Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Albuquerque, NM
Certified nursing assistants in Albuquerque earn a median of about $19 an hour, and the work runs from Presbyterian's Downtown hospital to the VA in the southeast quadrant and senior living in the Northeast Heights. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to get certified.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Albuquerque, NM
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Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Albuquerque
Health care is the largest private hiring sector in Albuquerque, and nursing assistants are the front line of it. About 2,100 people work as nursing assistants in the metro, according to federal wage data, split between the big hospital systems, the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center near Kirtland Air Force Base, long-term acute care hospitals, and skilled nursing and senior living communities across the Northeast Heights and the Westside.
The setting shapes the job. Hospital CNAs at Presbyterian or the VA work inpatient units, hospice and the VA's Community Living Center, while senior living communities such as La Vida Llena staff around the clock with part-time and PRN schedules that suit students at CNM. Commuters from Rio Rancho and the Westside should plan for the river crossings at Paseo del Norte and Montano, which back up at shift change.
Top Albuquerque Employers for Certified Nursing Assistants
These Albuquerque employers hire certified nursing assistants for hospital, hospice and long-term care work:
- Presbyterian Healthcare Services - the Albuquerque-based health system hires CNAs for inpatient and outpatient hospice, with posted ranges of about $15.59 to $21.64 an hour.
- Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center - the New Mexico VA hires nursing assistants for its Community Living Center and inpatient mental health units, through USAJOBS.
- La Vida Llena - the Northeast Heights life plan retirement community hires CNAs on part-time night and PRN shifts, with a night differential.
- Kindred Hospital Albuquerque - the long-term acute care hospital, part of ScionHealth, hires certified nursing assistants for full-time nights.
- Genesis HealthCare - the skilled nursing operator hires state-certified CNAs for its Albuquerque nursing and rehabilitation center.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Albuquerque
- Entry level: about $16 to $19 per hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $22 per hour with a year or more on a hospital or long-term care floor.
- Senior / top of range: $22 to $24 per hour with night differentials and long tenure.
These are estimates built from posted employer ranges and federal May 2025 wage data for the Albuquerque metro, where the median is about $19.21 an hour. Night and weekend shifts, hospital versus long-term care settings, and added skills such as phlebotomy or patient care technician duties move pay. Travel and agency contracts are paid by the week on short assignments of 8 to 15 weeks.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Albuquerque
New Mexico certifies nurse aides through the New Mexico Certified Nurse Aide Registry, run by the New Mexico Health Care Authority. You must finish a state-approved training program of at least 75 clock hours of theory, lab and clinical work, then pass both parts of the state competency exam, a knowledge test and a skills test, administered by Headmaster. Central New Mexico Community College offers a one-semester Nursing Assistant certificate, and CNM hosts the state nurse aide exam on its Main Campus near University Blvd. Expect a background check and a TB test before you start.
What the Job Involves
Nursing assistants help patients and residents with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and moving safely between bed, chair and bathroom. They take and record vital signs, turn and reposition patients, answer call lights, report changes in condition to the nurse, and keep rooms clean and stocked. In hospice and long-term care, much of the job is steady, personal care for the same residents day after day.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active New Mexico CNA certification in good standing
- Current BLS (CPR for healthcare providers)
- Safe lifting, transfers and mobility support
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Infection control habits
- Patience and clear communication with older adults and families
- Reliability and willingness to work nights and weekends
Career Path and Advancement
A CNA job is a common first step into nursing in Albuquerque. The usual ladder runs from nursing assistant to patient care technician or nursing tech in a hospital, then into CNM's Practical Nursing certificate for an LPN license or its associate degree in nursing, with the CNM-UNM dual degree leading to a BSN. A CNA job on an inpatient unit at Presbyterian or the VA gives you the clinical hours that nursing program applications reward.
Related Careers in Albuquerque
If CNA work interests you, these related Albuquerque roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a certification to work as a nursing assistant in Albuquerque?
Yes. To work as a certified nurse aide you must be listed on the New Mexico Certified Nurse Aide Registry, which the New Mexico Health Care Authority runs. That means completing a state-approved program of at least 75 hours and passing the state competency exam.
How much do CNAs make in Albuquerque?
Federal May 2025 data puts the Albuquerque metro median at about $19.21 an hour. New aides usually start around $16 to $19, and experienced aides on nights or in senior living can reach $22 to $24.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Albuquerque?
Most people finish in a few months. CNM's Nursing Assistant certificate takes one semester, and you then schedule the state knowledge and skills exams, which CNM hosts on its Main Campus.
What shifts do CNAs work in Albuquerque?
Hospitals and long-term acute care hospitals staff around the clock, so day, night, weekend and holiday shifts are all common. Senior living communities also offer part-time and PRN schedules, often with a differential for night shifts.
Can I work as a CNA while in nursing school?
Yes. Part-time and PRN CNA shifts can fit around CNM and UNM class schedules, and the patient care experience strengthens applications to limited-entry nursing programs.
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