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2024-2025 University of Wyoming Catalog

Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing

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351A Health Sciences Center,
(307) 766‑4312
FAX: (307) 766-4294
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/Nursing
Dean: Sherrill J. Smith
Associate Dean: Karen L. Gorton

Professors:

ANN MARIE HART, B.S.N. Medical College of Virginia 1991; M.S. University of Wyoming 1996; Ph.D. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver 2003; Professor of Nursing 2015.

SHERRILL J. SMITH, B.S.N. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1985; M.S. Wright State University 1997; Ph.D. University of Northern Colorado 2008; Professor of Nursing 2019; Dean of Nursing 2019.

JENIFER THOMAS, B.S. Colorado State University 1994; M.S. Avila University 2000; M.S. Colorado State Unviersity2007; Ph.D. 2008; Professor of Nursing 2023.

Associate Professors:

REBECCA CARRON, B.S.N. Texas Christian University 1976; B.A. University of Wyoming, 1997; M.S. 2006; Ph.D. University of Colorado 2014; Associate Professor of Nursing 2020.

KAREN GORTON, B.S. Wheaton College, 1986; M.S. Indiana University, 1988; B.S.N. Carroll College/Columbia College of Nursing 1988; M.S.N. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 2003; Ph.D. University of Northern Colorado 2010; Associate Professor of Nursing 2023.

JANET WILLHAUS, B.S.N. University of Kansas 1985; M.S. Fort Hays State University 2008: Ph.D. Washington State University 2013; Associate Professor of Nursing 2020.

Assistant Professors:

JENNIFER M. STEPHENS, B.S.N. Texas Christian University 1976; B.A. University of Wyoming 1997; M.S. 2006; Ph.D. University of Colorado 2014; Associate Professor of Nursing 2020.

 

Clinical Associate Professors:

ESTHER GILMAN-KEHRER, B.S.N. University of Wyoming 1986; M.S. 1998; D.N.P. University of Colorado 2012; Clinical Associate Professor 2021.

NANCY MCGEE, B.S.N. University of Wyoming 2005; M.S. 2007; D.N.P. University of Northern Colorado 2014; Clinical Associate Professor 2020.

J’LAINE PROCTOR, B.S.N. University of Wyoming 2000; M.S. 2003; Certificate-PMHNP 2007; D.N.P. University of Northern Colorado 2014; Clinical Associate Professor 2020.

Clinical Assistant Professors:

NANCY “NIKI” EISENMANN, B.S.N. University of Nebraska Medical Center 2002; M.S. Nebraska Wesleyan University 2008; Ph.D. University of Missouri-Kansas City 2020; Clinical Assistant Professor 2020.

 

Senior Lecturers:

Associate Lecturers:

Carrie Barr, Paula Kihn, Candace Stidolph, Christina Warren

Assistant Lecturers:

Megan Beach, Shirley Boggs, Ashley Lair, Jennifer Langevin, Cheryl Rodgers, Shannon Schneider, Amy Turpin, Sarah Whitman

Adjunct and Part-time Faculty:

Amy Aldrich, Nicole Alexander, Nikki Armstrong, Jennifer Barbee-Crim, Timothy Barnes, Paula Belknap, Jennifer Browne, Colleen Butler, Britni Camino, Carol Campbell, Erin Clikeman, Robin Cole, Mary Cox, Robyn Curtis-Rice, Wesley Davis, Alison Doherty, Michelle Dowling, Sharon Farra, Jennifer Favilla, James Fleenor, Shelby Frost, Deborah Gaspar, Brian Gee, Mary Kay Goetter, Julian Good, Grace Gosar, Pete Gosar, Sheriedan Grannan, Nancy Halsey, Lori Hart, Jennifer Helmer, Jesse Henry, Holly Hink, Michelle Hipsak, Jennifer Hluwood, Barbara James, Dawn Jensen, Amy Johnson, Jayne Josephsen, Sunny Kaste, Melanie Kawulok, Katie Keller, Carol Kobulnicky, Cheryl Koski, Cory Lamblin,  Kara Laughlin, Anthony Leonard, Sue Lowe, Cristina Mcafee, Lauren Menter, Katherine Miller, Jesse Morse-Brady, May Nara, Marcia Newell, Kristy Nielson, Brian O’Neill, Jennifer Oiler, Alicia Palazzolo, Sarah Penn, Whitney Peterson, Collin Prince, Chelse Raymer, Rasha Riad, Vickie Richards, Amy Robohm, Marlene Shaw, Elizabeth DePrince Smith, Shawn Snyder, Sherra St.Clair, Nichole Taylor, Veronica Taylor, Cassie Terfehr, Joslyn Thompson, Kate Thompson, Teresa Thompson, Weldonna Toth, Jennifer Tryder, Candace Tull, Jessica Warren, Cynthia Weber, Leah White, Linda Williams, Wendy Wood Neeson, Wendy Wright

Emeriti:

Pamela D. Larsen, Mary E. Burman, Beverly McDermott, Holly Miller, Mary Anne Purtzer, Kimberly Raksa-Miller, Susan H. Steiner, Beverly Taheri-Kennedy, Fay W. Whitney, Norma Wilkerson

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing (FWWSON) has well established B.S.N, M.S., and D.N.P. programs based upon national nursing education standards.

