Nursing

The Central Wyoming College Associate Degree Nursing Program is fully approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Potential Limits To Receiving Licensure

Admissions occur once per year and classes begin in the fall semester. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that required documentation has been received in the nursing office by the appropriate deadlines. 

Admission Eligibility Requirements

1. Nursing program applicants meet the general admission requirements of Central Wyoming College. Students are recommended to choose Nursing for the area of major on the college application form. Admission to the college does not automatically infer admission to the nursing program.
2. The Nursing Program Admission Application must be submitted on or before March 1. The application period is November 1 through March 1 for entry in the fall semester. 
3. Students applying for admission to the program must complete the ATI TEAS prior to March 1. A total score of 58.7% or higher is required.
4. A college cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher is required. For program admission consideration, GPA is calculated using only the courses required for the Associate Degree in Nursing at CWC.
5. Courses required for the degree must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
6. Students admitted to the program must meet certain Performance Standards, with or without accommodations.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisite requirements must be met prior to entering the program. Students enrolled in required courses in the spring semester during the selection process may be offered conditional admission, but must demonstrate successful completion of all prerequisite courses prior to May 31. If you are repeating a course in the spring semester during the selection process, the previously earned grade is used in admission point calculations.

Prerequisite courses must be from regionally accredited institutions of higher education and include:

• General Biology with lab (4 credits)
• English Composition I (3 credits)
• College Algebra (4 credits)
• Human Anatomy with lab (4 credits)

Transcripts

Official transcripts from colleges or universities you have attended should be electronically prepared and sent by the issuing institution to records@cwc.edu or faxed to 1-307-855-2092. This does not include transcripts for coursework completed at CWC. Official transcripts may also be directly mailed in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution to

Central Wyoming College
Records Office
2660 Peck Avenue
Riverton, WY 82501

Transcripts must be received no later than March 1. For courses in progress in the spring semester during the selection process, official transcripts showing course completion must be received by May 31. 

The college registrar and nursing director will review transcripts to determine transfer credit eligibility. Evaluations may take several weeks to complete and results are sent to the student’s CWC email address.

Clinical Record Requirements

Once admitted to the program, the student must provide official documentation of each of the requirements listed below. All requirements must remain current throughout enrollment in the program. A detailed checklist is provided upon admission notification. 

• Criminal background check from the designated vendor at www.cwcbackground.com
• Drug test
• HeartCode® Basic Life Support Certification by American Heart Association
• Immunizations: TB skin test, MMR, Tdap, hepatitis B, varicella, and seasonal influenza

Online Nursing Applications for Fall 2021 Admission are Accepted
November 1 through March 1.

Applications must be received by 11:59pm (MST)
on the application deadline.
Late applications are not accepted.

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED

Before you begin the nursing application, be sure you have reviewed and understand the ‘Prerequisite and Admission Requirements’ in the menu above. Nursing program admission decisions are based on the fulfillment of these requirements.

Carefully read the instructions that appear throughout the application form and pay close attention to accuracy in your online responses. Once your application is submitted, it will be held for review by the nursing selection committee. Applicants are notified of committee decisions in early April for the fall start.

Please submit the application form only once. If you have updates to any information that was submitted, contact the nursing office at 307-855-2226 or email sstanek@cwc.edu.

Congratulations on your decision to enter nursing. Let's get started.

ACCESS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED

Each year, 32 students are selected to enter the program on the main campus in Riverton, and 8 students are selected for the outreach campus in Jackson. Admission to the program is competitive and enrollment is controlled. Applicants are reviewed and ranked using a two-tier system.

Tier I: Application Evaluation and Scoring 

In Tier I, points are awarded in the following areas: 

1. Grade point average. A college cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher is required. GPA is calculated using only courses required for the nursing degree at CWC. Courses required for the degree must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses in progress in the spring semester during the selection process are excluded from GPA calculation. GPA is calculated to the hundredth place and is not rounded. 
2. TEAS test score. The TEAS must be taken by March 1 and a total score of 58.7% or higher is required.  

      Points are calculated using a weighted formula:

• GPA is converted to a percentage and is weighted 40%
• TEAS score is weighted 60%
• Both numbers are added to determine total points.
  
  

Bonus points for work experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Five points are added to the admission points total for applicants who meet the following criteria: 

• Current CNA licensure listed on the Wyoming State Board of Nursing registry.
• Continuous employment as a CNA for the past one year providing direct patient care for a minimum of 30 hours per week

To receive bonus points, a letter verifying current employment must be written on company letterhead and sent directly from a human resources official at the employing agency to the CWC Nursing Director at 2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, WY 82501. Documentation must include job title, hours worked per week, date of hire, and verification of current employment. The employer’s contact information must also be included for validation purposes. There are no exceptions to this provision. Other types of healthcare experience or part-time work as a CNA do not qualify for bonus points toward admission.

