CNA Schools in New Mexico

By Susan Maphis, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 27 2010

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Educational Requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants in New Mexico

Nursing Assistants are an important part of a team of health care professionals including doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians. Nursing assistants often come in closest contact with the patients they care for. These patients are ill or have problems caring for themselves. Usually a registered nurse supervises a can. They can work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, doctor's office, or home settings. New Mexico has a Nurse Aide Registry, listing all of the nurse's aides who have passed state certification requirements.
New Mexico CNA training courses at vocational colleges or online usually range between $400 and $800 and last from 8 to 10 weeks. Graduates of these programs are usually eligible to take an optional examination for certification. Whatever training program you choose, it should be accredited by the New Mexico Board of Nurse Examiners and/or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

There are two parts to New Mexico's certification exams for Nurse's Aides. The written test, which tests a candidate's knowledge, is 55 multiple-choice questions that take two hours. The Clinical Skills test gives you 35 minutes to demonstrate five skills, plus hand washing and Indirect Care. A list of the checkpoints for each skill can be found online at www.prometric.com/NurseAide/NM.

Once certified, to be eligible to renew your certification, you must have worked as a nurse aide under the supervision of a licensed or registered nurse for at least eight hours during your most recent 24-month certification period.

Through either online or campus based programs, aspiring C.N.A.s in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho and Roswell, New Mexico may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the St. Vincent Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital and Memorial Medical Center.