help you decide if a nursing job is a good choice in your case we have also included data about employment settings, job forecast and nurse salaries. If this is not the right time to become a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse you might want to try becoming a CNA and decide afterwards if a healthcare career is right for you.

You should choose a nursing school wisely since this is an important step in receiving the quality education necessary to be a competent practical or registered nurse. New Mexico Nursing Schools can be used as a guide to learn about different ways to become a practical or registered nurse and where to find nurse programs throughout New Mexico.

Nursing schools are listed by the type of nursing programs offered and it includes the following groups: practical nurse programs, ADN programs, bachelor degree programs, and master degree nursing programs. If your dream is to be a nurse, then your initial action is to select the type of nursing program you will pursue. There is more than one way to obtain a practical nurse or registered nurse license, taking into consideration the length of time and prerequisite courses needed for every type of nursing program. If you have already decided on a nursing program, you should search for nursing schools in your area offering the nursing degree you are seeking. The second step will be to ask for admission details, such as criteria for choosing nursing students, application deadlines for the nursing program you are interested in, and also attendance cost and scholarship offers at that nursing school.

Universities and nursing schools in New Mexico offer one or more of these nursing program types: practical nursing program - one year of courses and clinical practice, this type of program requires the least amount of time to become a nurse; ADN program - many nursing schools in New Mexico provide this kind of program, which takes 2 years to complete but every nursing school requires the student to have completed certain courses prior to being accepted in the associate degree nursing program; BSN programs - some nursing schools in New Mexico offer a traditional nursing program which takes four years to graduate from and some universities are offering an alternative, fast-paced second-degree nursing program to obtain a bachelor's in nursing degree for those with a bachelor degree in another field.

Second-degree bachelor degree nursing programs are an increasingly popular choice for a large number of adult students due to the fact that this type of program takes from 1 to 2 years to complete. Graduate level programs prepare the student nurse for advanced nursing practice. Universities and nursing schools in New Mexico may require 1 or 2 years of nursing employment prior to graduate enrolment. To inquire about the details of a nursing program you may contact the nursing school admission office.

Joining the nursing workforce will be a great career path for people who are serious about helping others. Nurses need to study specific courses and practice the skills and knowledge learned from nursing school in order to provide outstanding patient care. There are a multitude of nursing schools in New Mexico, and every one of them is offering the skills and clinical practice to get you ready for the nursing career.

As an experienced nurse you have many ways to increase your skills by pursuing advanced nursing degrees or certification programs. This site lists licensed practical nurse programs, ADN nursing programs, BSN and Master's Degree nursing programs in New Mexico.

Nursing Resources

For a list of accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

For information about accredited programs in other states visit one of the following websites: Massachusetts Nursing Schools, Maine Nursing Degrees, Nursing Programs in Ohio, and Nursing Programs in Illinois.

Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from local hospitals, nursing homes, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the New Mexico State Boards of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.