Master’s in Nursing Schools in New Mexico
As a registered nurse, you may already be familiar with the unique health care needs of New Mexico’s population. The range of small communities and ethnically diverse population call for skilled, educated health care practitioners that can serve patients of varying needs. With a Master’s degree in nursing, you may gain the knowledge you need to take on a larger role in the state’s health care community. Select those schools from our listings that you’d like to learn more about, and request information directly from our site. Taking the time to fully research available programs will help you find the best graduate degree for you.
There are numerous MSN degree options in New Mexico, permitting you to choose a path that fits with your career goals. Popular choices include clinical nurse specialist, nursing administration, nurse practitioner, and nursing education.
Depending on which degree you choose, an MSN is meant to help you become a leader in your field, provide a greater range of services to patients, or affect the nursing field through policy and leadership. To this end, you may take core courses like Research in Nursing, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing, and Evidence-Based Practice. Each specialty has a specialized curriculum that deepens your knowledge in one particular area of study.
Due to the nursing shortage in New Mexico, there are numerous scholarship opportunities that Master’s-level students can consider. If you want to become a nurse midwife, you can look into the March of Dimes graduate nursing scholarship. The New Mexico Higher Education Department offers loans and loan forgiveness to nursing students that work in a shortage area. The Nightingale Nursing Scholarship is offered by the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence.
Working With Your MSN in New Mexico
Masters prepared nurses have many different job opportunities in the state of New Mexico. If you are looking to continue working in patient care, New Mexico offers a lot of freedom to advanced practice nurses. Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists can practice independently.
The New York Times notes that this has worked out well for New Mexico, where nurse practitioners have been able to address the health care shortage in rural communities. As a nurse practitioner, you may be able to use your education to work in an underserved region, bringing valuable services to those who otherwise may not have access.
Another benefit of earning a Master’s degree in nursing in New Mexico is the excellent work environment enjoyed by nurses.The Tennessean notes that New Mexico is ranked fifth in the entire country for new nurses. Factors that influence this include salary ranges, number of jobs, and amount of health care facilities.
The job market for nurse educators is expected to increase in coming years. The New Mexico Workforce Connection indicates that nursing is the sixth-fastest growing occupation in the state. Nurse educators are the key to increasing the amount of working registered nurses in the state.
If you have questions or would like more information about MSN programs and costs, contact one of the schools listed on this page.
Nursing Schools in New Mexico
University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus
Los Alamos, NM
What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program
Are you interested in moving up in your nursing career or even starting your nursing career in an advanced position? The options for earning a master’s degree in nursing have expanded over recent years, and now more than ever advanced practice registered nurses are becoming the forefront of high quality patient care. Find out what master-level program options are available to you in New Mexico by contacting the schools you find on our site.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented to improve patient care and reduce medical costs. However, fulfilling those goals is going to be challenging. The lack of primary care providers in New Mexico necessitates the need for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to fill in the physician gap. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that with the increase of insured Americans due to the American Care Act will lead to a 45,000 physician shortage throughout the next decade. This impact will severely affect already medically underserved areas. Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses can help bridge this gap while providing patients with effective and compassionate care.
You can earn your master’s degree in nursing in NM in about 2 to 3 years while receiving thorough clinical training pertaining to your specialty. With an advanced degree comes more career opportunities afforded to you. Among the common APRN roles, you will find nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Another role often overlooked, yet highly needed is that of the nurse educator. A master’s degree in nursing may qualify you to teach students in a nursing program in New Mexico, which can make a significant difference in the state.
Deciding which career path you want to take is a crucial step in choosing an MSN degree program in New Mexico. The next step is determining what program is right for you. There are different program choices available in New Mexico that will best fit your situation. RN to MSN programs are for licensed nurses who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. This kind of MSN degree will cover the basics of a bachelor’s degree, but without you actually earning a bachelor’s degree.
