Leslie Wagner, RN

Critical Care Nursing
Central New Mexico Community College
Ponderosa, NM
Leslie Wagner, RN profile on Americas Best In Medicine

Leslie Wagner is a registered nurse and healthcare leader with more than 22 years of nursing experience and nearly 30 years in the healthcare field overall, including early work as a nursing assistant. Her clinical background is rooted primarily in critical care and long-term acute care settings, where she supported complex, critically ill patient populations and contributed to patient safety and operational excellence. She currently serves as Program Director for the Nursing Assistant Program at Central New Mexico Community College, where she leads faculty development, curriculum design, program expansion, and workforce partnerships that support approximately 400 students annually.

Her academic background includes an Associate Degree in Nursing from Pikes Peak Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Aspen University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing Education at Aspen University, with expected completion in January 2027, and is a member of the institution’s National Honor Society. In addition to her academic progression, Leslie has expanded her professional impact through consulting and public speaking, including work with Westways, a visa-sponsored program supporting international nurses transitioning into U.S. clinical practice, and the New Mexico Job Challenge program, which serves at-risk youth through structured education and workforce development pathways.

Across her career, Leslie has focused on nursing education, clinical integration, and healthcare quality improvement. She has led initiatives in patient safety, sepsis awareness, regulatory readiness, and performance improvement while integrating simulation and technology-enabled learning into education programs. Her professional philosophy emphasizes empathy, holistic patient-centered care, and preparing a skilled, resilient healthcare workforce. Through her leadership in academic and clinical settings, she continues to advance nursing education and strengthen pathways into the healthcare profession.

• Aspen University - BSN

• Registered Nurse

• Recognition from New Mexico Job Challenge for partnership

• Aspen University National Honor Society

Areas of Specialization/Expertise

  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Nursing Education
  • Clinical Integration
Q

What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?

I've had a lot of experience in nursing - I've been in healthcare for almost 30 years - and I have a lot of little bits of wisdom to impart to my students. I really enjoy sharing with them the experiences that I've had, and not just like I did this task for a patient, but I met this patient at their needs when they needed the most, and just the little things that we can do to make a huge difference in patients' lives. That's what I try to really impart in my students now - it's not just the tasks that we do, but how we go about doing those tasks.

Locations

Central New Mexico Community College

Ponderosa, NM