University of New Mexico

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

The College of Nursing has developed an online plan to accommodate the special needs of registered nurses (RNs) who wish to return to school to complete a baccalaureate degree. The plan allows for student flexibility in scheduling. Prior university course work can be transferred where appropriate.

RN students are allowed to accelerate through the upper-division major according to individual capacity, based upon a credit examination process and enrollment in required nursing courses. Each RN student must demonstrate achievement of the outcomes expected of all College of Nursing baccalaureate students.

Each RN student is counseled individually to help clarify career goals and to plan an educational program that will be of greatest benefit in meeting those goals.

After meeting the admission requirements students are eligible to apply to the College of Nursing. The application deadline for the program is April 16 for the Summer Term, June 1 for Fall Term and November 1 for Spring term.

BSN Program Details

Nursing is a growing, vital field that provides numerous opportunities for employment in a wide variety of health care settings with the added benefit of flexible working hours. Nurses work throughout the country with people of different age groups and cultural backgrounds. Nursing education at the University of New Mexico is predicated on the belief that learning is an individual and lifelong process.

The BSN degree not only provides the broadest background in the sciences and liberal arts, but also prepares you for a fascinating, lifelong career. The basic BSN Program at the College of Nursing covers 4 academic terms, approximately 16 months. The program consists of foundation courses during the first 4 terms and clinical courses for the last 4 terms must be taken year-round, including the summer. While in clinical courses, you will experience hands-on learning in hospitals and other health care settings under the supervision of nursing faculty.

MSN Program Details

The College of Nursing offers a graduate program in nursing leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) which prepares nurses to assume leadership in advanced clinical practice, administration, education, and community health. Advanced practice concentrations prepare graduates to assume roles in primary health care as an acute care nurse practitioner, a family nurse practitioner, a pediatric nurse practitioner, or a nurse midwife. Concentrations in nursing administration, nursing education, and community health are also offered as well as dual-degree programs with Public Health (MSN/MPH) and Public Administration (MSN/MPA).

A Post Master's Certificate Program (also known as Nursing Certificate Program - or NurCP), is available to nurses holding a MSN who wish to complete additional graduate work in an area of nursing not included in their initial master’s program. A minor in nursing is also available to nurses pursuing their degree in another field. The graduate program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Accelerated BSN Program Details

The Second Undergraduate Degree (2nd Degree) option is a program with the same upper division curriculum as the basic entry option.

To be eligible for the 2nd degree option, you must have a bachelor degree with a cumulative and science GPA of at least a 3.0, and at least nine credit hours (three 3-credit courses) of human science classes. These classes must be completed within the last ten years with a grade of “C” or better before you submit an application. These nine hours (three classes) need to be from the following list:

Anatomy and Physiology I and/or II
Pathophysiology I and/or II
Pharmacology

You must then complete (if you have not done so) Pathophysiology I, Pathophysiology II and Pharmacology before the start of the term you apply to. The program will be an intensive full-time only program. There is no waiting list; however, it is very competitive. Preference is given to New Mexico residents.

This is a second degree entry option, if accepted you will be in the same sixteen month (four terms) program as the basic entry students. If you have not completed any of the classes that are listed on the basic sheet, you will be responsible for learning that material on your own.