Another type of program gaining popularity is the Direct Entry MSN program. This program allows for bachelor degree holders in another field other than nursing to be able to begin your career in an advanced position in the nursing field. Of course, if you have previously earned your bachelor’s degree in nursing, there is always the traditional Master’s in Nursing program in New Mexico, in which you will resume your studies at an advanced level.
A typical course outline for a Master’s in Nursing in New Mexico may include some or all of the following classes:
- Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- Clinical Decision Making
- Applied Pharmacology for Primary Care
- Healthcare Policy and Politics
- Primary Care Management of the Family I
- Primary Care Management of the Adult and Aged Part I
- Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology
- Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthesia
- Preoperative Technology and Instrumentation
- Clinical Practicum
- Theoretical Foundations and Role Development for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- Statistics for the Health Professional
- Research for Advanced Practice Nursing
- Clinical Decision Making
- Applied Pharmacology for Primary Care
- Healthcare Policy and Politics
- Practicum II: Primary Care of the Family
- Practicum II: Primary Care of the Adult and Older Adult
- Care of Aging Individuals across the Healthcare Continuum
- Physical Assessment for Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Immersion
- Academic Internship in Nursing Education
People have different reasons for earning their master’s degree in nursing. Some look for more satisfaction in their work, some look for job security, and some are simply looking for a better quality of life. Whatever your reason may be, an advanced degree in nursing can be a rewarding experience. Check out the New Mexico MSN programs listed and contact the schools you want to learn more about today.
New Mexico RN to MSN Bridge Programs
Working as a nurse may provide you with job security, an increased earning potential, and the knowledge that what you’re doing is contributing to higher health care standards in New Mexico. If you want to do even more with your nursing career, you may wish to consider earning an MSN. With RN-to-MSN bridge programs in New Mexico, you don’t need to complete a bachelor’s degree program before beginning your MSN coursework. Instead, you can spend three years earning both degrees and come out with an increased scope of practice and an intensive knowledge of one nursing specialty.
Over the course of three years as an RN-to-MSN student, you’ll complete about 90 credits of coursework. You may begin with undergraduate courses that build on the knowledge you’ve developed as a registered nurse. Classes in this category may include Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing Practice and Leadership, and Statistics in Health Care.
In the theoretical part of your advanced nursing training, you will likely learn about the advanced issues that face nurses throughout New Mexico. Theory courses you may have to take include Promoting Health Behavior, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Research. The information gained from these courses is necessary in practical classes like Nursing Field Placement and Advanced Patient Care Skills.
High-level courses are dependent on which specialty you select. Clinical specialties often require courses like Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Human Physiology, and Clinical Skills for Advanced Nursing. In nursing education, you may take classes like Curriculum Development in Nursing Education, Assessment in Nursing Education, and Instructional Techniques for Nurses. Courses required in administrative specialties may include HR and Financial Management in Health Care, Nursing Fiscal Management, and Health Policy in Advanced Nursing.
Each nursing specialty has its own clinical and practicum requirements. If you go into a clinical specialty, you may spend more time in clinical hours than those who go into administrative specialties.
Nursing scholarships come in many forms. There are nationwide scholarship programs, statewide, and even company-specific grants. In New Mexico, there are quite a few scholarship resources for master’s-level nursing students. The New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council offers financial support to students who want to become nurse practitioners. They award the Candelario Garcia Scholarship and the Myrna Wood Founder’s Scholarship. On a governmental level, the New Mexico Higher Education Department has the Nursing Loan for Service program. Upon completing your service agreement in an approved area, the loan is forgiven. The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence offers financial incentives to nurses who agree to stay in New Mexico and education loan repayment assistance.
As you work your way toward your MSN, make sure to keep your registered nurse license valid. It’s required for all advanced nursing licensure through the New Mexico Board of Nursing. If you plan on becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist, you will need to get an advanced practice license before you can start your career at that level.
No matter which type of advanced nursing career you’re interested in, it’s clear that taking your education to the next level can have many positive effects. With more education, you can contribute to excellence in the nursing field and ensure that New Mexico residents get the care they need.
