Agency pay in New Mexico

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Specializes in ICU, ER, OR, OR assist, ADON, DON.

Hello, I am a RN in Texas traveling in New Mexico. Another RN I meet today was asking me about my contract pay compared to his. Mine is significately higher than his by more than 10 dollars an hr. He has been a nurse for 30 years and me 10. He stated that his company told him that in New Mexico the New Mexico Nurse Registry Program limited the amount the agencies can pay their nurses and that was why his pay is low. His pay is less than 25 dollars an hr. I told him that i think that they were giving him a load of crap but i want to know form people that work and live in New Mexico. Can anyone give me some info so I can tell him.

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his company told him that in New Mexico the New Mexico Nurse Registry Program limited the amount the agencies can pay their nurses and that was why his pay is low. His pay is less than 25 dollars an hr

I have never heard of that either. I did years of Agency in New Mexico.

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Sharkiern, Im not sure why he would have been told that. As nurses, we know what we are worth. Since I've joined the home health agency in Las Cruces, I've been very happy. I like the one on one attention I am able to give the patient and the chance to manage my work load and tasks with out any political involvments from co-workers like in big employers. I am the DON and am always looking for good people - send him my way; we'll take care of him.

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Specializes in Freelance Writer, 'the nurse who knows content'.

I am a student nurse in NM. I believe your friend's agency is misleading him. The NM Nurse Registry Program is a program of Hospital Services Corporation. Here is information about the program. If I'm reading this right, agencies basically submit a bid to provide services to the participating healthcare institutions. It sounds to me like your friend's agency is basically telling him, "We submitted a bid that said we'd provide RN services to NM hospitals for (let's say) $20 an hour, so that's all we can pay you." Of course, this is bunk. The agency can still pay the nurse anything they want; however, they can only charge the hospital the $20 per hour bid.

I am only guessing this is the case. I have heard this same type of crap from employers in other industries many times over the years. I hope your friend puts a stop to these shenanigans by taking his skills elsewhere.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

The agency nurses working thru agencies at Lovelace make WAY more than that. Pres and UNM the same way. We usually don't discuss wages in the unit but nobody here seems to be starving. Just as a note....I will not accept a contract with HCA hospitals.

The Wolf

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

HI,

I never heard of this agency before, did not know such a thing existed. I worked agency summer 2006, made $32 hr, plus mileage, they paid for meals & for the motel too. I worked agency in Phoenix in the late 80's & back then made about $25 hr, worked agency in El Paso Texas 2-4 years ago, made $28 hr plus more on nights & weekends, up to $34 hour.

Sounds like a bunch of baloney was told to fellow the OP is talking about.

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