New Mexico, NM | LPN to RN Nursing School Program

Working as a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Mexico can be a fulfilling career in and of itself. But for those wishing to take their career further, the next logical step is to work towards licensure as a Registered Nurse—the largest group of health care practitioners in the United States, and a group that is expected to grow substantially in numbers in the coming years. RN’s in New Mexico earn, on average, $63,000 per year (according to BLS.gov), which is slightly below the national average, but significantly more than the $37,000 that LPNs average. With only one more year of schooling required to become an RN, it is an attractive option to make the move from LPN to RN in New Mexico.

While LPNs are largely responsible for bedside care, RN’s have a much wider variety of responsibilities, as defined by the state Nursing Practice Act. Essentially, RN’s in a health care setting direct the activities of Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants in patient care. They are responsible for assessment of patient needs and create and modify a plan of care based on their assessments. Although sixty percent of RN’s work in a hospital, Registered Nurses can pursue many more options beyond patient care in a hospital setting—from physician’s offices to emergency rooms, long term care facilities and public settings such as schools and community centers, RN’s are also responsible for educating the public about health issues and more. This is because RN’s have the opportunity to work in any number of areas, from occupational and mental health to anesthesia, radiology, rehabilitation, and beyond, the opportunity for specialization extends to all areas of health care.

LPN to RN programs in New Mexico typically take about a year and can be completed online while one is still working as an LPN. Prerequisites include current certification as an LPN and, usually, a year of experience working as an LPN. Required courses build upon those taken during LPN training and include math, chemistry, biology, English, communications, sociology, and, of course, a bulk of nursing specific course work. LPN to RN training in New Mexico is often part of an Associate Degree of Nursing, as well, as the prospective RN will then have completed two years of nursing school.

The LPN to RN program prepares students for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX-RN is very similar to the NCLEX-PN in that it is administered by Pearson Vue (https://www.vue.com/nclex/) and designed in conjunction with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) (https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm). It is a complex test administered via sophisticated Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), which primarily relies on multiple choice questions, but can also provide fill in the blank, multiple response, drag and drop, hotspot, and chart/exhibit based questions. Due to the sophisticated technology, no one test is the same. The NCLEX-RN is not a test to be taken lightly—it is an intensive examination that ensures prospective RN’s are well prepared to serve the needs of their patients. Certainly, the NCLEX-RN is complicated business—for more on the complexities of the test, visit the NCSBN (https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm). Rest assured that good grades and dedicated study leading up to the test should prepare one sufficiently for the test—the pass rate in 2009 was around 89 percent for first time candidates.

At a cost of $200, the NCLEX-RN is the last step towards licensure as an RN. The New Mexico Board of Nursing charges a $110 examination fee and $110 endorsement fee upon application for examination and places successful applicants on the their registry, at which time RN’s are eligible to work in the state.

Once one becomes an RN in New Mexico, it is not the end of the road—further education can lead to a Bachelor of Science, Nursing, and specialized graduate programs in both health and education can lead to MA and PhD programs and further diverse career opportunities as both educators and specialists.