New Mexico Direct Entry MSN
Are you interested in starting a rewarding new career in the field of nursing, but you have a bachelor’s degree in another field? You may be able to earn your master’s degree in nursing within just a few years with a direct entry MSN program in NM. Find out more about the possibilities for nursing study in New Mexico by contacting the schools you find on this site. Researching the options for direct entry master’s in nursing programs is the best way to find out which route into nursing is best for you.
Overview of Accelerated MSN Programs in NM
Many people go to school and earn their bachelor’s degree just to find out the career path they chose was not what they had anticipated it to be. Now you can go back to school and build upon the education you already have to earn an advanced degree in nursing. The nursing field has rewarding careers with many versatile roles that you could be utilized in. A direct entry MSN degree will help prepare you to advance to the next level in your career.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree, there may be a direct entry MSN program that will fit you and your lifestyle in New Mexico. At this time, New Mexico is facing one of the worst shortage of doctors in its history. At a time when thousands of people have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, there is an overwhelming need for primary care than ever before. Where doctors are sparse, especially in underserved rural areas, advanced practice nurses can help fill in the void.
Nurse practitioners are given the liberty to practice independently and diagnose and prescribe medicine to patients in New Mexico. While many states do not give that independence, advanced practice nurses in New Mexico are a step ahead of the rest.
Curriculum of Direct Entry MSN Programs
Applying for a direct entry MSN program is not a difficult process if you have all your information in order. Many schools require that you have transcripts, a minimum GPA of 3.0, application fees, and references. Upon acceptance, you will need to make sure your prerequisites are completed. More often than not, prerequisites are required before the start of the program although some programs may allow that they be taken simultaneously.
Most direct entry MSN programs start out teaching you the fundamentals of nursing. It will help prepare you to pass the exam (NCLEX) to become a licensed registered nurse (RN) before diving into accelerated nursing theory that pertains to your MSN degree. The courses that you will take are advanced and will prepare you to become a leader in your field.
Some classes that you may be required to take are:
- Foundations I: Health Assessment & Fundamentals
- Foundations II: Health Assessment and Fundamentals
- Research and Evidence as a Foundation For Nursing
- Pathophysiology Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Pharmacotherapeutics for Nursing Practice
- Nursing Concepts and Intervention, Adult/Older Adult
- Family-centered Nursing of Children
- Concepts and Intervention – Promotion of Mental Health
- Quality and Patient Safety
- Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Conditions
- Maternity Nursing and Women’s Health
- Nursing Concepts and Intervention, Adult/Older Adult II
- Nursing Care for Patients with Acute Conditions
- Health Outcomes
- Theoretical Foundations
- Health Promotion Across the Lifespan
- Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy
- Organizational and Systems Leadership
- Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Care Assessment (Pediatrics or Adult/Older Adult)
- Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues
- Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum
You could choose from a variety of specializations in a direct entry MSN program. Many choose careers as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse leaders, or even nurse educators. Not only is there a shortage of doctors, but there is also a shortage of nurse educators in New Mexico. The shortage of educators contributes to the underlying problem of the shortage of nurses. Many nursing program applicants are turned away each semester due to the lack of teachers. A MSN degree with a specialization in nursing education could qualify you to teach in a clinical setting.
By receiving your MSN degree you could help be a part of the solution to the nursing crisis in New Mexico. Find out what direct entry MSN program in New Mexico is right for you by requesting information from the many programs on our page.
New Mexico CRNA Programs
Since you’re already a registered nurse, you’ve likely had a front row seat to all of the health care changes in the United States. You may have seen the effects of new legislation and seen the number of patients you treat increase steadily. As the country’s need for registered nurses has increased, so too has the demand for advanced nursing professionals. If you’re interested in furthering your education, this may be the opportunity you have been waiting for to advance your career.
Nurse anesthesia is a growing specialty in registered nursing. It’s particularly important in New Mexico, where the rural population is far larger than the urban population. In these areas, hospitals and clinics often find it difficult to hire and keep anesthesiologists. Nurse anesthetists can provide the majority of the same services at a fraction of the cost. If you’re considering a career in this specialty, you should be dedicated to evidence-based care, ready to serve patients with a variety of needs, and interested in working more independently. Nurse anesthetists are used in many different health care settings, including labor & delivery wards and surgical wards.
