Nurses play a critical role in meeting the incessant demands of the evolving health care system. The aging baby boomer population, imminent retirement of more than 50 percent of the workforce, and greater access to health care contribute to the need for more health care professionals. With their training and skills, registered nurses can help to fill gaps in the wide-open areas of patient care. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the supply of registered nurses is expected to increase by 16 percent by 2024.
The attempts by Wyoming’s nursing colleges to increase capacity to help produce nurses who will meet the rising demand for care are backed by state programs that offer special funding for adults who plan to pursue a career in nursing. The size of the graduating class from associate degree program does little to relieve the fears that the nursing shortage will improve. Campaigns to attract more prospects and recruit more faculty members to admit more applicants will boost the workforce and improve the availability and quality of career at the State’s 26 hospitals and other medical institution.
The need for more nurses to fill the workforce should attract those who are searching for an in-demand career. Gallup Polls have rated nurses as honest and trustworthy professionals for several years running. Public trust and recognition of their contributions are garnered through the personal and continuous care that nurses provide. Nurses benefit from flexible hours, diversity within the profession, and unlimited opportunities for advancement with continued education. They can transfer their skills from one state to another and expand their education and training to move into advanced practice as their personal goals and schedules demand. The associate degree in nursing program prepares adults for licensure as a registered nurse to meet complex health care needs of patients in hospitals, physicians’ offices, long-term care facilities, public health, and home health.
Wyoming Nursing Programs
Education Requirements
The associate degree in nursing program helps students acquire the knowledge and technical skills to provide competent and compassionate nursing care, manage patient care, use clinical judgment to make decisions, and practice within the guidelines of established ethical and professional standards. Upon completion of an approved nursing education program, graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN for licensure in Wyoming.
Colleges and universities in Wyoming follow a statewide curriculum, Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming (ReNEW), which is essentially a bachelor’s degree program that lets students earn an associate degree in nursing to obtain licensure and employment as a registered nurse. Students continue with the program and transition seamlessly during their senior year to complete the BSN.
The ADN curriculum includes general education courses that will add balance to the core nursing courses. It is designed in such a way to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to function as entry-level practitioners of care. The classroom instruction will be coupled with coordinated clinical experiences that will let students care for patients in various health care settings under the guidance of experienced faculty. Students must be prepared to travel to the clinical sites. Nursing courses will include nursing care in health promotion, pharmacology in health promotion, pharmacology in chronic illness, pharmacology in acute illness, nursing care of the patient with complex illness, and nutrition for health care. Students must complete a minimum of 65 credits to graduate with the associate degree. The foundational study is designed to facilitate fast entry into the field but should not be the end point. Registered nurses are encouraged to complete the BSN or pursue graduate study for career mobility.
Eligibility Criteria
There are several requirements for enrolling in a nursing program. In addition to completing the requirements for college admissions, students must also meet the standards set by the nursing department and those set by the clinical agencies. To participate in the mandatory clinical experience, students must complete a background check, meet the health requirements, and submit to drug testing and drug abuse prevention policies. Random drug testing may be in effect at the clinical agency. The Wyoming Board of Nursing may deny licensure to any nursing graduate found guilty of a prior felony conviction or a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
In order to be considered for admission, you must
- Have graduated from an accredited high school or have earned a GED
- Submit a completed application and fee
- Request official college transcripts and have them sent to nursing school
- Submit acceptable ACT scores
- Take English and Math placement test for exemption.
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or above
- Achieve acceptable scores on the ATI Test of Essential Skills (TEAS)
- Provide evidence of immunizations
- Test negative on the drug alcohol screening
- Have a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR card.
Licensed practical nurses may be eligible for advanced placement in the ADN program.
Duration and Cost
The general cost of attendance per semester at Wyoming’s state colleges is $3,400 per semester for full-time students (enrolled 12 credits or more). Students enrolled in nursing programs will have additional expenses for clinical course fees, transport to the clinical site, liability insurance, clinical supplies, textbooks, background check, drug screen, health requirements, CPR, and other costs unique to the nursing program. Students must be eligible for nursing scholarships if they meet the criteria. The Wyoming Investment in Nursing (WYIN) funding will help to reduce the cost of tuition and educational expenses for eligible students. Applicants must apply for scholarships and other forms of aid early before the deadline.
