Introduction Conflict resolution among nurses is a significant challenge within clinical, academic, and care-delivery settings. Inherent stress secondary to challenges in staffing, resources, and compassion fatigue can precipitate or augment conflict. Historically, nurses have been provided few avenues for acknowledgment,…

Most often, when we hear stories about veterans interacting with the Department of Veterans Affairs, those stories are negative. We hear about services not provided, needs not met, referrals that took too long, phone calls never returned, or veterans who…

Introduction According to the New Mexico Workforce Committee report, in 2023, about 15910 active Registered Nurses were in New Mexico, and 54.5% worked in Albuquerque. All counties are below the committee’s parameters except Albuquerque (New Mexico Workforce Committee, 2023). This…

Part II Key Messaging In Part I of this series, the focus was on developing an understanding of the audience when communicating and how essential it is for determining tailored and effective communication strategies on climate breakdown. By understanding the…

Nursing is a profession that offers both extraordinary rewards and profound challenges. The intensity of nursing education often stretches students to their limits, preparing them for the realities of patient care. However, the significant concern of nurse burnout, which often…

The fluorescent lights at Fort Bayard Hospital cast everything in harsh relief — metal bed frames, vinyl chairs, the concentrated faces of Priscilla Baldwin’s nursing students practicing nasogastric tube insertion on mannequins. Soon they would perform this procedure on actual…

This issue of the NM Nurse is devoted in its entirety to today’s snapshot of the history of nursing in New Mexico. It is reflective of an ongoing commitment from NMNA to capture the rich nuances of our profession in the State.…

New Mexico is a state made up of communities and families, often large extended families. As a result, the values of giving back and serving others is often seen in families across generations.   As we have begun the journey of working…

This year, during Nurses Week, members and friends of the New Mexico Nurses Association gathered for a simple but meaningful act of remembrance. As solar lights illuminated the gravesites of nurses who came before us, we paused to recognize a…

As of January 20, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can now enter hospitals (as well as schools and churches) for enforcement actions. In the case of ICE agents in healthcare settings, nurses must follow the law while…

I began my career at Lincoln County Medical Center (LCMC) in January 2020, not realizing I was stepping into what would become my professional home. LCMC is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital nestled in the heart of south-central New Mexico.…

Nursing is a profession that inspires through its dedication, compassion, and resilience. Every nurse’s career path is unique, reflecting a journey filled with diverse experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In this and upcoming editions, we will feature the stories of extraordinary…

Kathy Lopez-Bushnell, EdD, MSN, MPH, FNP, RN, Kathy’s journey in nursing is a story of inspiration, leadership, and unwavering dedication to others. A proud graduate of the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing, Kathy earned her BSN in…

The New Mexico legislature started the new year of 2025 with a 60-day session for New Mexico. Each year, the New Mexico Nurses Association (NMNA) Government Relations Committee and the NMNA Executive Board work to ensure the continued success and…

Since 2017, the New Mexico Native American Indian Nurses Association (NMNAINA) Student Success Program has focused on three goals: Increase graduation rates among Native American nursing students attending New Mexico nursing programs. Support graduates in successfully passing the NCLEX-RN licensure…

Summary The insured RN had been working as a private-duty home health nurse for approximately eight months when she was assigned to an overnight shift caring for a ten-year-old female patient who had been paralyzed in a vegetative state since…

STATE BOARD OF NURSING matter involving allegations of inappropriate business practices and working outside of a Family Nurse Practitioner’s (FNP) scope of practice. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Licensure Defense Expenses Case Study with Risk Management Strategies, Presented by CNA…

FORT WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania (February 2026) – Nurses Service Organization (NSO), one of the nation’s largest provider of individual professional liability insurance for nurses, and their carrier partner, CNA, today have launched a malpractice insurance offering for Certified Midwives (CMs) and…

Alexandra (Lexie) Hurlbert Alexandra (Lexie) Hurlbert Lexie Hurlbert is new to both New Mexico and the nursing profession, and her story is truly inspiring. While many newly graduated RNs leave the state in search of bigger opportunities, Lexie was drawn…

Joshua Landry, MSN, RN, NCSN For Joshua Landry, MSN, RN, NCSN, nursing has never been simply a career; it is an identity. “Nursing became who I was, not necessarily a job,” he reflects. “I’ve become a nurse. I am a…

For as long as Nancy Wertz can remember, nursing was her calling. After spending much of her childhood in hospitals because of pneumonia, she knew by age four that she wanted to become a nurse. More than five decades later,…

Rachael Amble, MSN, RN Rachael Amble was drawn to medicine at a young age, but it was her high school volunteer work in a surgical intensive care unit that led her to pursue a career in nursing. She answered phones,…

Tuberculosis and NM Statehood  From 1880 through the 1940’s, TB remained a significant driver of the development of the early healthcare infrastructure in NM. For decades it remained the leading cause of death nationally, and from 1912 through the 1940s…

Facial laceration repair in the urgent or emergent setting requires attention to both functional and cosmetic outcomes due to the face’s delicate structures and aesthetic importance.

