Nursing Opportunities in Los Alamos-Santa Fe Area?

[VegasDude]

I may be moving to the Los Alamos -Santa Fe area around the first of the year. My fiancee is an RN from the Philippines, and will be seeking to pass the NCLEX and of course, after passing, look for work. What are nursing work prospects like in the Los Alamaos - Santa Fe - Albuquerque area, and approximate starting pays?

Thanks!

[JBudd, MSN]

Los Alamos has a medical center (LAMC), Taos has Holy Cross Hospital and Espanola has its own, all smaller hospitals, north of Santa Fe. St. Vincent in Santa Fe in a union (not closed shop, so is Holy Cross) hospital; is a level 3 trauma center serving all of Northern NM and part of southern Colorado, always very busy. Lot of people commute from Espanola to Los Alamos. There is also an Indian Health Services hospital (PHS) in Santa Fe, patient pop is all Native American, really serious stuff is sent over to St. Vs.

Albuquerque has higher wages, St. Vincent isn't too bad because of the union but Santa Fe and Los Alamos both have really high costs of living. Sorry I don't have any numbers for you.

You can PM me if you want.

[bebe13]

i am new RN from the philippines. i would like to take my chances in working in the US. do you know of employers in NM petitioning foreign nurses? if so, where can i contact them? do you have any idea how fast is the processing of the green card?

actually, i havent applied yet for my licensure to NM BON. before embarking on that, i would like to have a clear picture of things first so as not to waste money, time and energy.

thank you in advance for your reply.

[gracediwa]

what's the best hospital for a new grad to work with? And anybody knows the basic pay for someone who will just be starting her career as an RN? Does having a second degree a plus factor for salary increase? Thanks. I hope someone here from New Mexico replies.

[nightingale, RN]

what's the best hospital for a new grad to work with? And anybody knows the basic pay for someone who will just be starting her career as an RN? Does having a second degree a plus factor for salary increase? Thanks. I hope someone here from New Mexico replies.

I see you are asking a lot of questions about New Mexico. Did you pass the NCLEX for here? Or are you thinking of moving here from the Philippines? Is your paperwork in order? YOU may want to check over at the International Forum for additional help. Here is their link:

International Forum

[gracediwa]

Thanks for replying!! Yes I passed Nclex and have a license to practice in NM. I heard that NM is hiring nurses, even new grad. I have relatives in other states, but I don't want to go through endorsement as of the moment. I've read the international forum and with the retrogression looming in I don't think I will be able to work yet. I also don't want to go through agencies, I would rather try my luck applying directly. Maybe they would consider AOS when the retrogression is lifted? Well, I hope they will.

I've read most of the members rejects lovelace, and there's issue with UNM and presbyterian. What then would be the best hospital for a beginner like me? And also the city, is albuquerque a good place to start with? Thanks.