Wyoming RN Licensure Requirements
Wyoming enacted the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) on March 1, 2016. The state’s expected “Go Live” date for issuing multi-state licenses to registered nurses is January 19, 2018. The compact agreement will let nurses practice in the state using their license issued from another compact state.
Candidates for licensure must have completed an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing, consent to having a criminal history check performed, submit fingerprint cards for the background check, and provide proof of lawful presence.
Licensure By Examination
The application for licensure is a legal document. Completing and signing the document is an acknowledgment that you have not knowingly submitted false or misleading information.
The application for licensure is available for download online. Type your responses on the fillable PDF document or print and complete in ink. Provide an answer for all questions. If a section is not applicable, write N/A on the line. An application submitted with blank sections will be considered incomplete.
Use the following guidelines to apply for licensure:
- Complete and sign the application. Do not leave any blank sections.
- Provide a copy of your social security card and another form of identification to indicate lawful presence in the United States.
- Provide a valid email address to receive timely communications from the Board of Nursing.
- Provide a valid address and immediately inform the Board of any changes in your contact information, including your address, telephone, or email.
- Enclose the non-refundable application fee. The RN examination fee is $130. An additional charge of $5.00 must be added for processing credit card payments. The Wyoming State Board of Nursing accepts money order, cashier’s check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
- Obtain fingerprint cards and complete fingerprinting on two blue FBI cards. Return the cards with your completed application. The results of the CBC will determine whether you receive a permanent or temporary licensure to practice as a registered nurse. The fee for the criminal background check is $60.
- Request official college transcript from the institution where you graduated. The official transcripts must be sent directly to the WSBN and indicate the graduation date, degree or certificate conferred, and the school seal.
- Check the appropriate box if you wish to apply for a temporary permit.
- Register to take the NCLEX.
The application for licensure will be held for one year from the date received by the WSBN. After the appointed time, the application will be destroyed.
Temporary Permit
A temporary permit is a non-renewable permit to practice while the application is in process. To request a temporary permit, complete the following actions:
- Check the appropriate box on the application for permanent licensure.
- Answer the disciplinary history questions. If you answer “yes” to any question, your application will need to be reviewed by the Application Review Committee who will determine whether a temporary permit will be issued.
- Provide proof of lawful presence
- Pay the appropriate fee
- Provide documents for any “yes” answers to the disciplinary history questions.
Your temporary permit will expire if you fail the NCLEX licensure exam.
Once the WSBN approves your request, you can verify your license, certificates, or temporary permit online at the License Verification tab. The Board will no longer issue paper copies of the license.
NCLEX-RN Registration: Step by step instructions for registering for the NCLEX is available on the Pearson VUE or NCSBN’s website. Pearson VUE will issue an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter after you submit your application or licensure and register with Pearson VUE. If you need special testing accommodation, provide a letter requesting the accommodation, type of accommodation, and the reason for the accommodation. Also provide a written report of evaluation from a qualified professional indicating the disability diagnosis and recommended accommodations, and a written letter from the nursing program indicating the type of accommodation provided during the program.
Licensure By Endorsement
A registered nurse who holds an active unencumbered license from another state, territory or country may apply to practice as a registered nurse in Wyoming through licensure by endorsement.
Use the following guidelines to apply for licensure:
- Complete and sign the application. Do not leave any blank sections.
- Provide a copy of your social security card and another form of identification to indicate lawful presence in the United States.
- Provide a valid email address to receive timely communications from the Board of Nursing.
- Provide a valid address and immediately inform the Board of any changes in your contact information, including your address, telephone, or email.
- Enclose the non-refundable application fee. The RN examination fee is $135. An additional charge of $5.00 must be added for processing credit card payments. The Wyoming State Board of Nursing accepts money order, cashier’s check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
- Obtain fingerprint cards and complete fingerprinting on two blue FBI cards. Return the cards with your completed application. The results of the CBC will determine whether you receive a permanent or temporary licensure to practice as a registered nurse. The fee for the criminal background check is $60.
- Request official college transcript from the institution where you graduated. The official transcripts must be sent directly to the WSBN and indicate the graduation date, degree or certificate conferred, and the school seal.