Mission

The FWWSON educates, conducts research and provides service and practice to improve, protect and promote health.

Accreditation and Membership

The baccalaureate and graduate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The baccalaureate program (Basic BSN, BRAND) is approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN). Graduates of the Basic BSN and BRAND options are qualified to apply to take national licensing examination: NCLEX. Graduates of the DNP Program are eligible to take the national certification exams as a nurse practitioner.

Technical Standards Education and Practice

All nursing students must be able to perform the essential functions of a nurse, including observation/communication, physical/motor, intellectual, and behavioral/social. Please refer to the “Technical Standards for Education and Practice and Reasonable Accomodations Policy”, including information on reasonable accommodations, on the school’s website: http://www.uwyo.edu/nursing/programs/technical-standards-for-admission.html.

Background Check Requirement

Students enrolled in clinical training programs within the College of Health Sciences are placed in educational and clinical settings where highly vulnerable clients such as minor children, individuals with disabilities, and/or the elderly, are routinely served. These clinical/ practice training sites (including schools, hospitals, pharmacies, and other university sites) routinely require criminal background checks for all students who engage in clinical activities. Therefore, background checks shall be required on all applicants to programs in the College of Health Sciences prior to admission into their prospective program.

Students applying for admission to any nursing program option will be notified by the FWWSON at the time of any admission offer the process for completing the required background check. Previous background checks (e.g. CNA Certification, LPN or RN Licensure) are not acceptable to fulfill this expectation. The results of the background check may determine final admittance to the program.

Students may also be required to update the criminal background check. Each clinical training site will be informed that students have passed a background check prior to placement at that site; some sites may require a more current background check. Clinical agencies may bar a student access to their facility for clinical experiences based on the results of the background check. If faculty and staff are not able to place the student in an alternative setting, the student will not be able to complete the program. In addition, students seeking readmission into the program are required to complete a new background check. Students are responsible for the costs associated with the admission background check and any other background checks that may be required.

Drug Screening Requirement

An acceptable drug screen is required at admission for all students entering clinical programs in the School of Nursing as drug screening is required by most clinical training sites. Students will be notified by the FWWSON should this be an expectation of them for a specific placement after admission. Students may incur charges for this screening and will be notified of such at that time. Drug and/or alcohol testing for any student can be requested by the FWWSON.

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing provides a curriculum based on the solid foundation of a general studies program. University students are individuals who come with learning preferences, different experiences, varied goals, and therefore, have unique learning needs. The primary responsibility of faculty is to empower students to become self-directed learners. Active learning is a teaching/learning partnership.

 

Health Insurance Requirement

Health insurance coverage is a requirement of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing for participation in any clinical rotation. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain and maintain coverage for ALL clinical rotations. Students will be notified by the FWWSON for the timing for completion of the FWWSON Student Verification of Health Insurance Form.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing provides a curriculum based on the solid foundation of a general studies program. University students are individuals who come with learning preferences, different experiences, varied goals, and therefore, have unique learning needs. The primary responsibility of faculty is to empower students to become self-directed learners. Active learning is a teaching/learning partnership.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

At completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, graduates will be able to meet the end of program student learning outcomes:

  1. Employ evidence-based information and communication technologies to deliver safe nursing care. (Domains 4, 5, & 8; CCC: Safety, Clinical Judgement, Patient Centeredness)
  2. Integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to inform clinical judgement. (Domains 1 & 2; CCC: Clinical Judgement, Health Promotion, Patient Centeredness)
  3. Generate evidence-based solutions to system level problems across multiple healthcare settings. (Domain 7; CCC: Leadership, Clinical Judgement, Safety)
  4. Coordinate person-centered care for optimal health and wellness. (Domain 2; CCC: Patient Centeredness & Health Promotion)
  5. Demonstrate professional behaviors that align with nursing standards and scope of practice. (Domain 9; CCC: Professionalism)
  6. Implement effective partnerships, policy, and advocacy across divers populations. (Domains 3 & 6; CCC: Leadership & Health Promotion)
  7. Establish self-reflective behaviors to foster personal well-being, lifelong learning and leadership traits. (Domain 10; CCC: Leadership, Professionalism, & Health Promotion)

*Domains: AACN Essentials Domains

** CCC: ReNeW Core Curricular Concepts

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Options

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing offers a baccalaureate program with three options to obtain the BSN degree:

  1. Basic BSN - a four-year, on-campus BSN option for the student who wishes to become a registered nurse at the baccalaureate level.
  2. BRAND (Bachelors Reach for Accelerated Nursing Degree) - an accelerated BSN outreach option for the student who has already achieved a previous non-nursing baccalaureate degree and who wishes to become a registered nurse at the baccalaureate level.
  3. BSN Completion - two online BSN options (ReNEW and RN-BSN):
  • ReNEW (Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming) - an online BSN option for the student or graduate of a Wyoming community college ReNEW nursing program who wishes to become a baccalaureate-prepared nurse.
  • RN-BSN - an online BSN option for the graduate of a non-ReNEW associate degree or diploma nursing program who wishes to become a baccalaureate-prepared nurse.