A career in nurse anesthesia begins with the right education and in-depth training. To find out what it takes to become a nurse anesthetist, request more information from the schools on our site that offer CRNA programs in New Mexico.
Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in New Mexico
Plan for a rigorous admissions process when you decide to apply for acceptance to a nurse anesthesia program. Whether you want to earn a Master’s degree or a doctorate degree, the requirements tend to be the same amongst CRNA programs. You must have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher while finishing your degree. Many New Mexico schools also have thorough work experience requirements. You may need at least one year of nursing experience in a critical care specialty. Master’s degree programs tend to last between 40 and 50 credits, requiring about two to three years of study. If you want to earn a doctoral degree, plan on earning 50 to 70 credits and spending a couple more years in school.
CRNA schools have multifaceted curricula that build up your nursing knowledge and experience in many different ways. To prepare you for clinical experience and advanced anesthetic theory, your school may start you in courses like Introduction to Anesthetic Management, Advanced Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment, Pharmacology of Anesthesia, and Advanced Physiology. High-level courses in this program may include Anesthesia and Co-Existing Disease, Neurosurgical Anesthesia, Anesthetic Management for Common Procedures, and Cardiovascular/Thoracic Anesthesia. As you proceed through your clinical rotations, you may explore settings like labor & delivery, surgery, and critical care. In total, you may finish over 550 clinical hours prior to graduation.
New Mexico schools, employers, and organizations have many different financial aid programs in place for graduate nursing students. The New Mexico Higher Education Department offers many different scholarships, particularly to students with financial need. The New Mexico Nurses Foundation supports nursing students with a range of scholarships and grants. Through the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence, you may receive extra financial incentives for pursuing a CRNA degree or get assistance with loan repayment.
Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in New Mexico
The New Mexico Board of Nursing is responsible for the licensing of nurse anesthetists throughout the state of New Mexico. First, they require you to get your national certification from the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. This process involves taking a thorough certification exam and submitting your scores to the Board of Nursing. Once you have submitted your application for an advanced practice license, you may change your registered nursing license into an advanced practice license.
There are many considerations to keep in mind as you begin your career in this field. Nurse anesthetists must have professional liability insurance that meets the standards laid out by their place of employment. This insurance can help protect you from costly lawsuits and malpractice suits. You must also meet continuing education requirements to maintain your license. Consider becoming a member of the group like the New Mexico Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Members of this group may get early access to continuing education opportunities, attend networking events that can help you build connections in the health care community, and get updates on legislature that affects New Mexico nurses.
Nursing is a growing field; use this to your advantage as you take the next step in your career. Contact New Mexico CRNA programs for more information and program start dates.
Clinical Nurse Leader Degrees in New Mexico
No matter how long you have worked as a registered nurse, you have likely noticed that the nursing industry is changing. The field has changed considerably since nurses first provided bedside assistance to doctors. Nurses are taking on more and more responsibility all the time, and industry leaders are always creating new roles for highly-trained nurses.
Taking your education to the graduate level may naturally put you in a leadership position.
With a nurse leadership degree, you can explore many different opportunities. Although New Mexico reportedly has one of the best working environments for nurses, the state has a great need for highly educated nurses in rural areas (KRQE News 13).
Strong leaders are also a necessary component of the growing technological sector in New Mexico healthcare. The nursing hotline model created in New Mexico is now being used as a model for the entire country (GovTech).
Discover if you have what it takes to become a nurse leader by requesting information from nurse leadership graduate programs in New Mexico.
How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in New Mexico?
The first step to becoming a nurse leader in New Mexico is staying licensed as a registered nurse, since you’ll need to work in a clinical setting throughout your career. Furthermore, you may want to keep working as an RN while earning your graduate degree. Keep your license renewed through the New Mexico Board of Nursing by submitting a renewal application every two years and completing 30 continuing education units.
