University of Wyoming Nursing School Review

The University of Wyoming (UW, UWY) was founded in 1886, before Wyoming became a state. The first class had 42 students and was co-ed. Today, the University enrolls over 13,000 students each year in over 190 areas of study through in-class lectures and distance learning.

The University is located in Laramie, a town of 30,000 in the southeast corner of the state. Laramie is located between two mountain ranges, and is about two hours north of Denver.

Nursing Programs

The University of Wyoming offers a vast and diverse amount of programs in nursing including; a basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Basic BSN), which is an introductory program in nursing, an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BRAND), a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (RN to BSN Completion), a Masters Nurse Educator Program (MSN Nurse Educator) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP), which has post-BSN or post-MS options available.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Basic

Students may enroll in the BSN program at the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing to begin their studies in nursing. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the Registered Nurse (RN) licensing program.

Students begin at the University with two years of Pre-Nursing. After completing 49-50 credits of prerequisites, students may apply to the Nursing program. Students will also need to be a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), have a nursing GPA of at least 2.75, and have earned at least a C in all prerequisites.

The prerequisites for this program are College Composition, an approved Writing course, College Algebra, Statistics, General Biology, Introductory Chemistry or General Chemistry, Human Anatomy plus Lab, Human Systems Physiology, Pathophysiology, Medical Microbiology, General Psychology, a Sociology elective, Nutrition, and Developmental Influences on Health or Human Lifespan Development.

Accelerated BSN – BRAND

This program is for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing. The program courses focus on nursing and clinical skills.

Applicants need to have a bachelor’s degree and need to complete the prerequisites for the program, earning at least a C in each course and maintaining a 2.75 GPA overall. They also need to be a CNA or LPN, submit a personal essay, three recommendation letters, and have an interview.

The prerequisites for this program are Pathophysiology, Anatomy with Lab, Physiology, Medical Microbiology, General Psychology, and Nutrition.

RN to BSN Completion Online

This program is for RNs who want to earn their BSN degree. This is an online program that may be taken anywhere. At this time, however, students in Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Massachusetts may not be admitted to the program.

Applicants must be admitted to the University, be a graduate of an associate or diploma in nursing program, have a GPA of at least 2.5, and must earn a C or higher on all nursing core classes.

Students are encouraged to complete all core classes before entering this program. These classes are Statistics, General Psychology, a Sociology elective, Human Anatomy, Human Systems Physiology, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.

Master of Science (MS) Nurse Educator

Students with a BSN or RNs with a bachelor’s degree in another field may apply to this program. This program prepares students to teach undergraduate nursing courses. Courses are delivered online, and students will only come to campus once for New Graduate Student Orientation. At this time, students from Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Massachusetts may not be admitted to the program.

Students applying to this program will need to have a bachelor’s degree, an RN license, three letters of recommendation, a goal statement, clinical experience, GRE scores, and a resume.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

This program offers the highest level of education for advanced practice nursing. Students may focus on Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner options in their studies.

Students must have either a BSN or MS degree and an RN license to apply. They must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in their nursing courses, and an overall GPA of 2.75 or better. They will need to submit their GRE scores, and be able to perform the physical functions of a nurse. They will also need to submit a resume, letters of recommendation, an essay, and have an interview.

Nursing Program Application Procedures and Requirements

Individuals who wish to apply to the nursing programs at the University of Wyoming, must complete a criminal background check, drug screening and immunization records, including a two-step TB test. All of these tests are mandatory for admittance into any of the nursing programs at the University of Wyoming. Individuals applying must also submit proof of CPR certification prior to being admitted to the program. For the nursing programs that require a previous degree, such as a baccalaureate degree or a Registered Nurse licensure, individuals must provide proof of these licenses and previous education or they will not be considered for the programs. All of the nursing programs at the University of Wyoming also require individuals to hold a high school diploma or GED, and these documents must be submitted with the applicant’s materials for admission. Individuals enrolled in the nursing programs at the University of Wyoming can register for a three credit senior course, which is offered in the fall of each semester, in order to complete a work abroad program in Honduras.

Aspire Program

The Aspire program is designed to nurture, encourage and promote professionalism, scholarship, and leadership in student nurses. Students apply to the program the second semester of their freshman year, and continue with it throughout their undergraduate studies. Students in the Aspire program are guaranteed admission to the nursing program, provided they have CNA certification.

To apply, students must have scores high enough on their ACT or SAT to be able to declare nursing on their University application, and they must have a nursing GPA of at least 3.0 after the first semester of their freshman year. They must also submit an essay and have an interview.

Honduras Experience

The University of Wyoming has partnered with Shoulder-to-Shoulder to provide primary health care, dental care, and health education in Agua Salada, Honduras. Students may participate in this program during their senior year and earn three credits while participating in a unique, cross-cultural learning experience.

Contact:
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Avenue,
Laramie, WY 82071