Career Resources / Job Searching / Best Hospitals New Mexico
Considering a move to New Mexico? You’re not alone. U-Haul says that in the past year, the state moved up from 39th to 10th in the number of one-way trucks crossing the state border. Known as the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico is historically rich, culturally diverse, and one of the most beautiful states in the country. Nature lovers and hikers will find desert plains, forests, canyons, and mountains to explore, while the cities are filled with fascinating museums and architecture. The state is a mecca for those who love good food and wine, and the climate is generally dry, warm, and sunny, though there is some snow in the winter. Renters and home buyers will find prices are extremely affordable, and the state’s overall cost of living is lower than the national average.
New Mexico’s Top Hospital
Best hospitals in New Mexico
There are over 50 hospitals in New Mexico, ranging from those that serve as teaching institutions to those serving native communities and veterans. In choosing the best hospitals in the state, we relied upon rankings from U.S. News & World Report and health analytics organizations, as well as safety records from organizations like The Leapfrog Group and survey results collected by government agencies, including Medicare.
Presbyterian Hospital
In an evaluation that included the main hospital in Albuquerque as well as Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital was ranked the #1 hospital in the state by U.S. News and World Report, which also noted it as high performing in 8 adult procedures and conditions. The hospital has been recognized with numerous awards, including having been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades and being named one of the nation’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson Health. The hospital has also received several awards for heart attack and stroke care, including the American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award and multiple American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline STEMI Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Awards. The health system’s Presbyterian Espanola Hospital was awarded a four-star rating by Medicare.
Notable facts about Presbyterian Hospital include:
- Not-for-profit general medical and surgical facility
- Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Part of a private, not-for-profit health care system operating 8 hospitals throughout the state, as well as a health plan.
- Number of employees: 14,000+ across the system
- Number of nurses: 4,700 across the system
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Lovelace Health System
Lovelace Medical Center is part of Lovelace Health System. It has been providing health care to New Mexico residents for over 100 years. The hospital is ranked as high performing in two adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to the downtown hospital, the system includes the state’s only hospital devoted exclusively to cardiovascular care, the state’s only hospital dedicated to women’s health, a rehabilitation hospital, and several other regional locations. The system has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition from respected organizations, including the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center being named the 2022 Best Hospital in America by Money and the Leapfrog Group; receiving the American Heart Association “Get with the Guidelines” Award for Stroke Treatment; Lovelace Women’s Hospital being recognized for excellence in lactation care by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and International Lactation Consultant Association; and Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital being named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2022. Lovelace Regional Hospital received an “A” safety grade from The Leapfrog Group.
Notable facts about Lovelace Health System include:
- General medical and surgical facility
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- For-profit hospital network
- Number of employees: 3,900 employees across the system
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center
Rated high performing in three adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News & World Report, Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center earned an “A” safety rating from The Leapfrog Group. The hospital is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, is accredited and received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, and has won awards including both the Healthgrades 2021 Stroke Care Excellence Award and the Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award.
Notable facts about Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center include:
- Private, not-for-profit general medical and surgical hospital, only level III trauma center in North New Mexico
- Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Operates under a 50/50 partnership with the CHRISTUS Health network of Catholic hospitals and local community health impact organization, Anchorum St. Vincent
- Number of employees: 2,200
What makes a best hospital in New Mexico?
The best hospitals provide the highest quality care to their patients, but they also support their employees and the community at large. They are good citizens that engage in philanthropy and work to advance health equity. They invest in their staff’s wellbeing, as well as in state-of-the-art technology to facilitate innovative medical treatment and improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Benefits
Nursing is a career that has remarkable intrinsic value, but it also is hard work deserving of generous compensation. The best hospitals recognize the contributions of their staff and reward them with benefits beyond the traditional offerings of paid time off and health care. In support of the needs of their workforce, hospitals are expanding their pay packages to include signing bonuses, flexible schedules, generous parental leave policies, onsite childcare, tuition reimbursement, and concierge services that free employees to focus on patient care.
Growth opportunity
No matter the role you currently fill, there’s a good chance that you’d like to grow in the field and move on to a position with greater responsibility and earning capacity. Hospitals that recognize the benefits of a forward-thinking workforce will both encourage them to pursue advanced education and facilitate that pursuit through tuition reimbursement and scheduling flexibility that allows them to study. Registered Nurses who study to become Nurse Practitioners elevate the institution’s ability to provide high level care.
Employee satisfaction
While COVID-19 led to significant distress and job fatigue for nurses, studies have shown that a poor work environment plays an even more important role in employee dissatisfaction. Facilities that provide their staff with emotional support, flexible schedules, and strong organizational leadership inspire loyalty, and are among the most desirable places to work.
High patient satisfaction
The best hospitals are constantly working to improve the quality of the care that they deliver and measure it by more than patient outcomes: They take the time to ask their patients to fill out surveys that gauge overall satisfaction. Facilities that emphasize patient-centric care self-correct mistakes and elevate both the treatment that is delivered and the work environment of their staff.