Then, you are ready to tackle the challenges of graduate nursing study. You’ll need a BSN before you start. If you have an Associate’s degree in nursing, check out RN to MSN programs to compare your options.
In a traditional BSN to MSN program, you may only need to complete about 36 credits. This may include courses like:
- Applied Clinical Research in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Organizational Systems and Quality Management in Nursing
- Principles of Advanced Nursing Management
- Health Care Innovations and Informatics
- Leading Organizational Change
- Applied Epidemiology in Nursing Practice
You may encounter a wide range of clinical requirements as you learn about different schools. While some programs allow you to complete your degree entirely online, other programs require about 500 hours of clinical work in a leadership role. Many experts recommend at least some leadership field experience, since moving from an RN position to a leadership position may require some adjustment.
Once you have completed your education, you can finish the process by taking the Clinical Nurse Leadership licensing exam, which is administered by the AACN. You receive your license after passing this exam. From there, you simply have to renew your license every five years, during which time you must complete 50 hours of continuing education.
What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?
Being a Clinical Nurse Leader means being a source of guidance, research, and information for other nurses, healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ family members. That’s why your clinical skills must be highly refined—your input is highly regarded by those you work with.
A significant part of nurse leadership is research. Reading, analyzing, and applying nursing research allows you to create hospital and departmental policies that are in your patients’ best interests.
You still get to spend plenty of time with patients as a Clinical Nurse Leader. In fact, the AACN stresses that this is the main focus of this particular credential. You may oversee the work that other nurses do with your patients and work directly with patients independently.
Staying on top of changes in the nursing industry and community is crucial. If others look to you for leadership, you must be kept in the loop. Joining a group like the New Mexico Organization of Nurse Leaders may help you learn about changing legislation, the scope of practice for different nursing positions, and current issues in the world of nursing leadership. You can also make the most of your nurse leadership position by joining local nursing organizations and associations.
Nursing is changing. Instead of worrying about change, why not embrace it by advancing your career with a new credential? A Master’s degree in nurse leadership can put your nursing knowledge to even greater use.
Request information from nurse leadership graduate programs in New Mexico to get started.
New Mexico Research Nursing Graduate Programs
The health care industry of the United States has undergone an unprecedented amount of change in recent years, and it is expected to keep changing and adapting for many years to come. This has had a huge impact on the nursing industry of New Mexico, which serves patients from different language backgrounds, various income levels, and with differing levels of access to health care.
How, then, is the state of New Mexico going to make health care more accessible and more affordable for its residents? The key lies with clinical nurse researchers, who study every aspect of the health care industry to make it more efficient and more evidence-based. Many important advances in health care can be attributed to nurse researchers. In fact, New Mexico’s nurse hotline model, which was developed by experienced researchers, is being touted as a model of care in many other states.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and an interest in the academic side of nursing, find out what research nursing graduate programs in New Mexico are looking for.
New Mexico Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research
New Mexico is home to several programs that can help you become qualified as a research nurse. You must have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, as this degree builds on a strong understanding and grasp of basic and advanced nursing concepts. Clinical experience is also crucial, with most schools requiring at least one year of full-time experience. Some schools require as much as five years of experience. Depending on which degree program you choose, plan on spending between two and seven years in school.
Before you begin your education, you should spend some time getting familiar with the curriculum. The courses you take should fully educate you on designing research, carrying it out, analyzing it, and using it to make evidence-based care decisions.
To reach these lofty goals, you may take classes like Research and Evidence-Based Nursing, Systems and Populations in Health Care, Professional Dimensions of Nursing Practice, Health Promotion Theories, Research Ethics in Health Care, and Setting Goals for Health Care Research. There is a clinical aspect to this degree, but rather than getting experience in a hospital or clinic, you participate in research studies and gradually take on more responsibility in important studies.
After you have been accepted to a nurse research program, you can start looking into financial aid opportunities in New Mexico. Your employer may help you with education expenses, but be sure to look into state financial aid, government financial aid, and private organizations. One popular resource for New Mexico nurses is the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence.
