Even in the Land of Enchantment demand is high for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Nurse Leaders, and Nurse Educators. If you are a Registered Nurse evaluating potential Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs then the list below of schools in New Mexico offering nationally accredited MSN programs should be useful in your search for the program that best suits your needs.
New Mexico State University School of Nursing
New Mexico State University’s School of Nursing offers Registered Nurses (RNs) multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The university offers a Direct Entry pathway leading to a general MSN degree as well as an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway leading to an MSN in Nursing Administration.
The Direct Entry pathway is called their Roadrunner program. It is designed for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline and seek to become licensed Registered Nurse. Both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and general MSN are awarded upon completion of the program.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared RNs. If accepted to the program, students will be required to successfully complete undergraduate nursing bridge coursework prior to progressing into the MSN coursework.
Applicants seeking entry to the Roadrunner Direct Entry program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Students are required to have completes several prerequisite courses including Anatomy and Physiology I & II, a physical science course (e.g. Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or Physics), Human Pathophysiology/Foundation for Nursing, Statistics, and Pharmacology. They must hold a current American Heart Association CPR for Health Care Providers certification.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a BSN degree from an accredited college or university. RNs with a diploma or Associate’s in nursing as well as a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis for entry via the RN to MSN Bridge program. Students are required to have successfully completed a graduate level course in Statistics within the past five years. They must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse or be eligible for licensure in the US, the District of Columbia, or one of its territories. Students must also be certified in CPR.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
MSC 3185
PO Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003
(575) 646-3812
University of New Mexico College of Nursing – Health Sciences Center
The College of Nursing – Health Sciences Center at the University of New Mexico offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for Registered Nurses who hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing combined with a Bachelor’s in a non-nursing field of study. Students are required to pass a Community Health test in order to be admitted.
MSN programs are offered to prepare RNs in the following roles and specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Administration
- Nursing Education
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
RNs with a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing as well as a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree will be considered for entry via the RN to MSN pathway. They must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate work. Applicants are given one opportunity to pass a Community Health test prior to admission. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in New Mexico or be eligible for licensure in New Mexico. Candidates must have at least one year of nursing practice experience as an RN though more may be required depending on the specialization.
Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited nursing program. Those with a BSN from a non-accredited program are considered on an individual basis. They must have a 3.0 or higher GPA on all undergraduate work. Students must hold a license (or be eligible for licensure) in New Mexico as a Registered Nurse with at least one year of experience working as a Registered Nurse. More experience may be necessary for certain specializations.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1 University of New Mexico
MSC09 5350
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(800) 690-0934