Tier II: Post-Selection Requirements

Applicants who accept an offer of admission to the program will advance to Tier II and must meet the following requirements by May 31:

• Criminal background check with the designated vendor at www.cwcbackground.com.
• Required immunization records on file in the nursing office at the college
• Official transcripts received in the records office at CWC documenting completion of outstanding prerequisite courses in progress in the spring semester, if applicable

Full admission is contingent upon completion of Tier II requirements. Students will receive instructions from the nursing office for fulfilling these requirements. Failure to meet the requirements by May 31 will result in a rescinded admission offer. 

Decision Notification

Applicants are notified of admission decisions via postal service 4-6 weeks after the March 1 application deadline and will receive (1) a letter of acceptance, (2) an offer for placement on the alternate list, or (3) a letter of non-acceptance. An alternate list is maintained for each cohort in the event an applicant declines acceptance. Students ranked on the alternate list will be notified if an opening occurs. 

An applicant who is notified of admission to the program must return the Acceptance Reply Form in order to reserve a position in the class. Admission may not be deferred or rolled over to a later term. If an accepted applicant opts to withdraw their application, notification of withdrawal must be received by the nursing office in a timely manner. Failure to notify the nursing office of intent to withdraw application may affect future consideration for admission. 

Reapplication

Students not accepted to the program who are interested in reapplying must complete the Nursing Program Admission Application prior to the March 1 deadline in the next admission cycle, and submit official college transcripts reflecting coursework completed since the last application, if applicable.

The CWC nursing program is a 66 credit program of study leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing. 

General Education and Support Courses

Nursing Courses

Curriculum Plan

Once accepted, the program is designed to be completed in two academic years (four semesters). Enrolled students must complete the required nursing courses in the exact sequence. The recommended Nursing ADN Sequence is designed to help students with long-range planning. Students should work with their academic advisor in planning their schedule.

Classroom

The on-campus nursing classroom is a state-of-the-art teaching space that is equipped for distance delivery by means of video conferencing technology allowing real-time interaction with students and faculty at an outreach site in Jackson, Wyoming. All nursing courses have an online classroom to handle announcements, topic outlines, discussion boards, and other communication from the faculty. Student response systems allow for enhanced participation during class and provide instructors with instant feedback related to student understanding of content.

Active classroom learning strategies used to assist the student in meeting outcomes include team-based learning activities, case studies, group work, demonstration and return demonstration, practice worksheets, concept mapping, textbooks and eResources, and ATI online products.

Team-based learning is an instructional approach designed around modules that are presented in a three-step cycle: (1) student out-of-class preparation and review, (2) in-class readiness assurance testing, and (3) application-focused exercise. An appeals process encourages students to review the material, evaluate their understanding, and defend the choice they made. This approach to learning fosters development of high-level thinking skills and brings real-world meaning to content explored in the classroom.

Simulation and Skills Laboratories

The simulation and skills laboratories present a sophisticated and innovative learning environment in which students synthesize didactic and clinical knowledge as they transition into professional practice. The simulation lab is occupied by life-size mannequins, from infant through adult, that simulate symptoms, diseases, and conditions that nurses are likely to see in a real patient care setting. The labs are fully furnished with supplies and equipment to create a realistic hospital environment.

High-fidelity clinical simulations are integrated throughout the curriculum and used in conjunction with a variety of direct patient care experiences. Simulated learning experiences provide realistic and challenging scenarios to assist students in developing clinical judgment and decision-making skills. These scenarios allow students to respond to patient situations and learn correct interventions in a controlled environment, thereby decreasing risks inherent in practicing skills on live patients. A debriefing area allows for discussions and reflective learning following a simulated learning experience.

Direct Patient Care Clinical

Clinical rotations begin in the first semester of the program and continue throughout. Each core nursing course has a clinical component whereby students are placed in a clinical setting and engage in learning experiences where they provide direct care to patients under the close supervision of a nursing professional. Our main objective is the careful selection of community agencies whose clinical opportunities meet the goals of the nursing program. The program offers students the advantage of a variety of clinical settings and nursing environments to complete the required clinical hours.

Computerized Testing

Most testing is done is a computer laboratory to resemble the style and format of the national licensing examination.

Technology Enhanced Learning

The program fosters the use of innovative and emerging teaching strategies and technologies to engage students in the learning process. Students accepted to the program must be computer literate and have high-speed Internet access. Students must supply a mobile device that is small enough to fit into the uniform pocket and capable of supporting the required products. The college uses Canvas Learning Management System to deliver hybrid and online course content.

Technology is integrated into the nursing curriculum in a variety of ways, including

• e-textbooks
• downloadable mobile apps
• audience response systems
• electronic health records
• interface with the online classroom
• simulation management platform to manage, operate, and report simulation activities in the lab

Enrolled nursing students may be considered for program-specific scholarships, provided they meet stated criteria and complete the CWC scholarship application prior to March 1. The online CWC scholarship application is available November 1 thru March 1 and must be completed annually. Some scholarship awards also require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the CWC financial aid office.

In addition, Wyoming Investment in Nursing (WYIN) funding may be available to assist with educational expenses for qualifying students. The FAFSA is used to determine WYIN funding. Upon acceptance to the nursing program, students are provided contact information for a servicing agent to begin the WYIN loan application process. 