The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in New Mexico
One of the benefits of earning an advanced nursing degree is the fact that it opens you up to an entire new set of career paths. Once you start specializing in research, you may seek positions at schools, research institutions, hospital research wings, specialty clinics, and medical product developers. One of the largest facilities for nursing research in New Mexico is the UNM Health Sciences Center.
Are you ready to explore your full potential as a nursing professional? Choosing the right program is the first step. Reach out to nurse research programs in New Mexico to get started.
New Mexico Certified Nurse Midwife
New Mexico, like many other states in the country, may be headed for a health care crisis. Although recent health care legislation has made medical care more affordable for people all across the state, the wait to see a doctor can be very long.
For women who are pregnant or who have health issues, this wait can have very negative consequences. To meet this need, birth centers, hospitals, and clinics throughout New Mexico are hiring more certified nurse midwives.
If you have thought of becoming a midwife in New Mexico, take the time to contact the schools listed below to learn more about how you can enter this valuable and rewarding nursing profession.
Nurse midwives have a graduate degree or an MSN in midwifery, allowing them to provide primary care services to women and be a woman’s main care provider during a low-risk pregnancy. In many areas, health care legislation has made it easier for health care organizations to save money by using nurse midwives. Even better, care outcomes for patients seen by nurse midwives are just as good as outcomes for patients who see OB/GYNs.
Learn more about certified nurse midwife programs in New Mexico to find out if this is the right option for you.
Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in New Mexico
Nursing standards are high in New Mexico, so you must meet many clinical and educational goals before you are allowed to work independently with women in your community. To be qualified for licensure as a nurse midwife, you must earn a master’s degree in nurse midwifery or a doctoral degree that focuses on this field. Though some schools do accept bachelor’s degree graduates from other fields, most schools require you to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In addition, you may need experience in the field of nursing. At minimum, most schools require one year of full-time experience, however, some schools do have more rigorous requirements.
As you work your way through your two to three years in nurse midwifery school, you may learn about various health care procedures for women, discover how to provide evidence-based care, and develop your patient communication skills. Some of the first classes you take may include Research for Evidence-Based Practice, Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice, Advanced Nursing Assessment, and Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice.
Courses that are specific to the nursing care of women include Pathophysiology of Women, Clinical Care During Pregnancy, and Management of Labor & Delivery. These courses also involve a number of clinical experiences, during which you may spend over 1,000 hours working with patients. This is a requirement for national and state licensure.
Scholarships, grants, and loan repayment programs can help you make your degree more affordable. As you begin your search for financial aid, consider using New Mexico resources like the Higher Education Department of New Mexico, the New Mexico Nurses Foundation, and the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence.
Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in New Mexico
Upon completion of your nurse midwifery degree, you can begin the licensure process in New Mexico. This requires you to get your national certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board by passing their CNM exam. You can then have your exam scores and transcripts sent to the New Mexico Board of Nursing. With your state practice license, you can work as a certified nurse midwife in care centers all over the state.
Advance your nursing career with a master’s degree in nurse midwifery. Get started now by contacting certified nurse midwife programs in New Mexico to request more detailed program information.
New Mexico Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are considered Advanced Practice nurses (APRNs) who have earned at least a master’s degree, which is usually in a specialized area of nursing. Some of the specialty areas include pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health, public health, critical care or the emergency room.
New Mexico’s healthcare workforce has shortages, so they are working with multiple entities to build an adequate workforce through state agencies, including the New Mexico Legislature, academic institutions, hospital systems, clinics, local government and community organizations.
This may be the right time to get your graduate degree, as there are many new opportunities for nurse leaders to help design and improve systems in the state. Contact the schools listed below for program details.
Clinical Nurse Specialist in New Mexico
New Mexico State University and Georgetown University offer accredited Clinical Nurse Specialist programs. The New Mexico Board of Nursing has the following requirements for a Clinical Nurse Specialist’s license.