Other factors that make a top hospital
There are countless variables that contribute to a hospital’s quality and standing. Cleanliness and safety. Ethics and community outreach. Empathy for staff and patient concerns, as well as investment in infrastructure. All of these add up to excellence.
Safety record is critical
Revelations about unacceptably high rates of hospital-related infections have led to significant improvements and efforts geared towards improving safety records. Hospitals that demonstrate a continuous commitment to infection control and reducing the number of accidents involving both patients and employees have better patient outcomes and inspire greater confidence in their staff members.
Hospital policies focus on customer services
Historically, it was the norm for hospital staff to approach patient care in a way that failed to include patients and their families or loved ones, but there has been a sea change in hospital policies, with those that receive the highest marks for patient satisfaction placing significant focus on customer service and patient-centric care.
Latest technology and training improve healthcare
Patients and staff alike derive significant benefit when hospitals invest in innovations that improve their clinical abilities. From diagnostic equipment to devices that facilitate the use of state-of-the-art procedures, patients are more likely to choose a hospital perceived as being on the cutting edge of care, and staff are eager to learn the skills that go along with use of these technologies.
Ethics leads the way
Hospitals engage in life and death decisions every day, so it is essential for them to be guided by strong moral and ethical principles. This requires more than knowledge of and compliance with regulations. The best hospitals are constantly updating and reviewing their policies to ensure that they are keeping up with social norms, new technologies and capabilities, and community concerns.
Next steps
Identifying where you want to work is just the first step in your journey. If your goal is to work at one of the best hospitals in New Mexico, it’s going to take preparation, organization, and dedication. Even in the face of a national nursing shortage, nurses need to prove themselves in order to get the job of their dreams. Be thoughtful in crafting your resume and lay the necessary groundwork to prove that you’re ready and excited about moving forward.
Build your resume
A resume is far more than a laundry list of your qualifications. It’s a way to shine a spotlight on your strengths and what you’ll add to an organization. When you’re putting your resume together, be sure to include all of your accomplishments and any awards or recognitions that you’ve received, as well as improvements that you’ve made to patient care or processes in the years that you’ve worked. Employers want to know that you are a good match for their facility, so tailor your goals and work experience descriptions to the position for which you’re applying.
Join a nurses’ association
People have differing opinions about joining a union, but when you’re looking for a job, membership can provide significant advantages. The New Mexico Nurses Association is a powerful and active advocacy group that lobbies for nurses’ education and professional advancement. Membership provides the ability to network with colleagues who may be aware of open positions, or who can connect you directly with hiring managers.
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Attend industry educational conferences and workshops
Attending professional and educational nursing conferences offers multiple benefits and advantages. In addition to the boost in your knowledge and the ability to earn continuing education units, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your professional network and connect with people who may be able to help you move ahead in your career.
Keep up with continuing education requirements
The state of New Mexico has rigorous continuing education requirements for nurses working in the state. To help you keep up and demonstrate your interest in keeping your credentials up-to-date, Incredible Health offers free, accredited CEU classes that you can take online and then immediately access certificates to prove that you’ve completed the course.
Search for job openings
No matter how alluring a new job sounds, it’s also an intimidating process. There’s fear of the unknown, as well as the perpetual problem of finding the time to search for openings and send in applications. Incredible Health has taken most of the challenges away with our unique recruitment tool. Once you sign up and create a profile, our team will get in touch to get insights into your search, then post your job for employers with openings to discover. You’ll have facilities competing over you, and get hired fast.
Transfer your nursing license to New Mexico
New Mexico’s Board of Nursing joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2018, and since that time New Mexico-licensed nurses have been able to practice across state lines in other compact states. If you are a licensed RN coming to New Mexico from a non-compact state you can apply for RN/LPN endorsement.
Sources
- “America’s 250 Best Hospitals.” Healthgrades. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Best Hospital in America.” Money. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Best Hospitals in New Mexico.” U.S. News and World Report. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2022.” Modern Healthcare. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Claims of anti-vax nurses fueling hospital staff shortages ignore the limited support and lack of mental healthcare for COVID’s frontline workers.” Business Insider. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Cost of Living in New Mexico.” Salary.com. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Get With the Guidelines.” American Heart Association. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Hospital Quality Awards & Ratings.” Healthgrades. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “How Your Hospital Can Make You Sick.” Consumer Reports. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Mayo Clinic Care Network.” Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Mission: Lifeline.” American Heart Association. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Nurses in the Workforce.” American Nurses Association. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Paid Parental Leave Policies Among U.S. News & World Report 2020-2021 Best Hospitals and Best Hospitals for Cancer.” JAMA Network. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Patient Satisfaction Survey as a Tool Towards Quality Improvement.” Oman Medical Journal. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Seven Innovation Strategies to Win Patients and Staff.” Health Management. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “U-Haul Reveals Top 50 Growth States in 2021.” U-Haul. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “What Patient Centric Care Really Means.” American College of Cardiology. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- “Winners Through the Years: The Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals.” IBM. Accessed July 21, 2022.