Check out Central Scholarships for more information. 

• National licensure exam pass rate for spring 2019 graduates:  97%
• Program completion rate for spring 2019 graduates:  79.5%
• Job placement rate within 6 months for spring 2019 graduates:  100%
• Average college cumulative GPA for students entering the program in fall 2019:  3.41
• Average TEAS score for students entering the program in fall 2019:  78.13%

2019-2020 Nursing Student Handbook

Licensed Practical Nurses may enter the Central Wyoming College Associate Degree Nursing Program with advanced standing provided certain requirements are met. Interested applicants must contact the nursing director.

1. Applicants must have active unrestricted licensure as a practical nurse.
2. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of Central Wyoming College and the nursing program. 
3. Applicants are required to take the TEAS prior to March 1 for fall entry in the current admission cycle. A total score of 58.7% or higher is required. The TEAS may be repeated once (two attempts) during the academic year. The highest passing score is used. Only passing scores achieved within 24 months of the application deadline in the current admission cycle are considered. 
4. Applicants are required to take the PN Comprehensive Predictor test prior to March 1 for fall entry in the current admission cycle, and must score at or above the national mean of 69.1%.
5. Applicants who achieve the required score on the PN Comprehensive Predictor are awarded a maximum of 16 credits in nursing from CWC.
6. Applicants must enroll in NURS 1400 (LPN Transition) in the summer session prior to advanced placement in the third semester of the nursing program. 
7. All courses required for the degree must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
8. The following courses must be completed prior to advanced placement in the third semester of the program: 
1. General Biology with lab (4 credits)
2. English Composition I (3 credits)
3. Math 1400 or higher (3 credits)
4. Psychology (4 credits)
5. Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs (8 credits)
6. LPN Transition (2 credits)
9. Remaining courses required for the ADN must be completed prior to graduation from the program, and include
1. English Composition II (Business Communications or Technical Writing may be substituted) (3 credits)
2. American & Wyoming Government (3 credits)
10. Applicants who wish to transfer college-level credit from other schools must arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to the records office at CWC prior to March 1. 
11. Advanced placement is at the discretion of the nursing director and faculty, and is dependent upon space available and adequate clinical resources.

Certified Nursing Assistant is Wyoming Works Eligible 

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is an individual who has successfully completed a state board approved training program and has passed the state licensing examination.

As a nursing assistant, you will work under the supervision of nurses and other licensed healthcare professionals to provide direct care to patients in a variety of settings. Nursing assistants are the primary caregivers in meeting the day-to-day needs of patients. They play a significant role in relaying information about the condition of patients to members of the healthcare team.

Who Can Enroll?

The nursing assistant course at CWC is available to anyone 16 years of age or older. Becoming a nursing assistant could be a stepping stone for continuing your education and becoming an RN or seeking out other types of healthcare careers.

When is the Nursing Assistant Course Offered?

Courses are offered on the Riverton and Jackson campuses. Please contact the nursing office at the college for a current schedule of course offerings.  The course is not restricted to a semester-length schedule, which makes offerings more opportune. It doesn’t take long to become a nursing assistant and you will continue to learn once you find employment

How Do I Register?

For registration assistance, contact an academic advisor at 307-855-2270. You may also contact the nursing office at 307-855-2136 or the Jackson outreach office at 307-733-7425.

Costs

Most nursing assistant courses are four to six weeks in length and the cost is affordable. Some community agencies may offer assistance with the costs of completing a course. Additionally, some employers may pay for your training or reimburse you upon successful completion. At times, the agency that provides training opportunities will offer employment to students who demonstrate ability.

Cost considerations include tuition and fees, textbook and workbook, stethoscope, bandage scissors, scrubs, immunizations, background check, drug test, CPR card, and certification fees upon completion of the course. There may also be costs associated with travel to clinical sites.

Teaching Methods

You will attend a classroom learning environment prior to receiving hands-on patient care experience in a clinical setting. The classroom and laboratory components comprise 40 hours. The clinical component is 36 hours of actual patient care in a clinical agency where you will be under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor.

Basic Life Support Certification

The student must successfully complete the HeartCode® BLS course by the American Heart Association. This is taught during class time. Certification is good for two years from the issue date. You will not be allowed to attend clinical without current BLS certification. 

Immunizations

Immunization requirements vary among clinical agencies and the student is expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the respective agency. A copy of your records must be presented to the instructor prior to the first clinical date. Check with your instructor for exact requirements, which may include: TB skin test, MMR, Tdap, hepatitis B, varicella, and seasonal influenza.

Background Check and Drug Test

Clinical agencies require students to undergo a drug test and criminal background check from the designated vendor prior to clinical assignment. More information is provided on the first day of class.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, students have the opportunity to submit an application to the Wyoming State Board of Nursing for licensure as a certified nursing assistant. The certification examination is conducted monthly at various test sites throughout the state. Your instructor will provide you with scheduling information. The Wyoming State Board of Nursing determines eligibility to take the certification examination and is responsible for the oversight of nursing in the state of Wyoming.  Successful completion of the nursing assistant course does not guarantee certification.