- Current RN license
- Graduate from an accredited clinical nursing specialist program at the masters or doctorate level
- Must have a copy of current national certification after completing a national certifying examination in the applicant’s area of specialty
- Verification of Clinical Nurse Specialist Education Form must be received directly from the Clinical Nurse Specialist Program
- Prescriptive authority requires official transcripts, which must be received directly from the educational program. A completed Prescription Affidavit or Verification Letter from preceptor on official letterhead
- Current Formulary
Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in New Mexico
The New Mexico State University offers programs, such as a Clinical Nurse Specialist – Nurse Practitioner and multiple other specialty certifications.
The admission criteria for a master’s degree in nursing at the most New Mexico nursing programs includes:
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Complete a short bio-sketch and an essay describing our reasons for wishing to pursue your MSN degree
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Two letters of reference from former faculty and/or employers
- Scores from a recent administration of the GRE are required (verbal, quantitative and analytical with scores)
If you choose to pursue a CNS degree in Public Health, these courses may be required:
- Community and Psychosocial Aspects of Probably Health
- Biostatistical Application in Public Health
- Epidmiological Approaches to Disease Control and Prevention
- Health Services System: Administration and Organization
- Environmental Public Health Issues
- Foundation of Public Health Education
- Techniques of Health Communication/Education
- Community Organization in Public Health
- Health Program Planning
- Evaluative Approaches in Public Health
- Research and Resources in Community Health
- Principles of Health Program Management
- Health Services Organization and Delivery
- Public Health Finance and Budget Management
- Public Health Law and Ethics
- Public Health Policy Analysis
- Evaluative Approaches in Public Health
- Select one course from cultural foundation series
- Field Experience
- Masters Thesis
You also have a non-thesis option that would likely require three elective courses totaling nine credit hours. The total credits for the thesis option are 44–46 credits and 48 credits for the non-thesis option.
After graduation, you are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. If you completed the Community Health Education – Health Management exam, or you are eligible to sit for the Certified Public Health examination (CHP).
The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. offers a competency-based exam that meets the national standards of accreditation. The fee for the exam is $55.00. The National Board of Public Health Examiners offers the certification for Public Health Nurses (CHP). This exam measures the individual’s understanding of contemporary public health topics. The cost of this exam is $385.
If you need financial assistance, complete a FAFSA application, which is a federal grant based on your income. The Rural Assistance Center offers awards, loan repayment program and scholarships. There is also the Nurse Corps program, which requires two years of working in their non-profit facilities to receive 60 percent of your outstanding education loans.
Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in New Mexico
If you choose a Public Health Nurse degree, you will typically be working for one of the government health programs. CNSs most commonly work in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings. Getting your Clinical Nurse Specialist degree may offer you new job opportunities, help fill the nursing shortage in New Mexico and help expand the field of nursing as a whole.
Contact the New Mexico nursing schools with CNS programs for more information today.
New Mexico Public Health Nursing Grad Programs
The New Mexico Public Health Association (NMPHA)is a nonprofit association working to promote public health practice and policies. Members consist of community organizations and coalitions, which include private consultants doing public health work, as well as government employees, many of whom are nurses.
The New Mexico Practitioner Council is an organization of volunteers with a lobbyist who monitors issues pertaining to public health nurse practitioners. They work in rural areas are eligible for a rural tax credit of $3000. They monitor all issues that have an impact on their environment.
If you are ready to become a graduate public health nurse, you may position yourself into an advanced role with the organizations listed above, or in many other public health agencies. Get started today by contacting NM nursing schools for more information.
Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in New Mexico
New Mexico has several concentrations in advanced practice. The admission criteria for most Masters programs in Public Health Nursing typically includes:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- GPA minimum of 3.0
- All students must have adequate scores within five years for the GRE, MCAT or GMAT
- Students are required to have experience in the public health field that may be as a volunteer or in a paid position
- Official transcripts from each academic institution you have attended and a completed residency form
- Letter of intent and resume
- Three recommendation letters
It takes about 42 credit hours to graduate from a Masters in Public Health Program, which does not include clinical hours.
