Individuals who have not completed an approved nursing degree must first graduate from a state-approved Wyoming RN program before being licensed to work as a Wyoming Registered Nurse.
States in the U.S. approve and regulate their own accredited prelicensure registered nurse (RN) programs offered by academic institutions. The Wyoming State Board of Nursing is the entity that approves those RN WY programs available throughout the state, most of which are either two-year associate-level nursing degree programs or four-year bachelor's programs.
This article details where to find local, state-approved RN Wyoming schools, and explains the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to gain licensure.
Wyoming RN License Guidelines
First-time nursing students must complete the following requirements before legally being able to work as a Wyoming Registered Nurse:
- Complete a state-approved RN WY program
- Pass the national license examination, called the NCLEX-RN
- Submit to a criminal history background check
Those who currently hold an out-of-state nursing license, and who are interested in transferring that licensure to Wyoming, can obtain a transfer (or endorsement) application from the Board of Nursing by calling 307-777-7601.
Wyoming Registered Nurse School Characteristics
Accredited colleges and universities with nursing schools have the freedom to construct their own nursing curricula. However, all state-approved Wyoming RN programs offered by these schools must:
- Be at least 2 full academic years in length
- Offer classroom-based, theoretical learning
- Offer supervised clinical training
In the classroom-based portion of programs, students learn many key content areas, including:
- Social sciences
- Physical sciences
- Ethical and legal issues in medicine
- Pharmacology
- Mental health issues
- General nursing practice
- Medical nursing
- Surgical nursing
In the clinical training portion of RN WY programs, students work with patients in a supervised setting, often in a local hospital. This hands-on training allows nursing students to practically utilize those theoretical areas learned in the classroom.
Finding RN WY Programs
The Board of Nursing approves several schools offering Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, including local community colleges, four-year institutions of higher learning and state universities.
For a list of potential schools located in the state, see the board's RN education page.
Benefits of a Wyoming RN Education
Students who finish an accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN examination can seek employment as a Wyoming Registered Nurse throughout the state.
As the state's population continues to age, RN jobs will grow in demand over the coming decade, making nurse training a sound professional investment.
For more nursing options, see also:
The Best Nursing Programs Online
Nursing LPN Programs Guide
David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
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