Please refer to the appropriate BSN program option section that follows below.

Graduate Study

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing offers two graduate programs leading to: 1) a Master of Science (M.S.) degree and 2) a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree.

Master of Science (MS) Program

The MS program of study is for nurses who desire to become nurse educators or nurse leaders in any academic or health-related setting. The program mission is to prepare transformational learners and leaders to advance nursing education and practice, thus, addressing the complexities in the 21st century healthcare system. Core curricular concepts woven through the curriculum include transformation, communication, interconnected global perspective, outcomes orientation, and rural population health.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

MS graduates are prepared to ensure better care, better health, and lower costs through their knowledge, skills, and abilities to:

  • Demonstrate competence and caring in the advanced professional nurse role to serve Wyoming, the region, and the world in urban, rural, and frontier health care settings as a provider, leader, and/or educator in the health care system.
  • Transform rural health through leadership, service, and clinical scholarship that reflects an interconnected and comprehensive global health perspective.
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of nursing and other sciences and humanities and integrates this knowledge to manage and improve health care across settings.
  • Synthesize broad organizational, financial, economic, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts from nursing and other sciences to address population health. 
  • Engage in scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice to lead change for quality outcomes and implement safe health care to diverse populations in a variety of settings.

 

Core Concepts:

  • Transformation:

Transformation includes learning, education, leadership, and nursing as a whole; engaging creativity with theory and evidence-based practice to result in critical reflection and cognitive flexibility.

  • Rurality/Frontier:

Practice in a low population area where resources and/or access to care are limited and be able to innovate accordingly.

  • Service:

Providing advanced practice nursing care and services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations includes altruism, leadership, decision-making, cooperation, education, listening, problem-solving, person-centered care, fidelity, advocacy, ethical behavior, and practice.

  • Comprehensive Global Healthcare System Perspective:

An interconnected and comprehensive global health care system perspective incorporating the following attributes: advocacy, altruism, creativity, ethical conduct, effective communication skills, leadership, problem-solving skills, professionalism, and scholarship.

  • Clinical Scholarship:

Activities that systematically advance nursing science, including its teaching, research, and practice through rigorous inquiry that 1) is significant to the profession, 2) is creative, 3) can be documented, 4) can be replicated or elaborated, and 5) can be peer-reviewed through various methods and includes discovery, teaching, practice, and integration.

Master of Science (MS) Program Concentrations

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing offers a masters program with two concentrations to obtain the MS degree:

  1. Nurse Educator - a two and a half-year, online MS concentration for the registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who desire to become nurse educators.
  2. Nurse Leader - a two and a half-year, online MS concentration for the registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who desire to become nurse leaders.

Please refer to the MS program section that follows below.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is the new standard for advanced practice nursing education. The DNP program is open to registered nurses with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program nationally accredited by an approved nursing education accrediting body.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

DNP graduates will:

  1. engage in evidence-based practice to optimize health outcomes;
  2. engage in leadership activities to promote excellence in rural health care.

 

Core Concepts:

  • Transformation:

Transformation includes learning, education, leadership, and nursing as a whole; engaging creativity with theory and evidence-based practice to result in critical reflection and cognitive flexibility.

  • Rurality/Frontier:

Practice in a low population area where resources and/or access to care are limited and be able to innovate accordingly.

  • Service:

Providing advanced practice nursing care and services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations includes altruism, leadership, decision-making, cooperation, education, listening, problem-solving, person-centered care, fidelity, advocacy, ethical behavior, and practice.

  • Comprehensive Global Healthcare System Perspective:

An interconnected and comprehensive global health care system perspective incorporating the following attributes: advocacy, altruism, creativity, ethical conduct, effective communication skills, leadership, problem-solving skills, professionalism, and scholarship.

  • Clinical Scholarship:

Activities that systematically advance nursing science, including its teaching, research, and practice through rigorous inquiry that 1) is significant to the profession, 2) is creative, 3) can be documented, 4) can be replicated or elaborated, and 5) can be peer-reviewed through various methods and includes discovery, teaching, practice, and integration.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Concentrations

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing offers a doctoral program with two concentrations to obtain the DNP degree:

  1. Family Nurse Practitioner (FMY) - a three-year, DNP concentration for the registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that prepares students for careers in rural primary care.
  2. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PSH) - a three-year, DNP concentration for the registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that prepares students for careers in rural psychiatric mental health care.

Please refer to the appropriate DNP program concentration section that follows below.

Programs

    Bachelor of Science in NursingMaster of ScienceDoctor of Nursing Practice

    Courses

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