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In New Mexico, the State Board of Nursing holds the jurisdiction over advanced practice nurses.
According to the Board of Nursing, term APRN (Advanced practice registered nurses) includes nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists.
In New Mexico, the Department of Health is in charge of the licensing process of nurse-midwives.
However, according to the New Mexico regulations, ARPNs and nurse midwives need to hold RN license first.
A person can have a midwife title without an RN license, but for Certified Nurse Midwife title only after obtaining an RN license.
In New Mexico, APRNs with RN issued in other compact states is also approved by the Board.
The nurses earn their credentials due to graduate education and national certification.
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NP, CRNA, and CNS Educational Requirements
APRNs need to complete graduate degree educational programs.
Additionally, the program needs to be accredited and includes a proper nursing specialization track.
Advanced nursing programs are available at regionally accredited schools are within military organizations.
The programs prepare nurses to provide primary, chronic, acute, long-term, or end-of-life nursing care.
Educational programs for aspiring nurse anesthetists need to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
NP, CRNA, and CNS Certification Requirements
After education competition, the graduate needs to obtain national certification in the chosen practice area.
The certification examination is offered by a third-party certification agency.
In New Mexico, there are multiple certification agencies, and the selection is determined by the chosen specialty.
The agency reviews the candidate’s educational terms and determines whether he or she is eligible to sit for the examination.
The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) certifies nurse anesthetists in New Mexico.
Aspiring nurse practitioners are to be credentialed through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Additionally, new graduates may be granted temporary permits by the New Mexico Board of Nursing while they wait for the certification process to be completed.
The permit is issued when there is an employer who will hire a candidate pending certification.
During the work under a temporary permit, a graduate is obliged to practice under supervision or in collaboration.
After the examination is completed, the results need to be delivered to the Board.
During the practice under a temporary permit, aspiring APRN, use one of the following titles:
- Graduate Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- Graduate Registered Nurse Anesthetist (GRNA)
- Graduate Clinical Nurse Specialist (GCNS)
Out-of-State APRNs
Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists who earned their initial licenses before January 1, 2001, may be licensed in New Mexico even if they don’t have a master’s degree.
Also, NPs who were originally licensed before December 2, 1985, are exempted from the certification requirement.
CNMs, NPs, and CRNAs who are residents in other states may be qualified to expedite licensing.
They can be issued temporary licenses with duration up to six months.
Prescriptive Authority
In New Mexico, prescriptive authority is required for APRNs who will prescribe drugs.
NPs and CRNAs need 400 hours of preceptorship to be granted prescriptive authority.
CNSs need to verify advanced coursework in three fields.
Those include assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, but also having university-supervised preceptorship.
Additionally, the agency may accept45 hours of continuing education in pharmacology.
CNSs that don’t have the work experience need to complete coursework in pharmacology.
Also, some APRNs need DEA numbers and controlled substance registration.
Application Process
The New Mexico Board of Nursing website includes all application forms available for download.
There are separate application packets for each APRN category.
Educational verification forms, as well as verification of national certification, are required and included in the packet.
The application fee is $100.
Out-of-state APRNs who apply for temporary permits, need to pay a fee of $160.
APRN Renewal
In New Mexico, ARPNs need to renew their licenses every two years.
The maintenance of the national certification is also required, as well as continuing education.
The renewal requirements for CRNAs are set by their certifying agency.
CNS and NPs have certain renewal requirements that are in place for nurses who hold RN licenses in New Mexico or in other compact states.
Therefore, a nurse practitioner with DEA number needs to complete 30 contact hours for RN licensure, five contact hours of NP practice, five contact hours of non-cancer pain management, and ten contact hours in pharmacology related to NP practice.
Nurse practice without DEA number has slightly simpler requirements.
They need to complete 30 contact hours for RN license, ten contact hours of NP practice, and an additional ten contact hours in pharmacology related to NPs practice.
CNM Licensing Requirements and Application Process
The American College of Nurse-Midwives or American Midwifery Certification Board certifies nurse-midwives in New Mexico.
A nurse-midwife must meet educational standards set by the agency, to be eligible for the certification.
Those include completing a graduate program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
The Department of Health website has application forms available for download.
Additionally, nurse midwives need to notarize their application forms.
They pay an application fee of $200 and need to submit a copy of the national certification.
License nurse-midwives in New Mexico need to enroll in continuing education to meet the credentials maintenance requirements.
Schools
Aspiring ARPNs in New Mexico have two in-state schools with appropriate advanced nursing education programs.
Those are New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
DNP programs are available at the New Mexico State University and are available in an online form.
The University of New Mexico has a hybrid, graduate certificate, and MSN programs.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| The University of New Mexico | 2502 Marble Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 272-0858 |
| New Mexico State University | P. O. Box 30001, MSC 3185 Las Cruces, NM 88003, (575) 646-3812 |
Salary
On average a nurse practitioner in New Mexico earns $100.020 per year.
However, salaries vary across the state and depend on certification, specialization area, healthcare facility, etc.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $102,892 |
| Las Cruces | $93,017 |
| Santa Fe | $103,413 |
| Rio Rancho | $102,563 |
| Roswell | $95,971 |
| Farmington | $101,511 |
| Alamogordo | $97,613 |
| Clovis | $96,940 |
| Hobbs | $94,406 |
| Carlsbad | $95,971 |
Regional Salary in New Mexico
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 780 | $135,690 | $65.23 | $165,600 | $95,210 |
| Farmington, NM | 50 | $127,860 | $61.47 | $138,900 | $109,700 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 150 | $122,060 | $58.68 | $180,830 | $48,880 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 120 | $134,170 | $64.51 | $157,790 | $89,790 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Nurse Practitioner by State