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New Mexico RN Certification and Schools - NM
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 16th, 2010
New Mexico RN Education Requirements and Advancement Opportunities
If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse, there are three different routes you can take in order to obtain the education needed. First, you can earn an associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN). This typically takes between 2 and 3 years to complete. The second option is to attend one of the 4-year New Mexico RN schools and earn a bachelor’s of science in nursing degree (BSN). The third route you could take is through a hospital diploma program, which usually takes 3 years to complete. In any of these programs, you will be provided with an opportunity to apply the theory of nursing, as well as the skills achieved to develop the nursing skills needed for safe practice. The classroom programs should include courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, and psychology. The clinical experience can include pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery obtained in nursing care facilities, health departments, residential agencies, or ambulatory clinics.
It is important to remember that the higher the education acquired, the greater the opportunity for advancement in the nursing profession. It is recommended to earn the BSN, and obtain a specialty in the nursing field. This allows for greater growth, and potentially a higher salary. However, earning a master’s degree allows for administrative opportunities, as well as higher-paying jobs such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.
Continuing Education for Registered Nurses in New Mexico
The state of New Mexico does require continuing education units in order to renew licensure. The Board has set this requirement at 30 hours in nursing-related activities specializing in development of a professional. In order to obtain credit towards a continuing education unit, the activity must be recognized by a National or State nursing organization, a state board of nursing, or a local monitoring agency in New Mexico. If an individual wishes to obtain continuing education credits by attending an academic course, one credit is obtained for every 15 hours attended. Each person is responsible for obtaining verification of an approved continuing education opportunity through the verification form.
Through campus or online programs, aspiring Registered Nurses 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.