Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree plan includes three options to accommodate either the beginning nursing student, the returning student with another bachelor's who seeks a BSN in professional nursing, or the returning registered nurse (RN) who wishes to complete a BSN.

NMSU's Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is approved by the New Mexico Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Approval by the New Mexico Board of Nursing is required for graduates to be eligible to write the National Council Licensing Examination for licensure as a registered nurse.

RN-BSN Completion Option (Distance Learning Program)

This option is designed for registered nurses (RN's) who want to earn a BSN. The program allows RN's to receive credit for past academic and nursing course work, to practice in a varied health care setting and to be able to enroll full-time. The curriculum is designed to be completed in approximately 1 full year. New Mexico State University requires 128 credits for graduation with a bachelor's degree, 48 of which must be upper division.

Classes are taught online and students are required to complete assignments via the internet. Students must attend multiple days of orientation at the beginning of the program.

Second Degree BSN Option
(The Roadrunner Option)

This is an accelerated program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in another field, who wish to become registered nurses (RN) and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. It is designed for students from diverse backgrounds who want a learning environment that is fast-paced, challenging and clinically comprehensive.

The Roadrunner program allows for students with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree to receive credit for past academic work and to focus on their nursing education so that a BSN and registered nurse licensure can be obtained by earning 65 credits in 16 months. All prerequisite and requisite course work taken at other institutions will be evaluated.

Students with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees or higher who wish to seek admission to the non-accelerated, 24-month BSN program will be considered on an individual basis.

Master of Science in Nursing (Distance Learning Program)*

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) curriculum provides students with the knowledge and experience to assume leadership positions in overall health care delivery and fulfill the fundamental requirements to teach in basic nursing programs, engage in nursing practice as clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners, and secure mid- and top-level administrative positions in health care agencies. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the course of study prepares nurses to earn the MSN degree with specialty areas in adult health or psychiatric/mental health advanced practice nursing, nursing administration or public/community health nursing.

Advanced Practice Nursing

A graduate with a clinical specialty is eligible to sit for the clinical nurse specialist credentialing exam in medical-surgical nursing or the psychiatric nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist exams. Graduates are prepared to practice as advanced practice nurses subject to meeting state regulations.

The curriculum for the clinical specialties is designed to provide students with a focused practice experience tied to conceptual knowledge. While in the program, students accumulate over 500 supervised clinical hours, the minimum number that the American Nurses Credentialing Center requires CNS/NP applicants to earn while in a graduate program. The program practicum hours fulfill the medication management requirement for prescriptive authority in New Mexico.

Nursing Administration

Graduates with the nursing administration focus are well prepared to assume mid- and top-level management positions and to function as nurse administrators. Content for this focus includes study in financial management, human resources management, health care organizations and leadership.

Public/Community Health Nursing

The public/community health specialty track prepares the student for leadership positions in a variety of public/community health settings. These settings include schools, state and county health departments, maternal/child agencies, community and public health education, community organizing and other community planning with rural, under-served populations.

*Students who enroll in any of our specialties are required to come to campus for one weekend at the beginning of each semester and complete the rest of the semester online via the internet. If you are accepted into the School of Nursing MSN program, you must have access to a computer and the internet in order to complete assignments online.

Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing (Distance Learning Program)

The PhD in Nursing program enables graduates to reach their potential as nurses facing the global challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. It challenges their intellectual curiosity, focuses their passion for nursing science and builds lifelong collegial relationships in an international community of students, faculty, alumni and scholars. New students start class in the summer of each year and are required to:

• Come to main campus once a year for 1 week
• Attend a research conference, selected by faculty, once a year
• Complete all assignments online
• Complete comprehensive written and oral examinations
• Complete dissertation