WNMU School of Nursing Works to Address the State’s Critical Nursing Shortage
A report released in May 2024 by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions found that there were 6,017 unfilled registered nurse positions statewide this spring. Shortages in nursing staff have been linked to a higher level of error in patient care, adverse patient outcomes, and increased mortality. WNMU is positioned to help expand the state’s nursing workforce through its School of Nursing and Kinesiology. Since WNMU graduated its first class of nursing students in 1993, the university’s programs in nursing have changed and grown, but the school’s role in meeting community needs has remained a common thread. The university first developed an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in response to requests from area health agencies and community members who saw the need for more nurses to serve southwest New Mexico. Today, the university offers both BSN and MSN programs and also offers an accelerated RN to MSN option. In addition to the nursing programs, the university...