New Mexico Statutes
Article 3 - Nursing
Section 61-3-2 - Purpose.

The purpose of the Nursing Practice Act is to promote, preserve and protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating the practice of nursing, schools of nursing, hemodialysis technicians and medication aides in the state.
History: 1953 Comp., § 67-2-2, enacted by Laws 1968, ch. 44, § 2; 1991, ch. 190, § 1; 2001, ch. 137, § 1.
The 2001 amendment, effective June 15, 2001, inserted "hemodialysis technicians and medication aides".
The 1991 amendment, effective June 14, 1991, substituted "promote, preserve and protect the public health, safety and welfare" for "safeguard life and health and to promote the public welfare" and made a minor stylistic change.
Requiring nurse to "float" not unlawful or serious misconduct. — A hospital's "floating" policy is not necessarily something that "public policy would condemn." Therefore, requiring a nurse to "float" is not the kind of unlawful or serious misconduct for which recognition of the tort of wrongful discharge was intended. Francis v. Memorial Gen. Hosp., 1986-NMSC-072, 104 N.M. 698, 726 P.2d 852.

Structure New Mexico Statutes

New Mexico Statutes

Chapter 61 - Professional and Occupational Licenses

Article 3 - Nursing

Section 61-3-1 - Short title.

Section 61-3-2 - Purpose.

Section 61-3-3 - Definitions.

Section 61-3-4 - Criminal offender's character evaluation.

Section 61-3-5 - License required.

Section 61-3-5.1 - Temporary licensure.

Section 61-3-6 - Administration of anesthetics.

Section 61-3-7 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-8 - Board created; members; qualifications; terms; vacancies; removal.

Section 61-3-9 - Board meetings; quorum; officers.

Section 61-3-10 - Powers; duties.

Section 61-3-10.1 - Hemodialysis technicians; training programs; certification.

Section 61-3-10.2 - Medication aides.

Section 61-3-10.3 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-10.4 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-10.5 - Nursing excellence program; license renewal surcharge.

Section 61-3-10.6 - Nursing excellence fund created.

Section 61-3-11 - Bonds; expenses.

Section 61-3-12 - Examination; notice to applicants.

Section 61-3-13 - Qualifications for licensure as a registered nurse.

Section 61-3-14 - Licensure of registered nurses; expedited licensure.

Section 61-3-15 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-16 - Fees for licensure as a registered nurse.

Section 61-3-17 - Registration under previous law.

Section 61-3-18 - Qualifications for licensure as a licensed practical nurse.

Section 61-3-19 - Licensure of licensed practical nurses; expedited licensure.

Section 61-3-20 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-21 - Registration under previous law.

Section 61-3-22 - Fees for licensure as a licensed practical nurse.

Section 61-3-23 - Permit to practice for graduate nurses.

Section 61-3-23.1 - Permit to practice for graduate nursing specialties.

Section 61-3-23.2 - Certified nurse practitioner; qualifications; practice; examination; endorsement; expedited licensure.

Section 61-3-23.3 - Certified registered nurse anesthetist; qualifications; licensure; practice; endorsement; expedited licensure.

Section 61-3-23.4 - Clinical nurse specialist; qualifications; endorsement; expedited licensure.

Section 61-3-23.5 - Supervision of psychologist in the prescribing of psychotropic medication by nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.

Section 61-3-23.6 - Recompiled.

Section 61-3-24 - Renewal of licenses.

Section 61-3-24.1 - Nurse licensure compact entered into.

Section 61-3-24.2 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-24.3 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-25 - Repealed.

Section 61-3-26 - Schools of nursing; standards; approval.

Section 61-3-27 - Fund established; disposition; method of payment.

Section 61-3-27.1 - Board of nursing fund; authorized use.

Section 61-3-28 - Disciplinary proceedings; judicial review; application of uniform licensing act; limitation.

Section 61-3-29 - Exceptions.

Section 61-3-29.1 - Diversion program created; advisory committee; renewal fee; requirements; immunity from civil actions.

Section 61-3-30 - Violations; penalties.

Section 61-3-31 - Repealed.