University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-1121
The last semester of the Basic BSN program contains the Capstone Practicum, a precepted final clinical course that assists students in synthesizing basic concepts of professional nursing. Students gain confidence, practice clinical reasoning and leadership skills, communicate effectively with the interprofessional team, apply ethical decision-making skills and develop evidence-based practice. Check out five students' experiences below:
I am fortunate to have been placed at Powell Valley Healthcare for my Senior Capstone Practicum. This very small and rural hospital presented opportunities to work on the medical/surgical floor, OB, ICU, and ER. My shifts consisted of anything from admissions, assessments, patient education, assisting laboring moms, delivering newborns, assisting in codes, discharging, and much more. The experience has solidified my desire to not only work in a rural hospital, but to become a labor and delivery nurse. [Click on Jordan's name above to read specifics about her capstone experience.]
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center ER sees just about everything from wound checks to level one traumas, a case of a runny nose to a stroke or cardiac arrest. I have been fortunate enough to see and participate in this wide variety of medical emergencies as well as deal with Mental Health patients and Urgent Care situations. I met people from all walks of life, heard their stories, and comforted them in their time of need. Being here has done nothing but reinforce my desire and passion for emergency medicine. [Click on Hayden's name above to read specifics about his capstone experience.]
NCMC’s ICU gave me opportunity to see people at their sickest and medical minds at their best. Impressive is an understatement for how the nurses cared for patients and worked with the healthcare team. Many times the care I did was difficult—not all patients coming into the ICU come out better. But there were also times that the critical care I helped provide made the difference in a patient’s outcome. I developed assessment skill, interprofessional communication, and greater understanding of disease process. [Click on Katz' name above to read specifics about his capstone experience.]
My capstone experience at the small hospital at Powell Valley Healthcare gave me opportunities I may not have had at a bigger place, confined to a single department. My preceptor is mainly a medical/surgical nurse, but she floats to ICU, ER, and OB depending on census. Being exposed to so many different kinds of nursing pushed me, and I loved every minute of it. I felt prepared because of what I learned in school, finding that nursing skills get easier with practice, but was surprised that the assessments we perfected in school helped me the most. [Click on Lensegrav’s name for more.]
My capstone: OB, ER. I am grateful for two very different experiences. OB: Welcoming a baby: one of the most special experiences and an honor to help someone through the process. OB nurses provide care for laboring/post-partum mothers/newborns. I left the unit with mind/heart set on becoming an OB nurse. ER: I was curious to be outside my comfort zone. I practiced skills different from OB; had much practice with IV starts, charting, admits, discharging, triaging and became familiar with different meds. Through this I grew and learned more about myself. [Click on Newman's name for more.]
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-1121