- Submit documentation of current/active licensure in another jurisdiction
- Meet one of the continuing competency requirements
- Submit verification of licensures from the original state of licensure using NURSYS.com or a verification form sent directly from the licensing state to the WSBN.
- Check the appropriate box if you wish to apply for a temporary permit.
The application for licensure will be held for one year from the date received by the WSBN. After the appointed time, the application will be destroyed.
Once the Board approves your request, you can confirm your licensure online on the Board’s website.
Renewal Requirements
Registered nursing licenses expire biennially at midnight on December 31. Renewals may be submitted online. If you do not renew your licensure before the deadline, you must submit an application for relicensure/recertification and complete one of continuing competency requirements.
The non-refundable license renewal fee is $110. If you submit the renewal request and do not meet the competency requirements, your fee will not be refunded.
Inactive status is available for a fee of $30. Submit the renewal form and fee to request inactive status. Name Change Affidavit must be submitted via mail. The application may be downloaded from the Board’s website.
Continuing Education Requirements for Wyoming RNs
As part of the eligibility requirements for renewal of a registered nurse licensure, you must complete one of the following requirements during the two-year active licensure period:
- 500 hours of practice as a registered nurse during the last two years, or
- 1600 hours of practice as a registered nurse in the previous five years.
If you have not practiced nursing within the past five years, you must complete one of the following:
- An RN refresher course in the last five years – provide proof of completion
- A nursing education program which concluded with a degree beyond the basic nursing education
- Certification in a specialty area of nursing practice from a nationally recognized accrediting agency that is approved by the WSBN.
- Passed the NCLEX
Wyoming Salary and Job Outlook
The shortage of nurses in Wyoming might be a strong motivation to enter the field of nursing as it is a promise of employment for nursing graduates. However, fewer nurses can lead to a depreciation in the quality of care delivered in hospitals and other medical institutions. It can also mean more hours and work for the nurses within the healthcare system. Nurses complain of overwork and lack of compensation for the work they do and believe that a lot of the challenges they face can be solved by the addition of more nurses to the workforce. But instead of getting better, experts believe that the situation in Wyoming will worsen in the coming years as baby boomers age and retire and place greater demands on the health care system. To further complicate the problem, the older, more experienced nurses will retire and leave an even greater gap to fill.
There are approximately 26 hospitals in the rural state of Wyoming. Efforts such as funded scholarships and residency programs are being instituted to build the nursing workforce. The state board not only works to improve their response time to license application, but also approved the enhanced nurse compact, and licensing community college graduates who then go on to get a bachelor’s degree later on. Nursing students are even receiving employment offers before graduating from the program, so the outlook is positive for many.
Since Wyoming is a rural state, it is difficult to attract outsiders whose spouses may have a difficult time finding employment. The long hours and hard work can also put off those who may be interested in a career in nursing. Those who do take the first step by applying for admission to a nursing program face rejection as a nursing faculty shortage has colleges turning away thousands of eligible candidates. Those who feel a call to nursing and are persistent in their efforts will eventually succeed and have a rewarding career caring for others.
The annual mean wage for registered nurses in Wyoming is $62,980.
Contact the Board of Nursing
Wyoming Board of Nursing
Physical Address:
130 Hobbs Ave #B,
Cheyenne WY, 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7601
Fax: (307) 777-3519
Wyoming Registered Nursing Programs and NCLEX-RN Pass Rates:
ADN Programs Wyoming
Casper, WY ADN programs:
Casper College
125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601
1-800-442-2963
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 82.22%
Cheyenne, WY ADN programs:
Laramie County Community College
1400 East College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007
800-522-2993
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 82.05%
Douglas, WY ADN programs:
Eastern Wyoming College
800 South Wind Dr, Douglas, WY 82633
307-532-8200
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
Powell, WY ADN programs:
Northwest College
231 West 6th Street, Powell, WY 82435
800-560-4692
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.83%
Riverton, WY ADN programs:
Central Wyoming College
2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, WY 82501
307-855-2000
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 92.59%
Rock Springs, WY ADN programs:
Western Wyoming Community College
2500 College Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901
307-382-1600
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90.63%
Sheridan, WY ADN programs:
Northern Wyoming Community College District- Sheridan College
3059 Coffeen Avenue, Sheridan, WY 82801
800-913-9139
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 92%