How can New Mexico solve its nurse shortage? It’s complicated.
In February, a 25-year-old oncology nurse at the University of New Mexico Hospital doubled her $900-a-week salary by leaving her staff position and taking a temporary job in Montana.
She didn’t do it for the money — born and raised in Albuquerque, she wanted to get out of New Mexico for a little while and see other parts of the country. When she arrived in Montana, she found herself working alongside more experienced staff nurses who were getting paid much less.
“It’s definitely been a positive, making more money,” the nurse said. Like every nurse who spoke with Searchlight New Mexico, she did not want to be named for fear of retaliation or damaging future employment prospects. “But there are often times that I feel guilty, especially when I’m doing the same job that my fellow coworkers are doing yet making double what they are.”