NMSU’s School of Nursing has established a new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree concentration in nurse anesthesiology with a focus on rural health and health disparities. The nurse anesthesiology program is the first in New Mexico. With the nearest anesthesiology programs in Arizona and Texas, this new development will offer local nurses the opportunity to advance their careers without leaving New Mexico.
The School of Nursing aims to fill the workforce gaps in rural communities by addressing the critical need for anesthesia providers in the state. Madeline Chalenor, NMSU’s nurse anesthesiology program director, says the program’s goal is to produce top quality nurse anesthetists.
“The idea was that if we could provide our own people, New Mexicans taking care of New Mexicans, we would be able to recruit more within our state,” Chalenor says. “Providing good quality anesthesia will really change the healthcare disparities, and the support within the state has been absolutely and unbelievably amazing.”
The $2.5 million budget will go towards the accreditation process, curriculum development, and a newly renovated simulation center. Already 450 professional nurses have expressed interest in the program, and out of the 70 qualified applicants, 24 were accepted to be the first cohort, which begins in the fall 2023 semester.
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