Required courses for these programs may include:
- Principles of Public Health
- Epidemiologic Methods I
- Environmental/Occupational Health
- Biostatistical Methods
- Choice between Health Care Systems or Public Health and Health Care Management
- Choice between Social and Cultural Theories and Models: Community Interventions or Public Health Program Planning
- Theory and Practice Seminar I, II
- Writing for Public Health Professionals
- Public Health Seminar
- Public Health Practicum
- Choice between one of these options, which may be a Professional Paper, Public Health Integrative Experience or Master’s Thesis
Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in New Mexico
The New Mexico Public Health Offices offer multiple services to the diverse population of the state with offices located in each county.
The New Mexico Department of Health has a new certification for the first community health workers in the state (CHWs). They will focus their certification efforts on experienced CHWS by utilizing a grandfathering process.
The grandfathering process requires verification from current or former supervisors concerning your proficiency and core competencies. The CHW must have completed 2000 work hours.
In addition, New Mexico has three levels of licensure for Health Services school employees, and the supervisory position requires a master’s degree.
These employees will be front-line public health workers in their community as they have a very good understanding of the community they serve, and play a critical role in reducing health disparities and managing chronic illnesses.
New Mexico has a graduate nursing shortage, so this may be the ideal time to advance your career by getting your graduate degree. The opportunities may be plentiful in public and private settings. Contact the schools you see on this site to learn more.
Graduate Nursing Programs in Healthcare Policy in New Mexico
The more time you spend in the nursing industry, the more valuable your knowledge and experience become to the healthcare industry at large. Consider the first-hand experience you can offer to those who want to influence or improve the nursing industry. Since you have spent extensive time with patients and peers, you can directly contribute to efforts that may improve situations for both groups.
If you are passionate about change in healthcare, a degree in healthcare policy may be the next step in your nursing career. By creating and impacting policies, you have the chance to change the entire nursing industry.
A recent healthcare policy change in New Mexico expands coverage and program availability for prison and jail inmates (MedPageToday). These programs hope to minimize mental health issues and addiction problems, results that would improve quality of life and minimize state spending.
Are you ready to find out how you can change healthcare in New Mexico? Keep reading to learn more about Master’s in healthcare policy programs in New Mexico.
Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in New Mexico
When you decide to earn your Master’s degree in healthcare policy in New Mexico, you can get specialized training that directly relates to the health challenges of this state. Most programs require two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. During this time, you must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher while earning approximately 42 credits.
As you look at health policy programs in New Mexico, you may discover that they explore many different areas of health law. Take a look at commonly required courses in these programs:
- Health Policy and Management
- Healthcare Finance
- Healthcare Policy and Program Evaluation
- Public Management and Policy
- Institutional Development and Behavior
- Health Economics
- Health Program Evaluation
- Cultural Competence in Healthcare
- Healthcare Information Technology
- Healthcare Payment Systems
It is obvious that you must be highly trained in various areas of health law and administration to make a difference in New Mexico health policy. Each program sets their own learning goals. You may find that schools in this region focus on topics like finance, economics, management of healthcare systems, health disparities among populations, Native American health policy, and evaluation of health policies.
To maintain your standing as a nurse, you must keep a valid New Mexico nursing license. Currently, the New Mexico Board of Nursing requires license renewal every two years.
How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in New Mexico?
As a health policy nurse, you may build connections and working relationships with many different individuals and groups to strengthen the legislative efforts of everyone involved. One of the largest health legislation groups in New Mexico is the New Mexico Public Health Association, which uses public health research to create policies that positively impact the population as a whole.
If you are involved in the nursing community, you may find yourself working with their legislative teams and committees. The New Mexico Nurses Association has one of the largest legislative groups in the local nursing community.
They have recently advocated for laws promoting safe injection practices, volunteer healthcare services, funding for telemedicine, a developmental disabilities code of rights, and funding for emergency evaluations.
Your future in the nursing industry has the potential to improve healthcare for millions of people. Use our list of graduate healthcare policy programs in New Mexico below to find the right school for your needs.