UNM nursing program ranks high in latest U.S. News & World Report list

New Mexico has one of the best Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in the country, according to a recent national list released by U.S. News & World Report.

The honor belongs to the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, specifically its BSN program, which ranked 54th in the latest list from the digital media company. The university said in a news release the ranking moves the College of Nursing program up 13 spots from last year’s report.

Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, took the No. 1 spot and Duke University ranked second among the nearly 700 nursing schools across the country. UNM’s ranking places it in the top 8% of nursing colleges, university officials said.

In a statement, UNM College of Nursing Dean Rosario Medina said the university is “excited to see our national ranking rise,” calling it a “testament to the commitment of our dedicated community.”

“We strive to create a supportive environment where every student feels they belong and (are) equipped to excel,” she said of the College of Nursing, which has just shy of 1,100 students. “By preparing our students to meet the unique needs of communities across New Mexico, we are building a dynamic workforce of compassionate, skilled nurses ready to make a difference.”

The news comes as UNM recently hired Medina as dean the College of Nursing in February. Medina, who brings more than four decades of experience in nursing and academic leadership, began her role in June.

She was selected following a national search led by Dr. Patricia Finn, the dean of the UNM School of Medicine, and assisted by Korn Ferry, a national firm specializing in executive searches.

The news also comes as the university recently completed construction on the new home for the College of Nursing — a $43.3 million facility just west of UNM Hospital. The 93,740-square-foot facility also houses UNM’s College of Population Health.