New Mexico Nursing and Healthcare Schools

The nursing shortage is a reality in New Mexico just as it is across the country. The shortage is so severe that health facilities are being forced to curtail services by diverting patients with emergency cases, closing beds in intensive care units and shortening working hours. The State of New Mexico however, has moved from talking to taking action to try and restrain the looming shortage.

Efforts to be undertaken are due to the realization that the quality of life and the general economy of the State are entirely dependent on health care providers. The two main ways that the State is willing to tackle the nursing shortage is:

Reducing attrition of students from the health care workforce.
Working towards doubling the volumes of nursing graduates.

Although every nursing program can be difficult and stressful, the rewards of choosing a nursing career will far outweigh the difficulties of obtaining a degree and an education. Graduating nurses can look forward to job security in a high demand field with endless possibilities. A nursing career in the state of New Mexico is no different. Entry level nurses are only just beginning a long career and a wide range of paths available to every nurse.

New Mexico is working on is doubling the number of nursing graduates. The State has two main approaches to this. First of all, it is working towards expanding the capacity of nursing institutions in the area. By improving the clinical instructive assignment sites, increasing student enrollments in nursing programs and developing more programs, New Mexico will speed up second baccalaureate degree students through the nursing educational programs.

Secondly, the State is creating a seamless articulation across nursing programs to smooth the progress of students. Since many student nurses can be lost during the difficulty of articulation (transfer) from one program to another, Seamless articulation is aimed at preparing nurses at all the different levels they go through.

New Mexico has also noted with concern that most of the student graduates do not work in the State after graduating. It has resolved to offer financial incentives, safe and healthy work environments and career ladders to improve nursing workforce retention.

Finally, some schools in New Mexico have collaborated with health care institutions to offer high school graduating students a diploma in LPN at the same time. This is a practical nursing program whereby students are tested and interviewed on being potential candidates for nursing schools where upon successful completion of the process, they begin their nursing program as juniors in the high schools. Students tackle both their home school graduation requirements alongside practical nursing requirements.

You will not be disappointed in New Mexico because the State has initiated a salary scheme that is based purely on the local market place for graduates with similar experience and education as well as the national averages.