Nursing professionals go through extensive training and must comply with specific requirements in order to earn, and keep, their licenses. These requirements are determined by each state's laws, referred to as nurse practice acts. The Wyoming Nurse Practice Act (WNPA) sets forth the laws and regulations that govern the practice of nursing in the state.
In order to ensure safe and optimal care for patients in Wyoming, it's critical for nursing professionals — and the facilities that employ them — to have a good understanding of the WNPA. Here's an overview of the act, key requirements to be aware of, and tips to support compliance.
The Nurse Practice Act: Wyoming Laws at a Glance
By law, the Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN) is the agency that enforces the state's nurse practice act. It also provides advisory opinions on nursing procedures, practices, and policies.
The WNPA and its supporting regulations provide requirements and standards related to educational and licensing requirements for nursing professionals. Among other things, they also cover respective scope of practice limitations for the following nursing roles:
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
The following table provides an overview of the Wyoming Nurse Practice Act and a breakdown of some of its key provisions, along with links to authorities and helpful resources for your facility.
| Legal Authorities | Wyoming Statutes:Title 33, Chapter 21,Sections 119-158Wyoming Administrative Rules:Board of Nursing,Chapters 1-6 |
|---|---|
| Nursing Licensure Requirements | In Wyoming, nursing professionals are licensed through eitherexamination or endorsement, as set forth in the Wyoming Administrative Rules. TheWyoming State Board of Nursing Portalis the hub for the process, which is outlined further below.Licensure/certification by examination:Complete anaccredited nursing program(or a training and competency evaluation program for CNAs).Complete a program of study in a specific focus area (APRNs only).Pass all required examinations, which include:APRNs:National certification examination in the role/population focus area of their graduate program of studyRNs:NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PNCNAs:NATCEP or similar examSubmit criminal background check (CBC) fingerprint cards and complete any background checks.Submit application and pay fees.Licensure/certification by endorsement:Verification of active licensure/certification from another jurisdiction.Completion of an accredited nursing program (or a training and competency evaluation program for CNAs).Complete a program of study in a specific focus area and verification of national certification in that focus area (APRNs only).Pass all required examinations.Verification ofinitial state of licensureby examination.Submit CBC fingerprint cards and complete any background checks.Submit application and pay fees.The WSBN is authorized to issuetemporary permits(up to 90 days) to APRNs, RNs, LPNs, or CNAs who are awaiting licensure or certification by endorsement and who are licensed or certified in good standing in another jurisdiction.Once a nursing license is issued, facilities can use theWyoming nursing license verificationwebsite as part of their credentialing process.TheWyoming nursing license renewal processis fairly straightforward and can be completed in just a few steps. |
| Scope of Practice Guidelines | The Wyoming Nurse Practice Act (Section 33-21-120), and supporting regulations, define the practice parameters for nursing professionals. These are further outlined by the Wyoming State Board of Nursingscope of practice rules. Here are some key highlights of the scope for each role:Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN):Can prescribe, dispense, administer, or provide non-prescriptive and prescriptive medications (except for certain Schedule I drugs)Responsible for the direct care and management of patients and clients based on their needs, disease states, and technological/therapeutic interventionsAPRN authorities are limited to the core, role, and population focus area of the APRN as declared upon licensureRegistered Nurse (RN):Responsible for implementing the nursing process, to include treatments and therapies, medication administration, and nursing delegation to LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)Conducts comprehensive nursing assessmentsPlans nursing care and nursing interventions consistent with the patient’s overall healthcare planCan make independent nursing decisions based on critical thinking and clinical judgmentLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN):Practices under the supervision of an APRN, RN, licensed physician, or other authorized and licensed healthcare providerParticipates in nursing care based on education and experienceImplements nursing interventions and prescribed medical regimes and initiates standard emergency procedures as appropriateContributes to the plan of care in collaboration with an RNCan delegate to UAPs based on qualifications, resources, supervision, and delegation guidelinesCertified Nursing Assistant (CNA):Operates under the direction of an APRN, RN, or LPNPerforms basic nursing skills, personal care skills, restorative skills, and technical skills consistent with their training |
