Wyoming needs more master's-prepared, advance practice nurses. According to the Wyoming Department of Employment, the state has a shortage of primary care providers and the largest population of elderly residents per capita of any state in the union. Nurse practitioners (NPs) already provide essential health services in many ambulatory care clinics and hospitals throughout the state, but more are needed. Ten percent of Wyoming's NPs plan to retire within the next 10 years; new MSN-prepared NPs will be needed to fill their shoes. Additional NPs will be needed to meet the growing demand for healthcare, particularly in the state's 13 counties that are officially designated health professional shortage areas.
Master's-prepared nurses are needed to teach the next wave of RNs and LPNs as well. At present, qualified applicants are being turned away from Wyoming's nursing schools due to a lack of nurse faculty. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Faculty Loan Repayment program is a federal program designed to support nurses from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to become nurse educators. Wyoming nurses who are interested in teaching but concerned about the cost of a MSN program may find help through the repayment program.
MSN programs for Wyoming nurses include:
- University of Wyoming. The University of Wyoming in Laramie is the only in-state option for Wyoming nurses who wish to pursue an MSN degree. The school offers a master's-level nurse educator program for nurses who wish to teach the next generation of nurses.
- Georgetown University. Though located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University offers online NP programs that are accessible to nurses in Wyoming. Students can select either a nurse practitioner or nurse educator program. Classes are web-based, while Georgetown faculty work with students to arrange clinical experiences close to home.
