Horse lovers gravitate to Wyoming’s many dude and guest ranches, and archeologists dig this state’s dinosaur bones. Residents love what cities such as Casper and Cheyenne offer, but many more residents crave this state’s wide open spaces. Nurses might be intrigued to learn that Wyoming is working on making nurse education more accessible to students, as labor projections name RNs as the second most in-demand job in this state through 2010.

Becoming a Nurse in Wyoming

Wyoming’s nurse education opportunities are currently limited, but growing rapidly. The University of Wyoming School of Nursing in Laramie does offer the BSN and MSN in programs such as acute care, behavioral/mental and psychiatric nursing, community health, family care and physiology. The nurse who seeks a fast track into nursing professions with certification and an associate’s degree in nursing can find plentiful educational opportunities such as Casper College, with focuses on anatomy, pharmacology and physiology; Central Wyoming Community College, with programs in adult care, community health, pediatrics and numerous other courses; and, Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Spring, with courses in adult care, anatomy and physiology.

Nursing Jobs in West Wyoming

Unlike its educational opportunities, careers for nursing in Wyoming are plentiful. Some of the largest employers in this state include health care centers such as Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, where employees enjoy tremendous benefits, competitive pay, a great working environment and many opportunities to advance in their chosen career. Other large health care employers include WestPark Hospital, which serves as a primary, full service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin; Sheridan Hospital, which offers an excellent benefit package, tuition reimbursement, relocation assistance and competitive wages that may include shift differential; and, Riverton Memorial Hospital, which offers acute and sub-acute inpatient medical services and outpatient services and programs, including a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency room, intensive care unit, physical therapy and sleep study lab. Nurse salaries in Wyoming are comparable with other states. An LPN, for instance, can earn between $27,000 and $55,000 per year, whereas an RN can earn between $52,000 and $116,000 per year. An RN travel nurse who wishes to serve in Wyoming’s rural areas can earn, on average, $111,000 per year.