Ivinson Memorial Hospital and UW Partner on Embedded Faculty Position

Ivinson Memorial Hospital (IMH) and the University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing have partnered to address critical nursing education needs through an embedded clinical faculty position -- a creative solution to the nationwide challenges in nursing education and workforce development.

“Enhancing strategic partnerships within our community is a high priority for Ivinson, and we are particularly invested in the partnership with the University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing for the embedded faculty program,” says Sagan Wheeler, IMH’s chief human resources officer. “Not only will this program allow opportunity for career growth in our current employees; it will strengthen our critical recruitment pipeline with the university.”

Under this partnership, a nurse at IMH also will serve as an embedded faculty member, working both at IMH and as a member of the UW nursing faculty -- a dual role that creates a natural bridge between academic preparation and clinical practice. This position will be financially supported by both UW and IMH.

Across the country, nursing schools are experiencing challenges hiring clinical faculty due to the shortage of nursing professionals. These clinical faculty play a crucial role in educating future nurses. They oversee nursing students during clinical rotations, assign students to patients and evaluate their competencies as they prepare to become registered nurses.

The traditional model means that hospitals can lose experienced nurses to full-time academic positions. This creates gaps in the workforce -- which is particularly challenging for the rural health care facilities in Wyoming. The embedded faculty model offers an innovative alternative, allowing experienced nurses to expand their roles while maintaining their hospital positions.

“We are thrilled to have this expanded partnership with IMH that benefits both the clinical teaching needs of our program and the career opportunities for IMH nurses to support nursing workforce needs for our community,” says Sherrill Smith, dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.

This partnership delivers significant advantages for both institutions.

For UW, the partnership helps maintain current enrollment levels and positions the nursing school for expanded capacity in the future. The school previously had to reduce enrollment from 48 to 40 students in 2020 due to faculty shortages, making this partnership crucial for expanded nursing cohorts.

For IMH, the partnership allows experienced nurses to grow professionally while continuing to serve patients. The embedded faculty member also serves as an ambassador and recruiter, giving students direct exposure to employment opportunities at IMH. Additionally, this collaboration supports IMH’s pursuit of Pathway to Excellence designation and goals outlined in the hospital’s Roadmap 2030 strategic plan.

The embedded faculty model has shown success at institutions across the country. The University of Southern Mississippi, for example, has been able to admit more students and provide a direct solution to increasing the number of nursing graduates entering the workforce. Research published in nursing education journals has documented the effectiveness of these partnerships in addressing faculty shortages while maintaining educational quality.

“IMH has been and continues to be a significant partner with the University of Wyoming,” says Angela Ver Ploeg, senior director of corporate engagement at the UW Foundation. “We are grateful to have their support for this unique opportunity and the ability to think innovatively alongside them to help meet mutual needs for nurse education.”

IMH has served the Laramie community and surrounding region for over a century, providing comprehensive health care services to southeastern Wyoming. The hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, employee development and community health.

UW’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing is dedicated to educating the next generation of nursing professionals through innovative teaching methods and strong community partnerships. The school offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and is committed to addressing health care workforce needs across Wyoming and beyond.