Continuing to Put Ideas into Practice This is Part 2 of a two-part article on the art of face and neck laceration repair in an acute care setting, emphasizing careful wound closure for the best cosmetic outcome. Part 1 discussed…

In this issue of the New Mexico Nurse, the communication toolkit series continues with part III. This is the last part of this series journey. To recap, in Part I, the focus was on developing an understanding of the audience…

By the NM State Constitution, the 30-day legislative sessions that occur in even-numbered years are convened to address the budget for the State. Legislation of import can also be provided a “message” from the Governor so the bill can be…

A NURSE ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS a recording of himself giving patient care posted on the Facebook page of a patient’s family member. Another nurse receives a notice that a State Board of Nursing complaint has been filed against her for disparaging…

Rachael Frija, DNP, RN, NPD-BC NEA-BCAs we close 2024, I reflect on an incredible year of progress, advocacy, and growth within the New Mexico Nurses Association. From the beginning of the year at NM Nurses Capitol Challenge in January to…

On June 27, nearly 500 nurses from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for the American Nurses Association (ANA) Hill Day. This event focused on championing four critical federal health policy issues that impact our profession and the quality…

Rachael Frija, DNP, RN, NPD-BC NEA-BC As we step into a new year, I am filled with hope and determination for the future of our nursing profession. The recent American Nurses Association (ANA) Leadership Summit brought to light vital insights…

A recent social media post by physician Dr. Trisha PL (dr.tpl, The Night Doctor) stated, “No one talks about how hard it is to study for years, then get your dream job, and just want to quit every day,” followed…

One hundred sixty nursing students participated in Student Day 2024 on advocacy and the Nurse Practice Act from the following New Mexico schools: UNM-Albuquerque, UNM-Rio Rancho, UNM-Taos, Luna Community College-Las Vegas, Santa Fe-Community College, and Western NM University-Silver City. This…

School nurses are the bridge between healthcare and education, working with students, families, medical practitioners and the educational environment to meet the health needs of students. School nurses advocate and coordinate student health needs among diverse entities to provide and…

This is sponsored content and is supplied by Nurses Service Organization. The content has been reviewed by our HCM internal editorial staff but is not peer-reviewed. In today’s digital world, social media is a vital tool for connection and communication.…

Background Nurse-to-nurse bullying is a critical issue within the nursing profession, impacting close to half of all nurses. This phenomenon, often referred to as the phrase “nurses eat their young,” has a detrimental impact on employee retention, job satisfaction, morale,…

The computer screen flickered in the pre-dawn darkness as she reviewed lab results that arrived overnight. Alone in the clinic, the nurse practitioner made decisions that once required a team of physicians. Adjust the diabetes medication. Order the cardiac workup.…

On March 17, 2025, Keana Richelle Huerta, a Level 2 nursing student at WNMU, appeared before the Senate Rules Committee regarding her appointment as the Student Regent for the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents.

Student Nurse’s Day at the New Mexico Round House happened on November 4, 2025, with prelicensure associate degree nurses and faculty members from nursing programs around the state. Capitol Challenge, an educational and experiential learning opportunity in the legislative process,…

Part 2 Introduction In Part 1, we discussed how nursing advocacy does not have to begin with large-scale action. It can begin within the policies, structures, and governance processes that shape nurses’ daily work and wellness. We emphasized organizational policy…

Part 1 Introduction Nursing care does not operate outside of politics. Politics refers to the processes, structures, and relationships through which individuals and groups make collective decisions about priorities, resource allocation, and the establishment of policies and rules (Birkland, 2020).…

Doorway observation is an assessment method is used for watching and recording events, behaviors, and health conditions as they naturally occur, rather than asking clients to self-report (Wiseman et al., 2024). In healthcare, observation is a core data collection method…

The New Mexico Board of Nursing is charged with protecting the public, and as such it also supports and protects the nursing profession. Could the stakes be any higher? Most nurses are also the public seeking health care themselves, and…

Nursing professionals carry a great deal of responsibility – and with that comes potential risk. If you’re named in a lawsuit, the impact can be devastating: legal costs, stress, financial strain and even damage to your professional reputation.  Some nurses…

I am in Washington, D.C., for a nurse education conference. Before the seminars started, before the sun was even up, I went to the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. It has been raining all week in D.C. This morning was cold and…

Nurse leaders are positioned to assist colleagues facing substance use disorder (SUD). They address this issue by encouraging supportive, stigma-free environments and creating organizational policies that safeguard patients while showing compassion to nurses and other healthcare professionals who may be…