| DelegationRules | Under the WSBN guidelines supporting the Wyoming Nurse Practice Act,delegationis considered anessentialnursing skill. It refers to transfers between different nursing roles (e.g., RN to LPN). Keep in mind that this is different from transfers within the same nursing role (e.g., RN to RN), which the WSBN refers to ashandoffsand which are not subject to the same delegation rules.Here are some general guidelines set forth in theWSBN Advisory Opinionon Wyoming Nurse Practice Act delegation:Delegatees can perform specific nursing activities, skills, or procedures outside of their traditional role and responsibilities if they have obtained the additional competency training and validation to do so.The licensed nurse delegator who delegates the responsibility must maintain overall accountability for the patient.The delegated responsibility must be within the licensed nurse delegator’s scope of practice.The licensed nurse delegator must have the authority to delegate.Clinical reasoning, critical decision making, and nursing judgment cannot be delegated. |
| Violations and Penalties | UnderSection 33-21-145of the WNPA, violations of the act constitute a misdemeanor. Fines of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of up to one year are potential penalties under the nurse practice act. Wyoming discipline procedures could apply to violations such as:Practicing without a valid and current license, certificate, or temporary permit.Practicing under the cover of any diploma, license, certificate, or record that was obtained illegally or fraudulently.Using titles or other representations indicating that one is an APRN, RN, LPN, or CNA when they are not.Knowingly hiring unlicensed or uncertified persons.Knowingly concealing violations of the Wyoming Nurse Practice Act.Conducting a nursing education program for the preparation of RNs or LPNs which has not been approved by the WSBN. |
| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | Wyomingispart of the NLC, so nursing professionals licensed in the state must adhere to theNLC’s rules and guidelinesas applicable. |
3 Tips to Support Compliance With the Wyoming Nurse Practice Act
Failing to comply with the WNPA can put your facility at risk of an audit and possibly expose your organization to adverse financial, professional, and legal consequences. The good news? There are steps you can take to minimize your potential exposure while also improving the quality of care for your patients. Here are three tips when it comes to WNPA compliance.
1. Develop an Efficient System to Track Licenses and Certifications
Credentialing isn't just an onboarding function; it's an ongoing process. Ensure that you have a system in place to track expiration dates for your nursing team's licenses and certifications. An effective system should also have built-in notifications so that your team, and individual clinicians, have advanced warning of pending expiration dates, with ample time to complete the renewal process.
Consider adding incentives for nursing professionals who complete their renewals early and reminding your team of the risks that come with failing to renew licenses in a timely manner. While setting up a more comprehensive monitoring and notification system may add work to your plate on the front end, it will save you headaches down the road — protecting your patients, staff, and organization in the process.
2. Regularly Monitor Advisory Opinions From the WSBN
The nursing practice is constantly subject to change and this can occur not just at the state level, but also nationally, especially given Wyoming's participation in the NLC. One way to keep your team aligned with the latest nursing best practices is to regularly monitor the WSBN's advisory opinions. These cover a broad range of subjects, such as:
- APRN Practice Management
- Critical Care Skills
- Nursing Assistive Personnel
- Pain Management
- Safe Staffing
You should also regularly check the WSBN's latest announcements so you can act quickly on things like fraud alerts or virtual training opportunities.
3. Develop Your Continuing Education Curriculum
Continuing education is a great way to support your compliance efforts, while also ensuring that your nursing team is equipped with the latest practice updates. Consider providing your team with training on annual updates to the WNPA and including panel discussions on how the updates impact your facility's practices.
Reinforce Your Team With the Latest Practice Guides and Resources
Want to find more ways to support compliance with the Wyoming Nurse Practice Act and other nursing regulations? Our team of healthcare and legal experts has your back. Access the most recent healthcare compliance and management insights today.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.