Nursing Program
What will I learn?
Students in LCCC's Nursing programs develop the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience needed to provide safe, compassionate and patient-centered care.
Through classroom instruction, laboratory practice, simulations and supervised clinical experiences, students learn essential nursing skills, patient assessment, communication, critical thinking and clinical decision-making. Coursework incorporates anatomy, physiology, microbiology and nursing concepts to build a strong foundation in healthcare.
From Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training to Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), students gain the skills and experience needed to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings and prepare for their next steps in the nursing profession.
What degree will I earn?
LCCC offers multiple options to begin or advance your career in nursing, including: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN).
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
The CNA program provides foundational patient care skills and prepares students to pursue certification as a nursing assistant. This short-term training offers an entry point into healthcare and a foundation for continued nursing education.
Available at the Cheyenne main campus and in Laramie.
Practical Nursing (PN) – Certificate
This intensive three-semester program, not including prerequisite courses, is a balance of general education and nursing courses that provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to function as beginning practitioners of nursing. Students receive instruction in a hybrid/online on a schedule/online anytime platform alongside in-person clinical experiences in the nursing care of patients in health care settings under the supervision and guidance of the nursing faculty and preceptors. This program can be completed at a distance with short on-campus residencies required each semester.
Students who successfully complete the Practical Nursing program earn a Certificate in Nursing and complete IV certification requirements. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to pursue licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Available at the Cheyenne main campus and online.
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) – Associate Degree
In this four semester program (after prerequisites), students receive classroom instruction and coordinated clinical experience in the nursing care of patients in a variety of health care settings under the supervision and guidance of the nursing faculty.
The nursing curriculum at Laramie County Community College is a leveled educational program to facilitate career mobility. Students who complete all four semesters of the nursing program earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to pursue licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
LCCC's nursing curriculum is part of Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming (ReNEW), a statewide initiative designed to support seamless educational progression. ADN graduates can continue their education through the University of Wyoming's RN-to-BSN program to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Available at the Cheyenne main campus.
LPN Advanced Placement – Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
This option is for LPNs. The LPN Advanced Placement allows Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to build on their previous nursing education and earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Students complete two semesters of classroom instruction and clinical experiences to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and pursue licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). This program is offered twice a year.
Available at the Cheyenne main campus.
What can I do with this degree?
Visit Career Coach for additional information about Nursing Assistants.
Visit Career Coach for additional information about Home Health Aides.
Visit LCCC's Career Resources to find tools for selecting the right program for you and marketing yourself to future employers.
The LCCC Practical Nursing Program is designed as an additional program option – resulting in a certificate of completion. This intensive three-semester program, not including prerequisite courses, is a balance of general education and nursing courses that provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to function as beginning practitioners of nursing. Students receive instruction in a hybrid/online on a schedule/online anytime platform alongside in-person clinical experiences in the nursing care of patients in health care settings under the supervision and guidance of the nursing faculty and preceptors. This program can be completed at a distance with short on-campus residencies required each semester.
Nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in outpatient clinics and schools, or serve in the military.
Nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in outpatient clinics and schools, or serve in the military.
Visit Career Coach for additional information about Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Visit Career Coach for additional information about Critical Care Nurses.
Visit Career Coach for additional information about Acute Care Nurses.
Visit LCCC's Career Resources to find tools for selecting the right program for you and marketing yourself to future employers.
Nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in outpatient clinics and schools, or serve in the military.
Program Information
Nursing students participate in a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory activities, simulations, and clinical experiences. Schedules vary by program and semester, with the Practical Nursing (PN) program offering a hybrid format.
Students should expect a full-time commitment, with learning activities potentially scheduled during early mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends. Clinical rotations may also include night shifts.
In addition to scheduled activities, students should plan for time outside of class to complete assignments, study, and prepare for clinical experiences. Flexibility is essential, as schedules may change based on program and clinical requirements.
Students gain hands-on experience in a variety of healthcare settings, working with patients across the lifespan and with diverse healthcare needs.
Clinical rotations are required each semester, with nursing students completing approximately 180-225 clinical contact hours per semester. Under the guidance of nursing faculty and clinical preceptors, students apply classroom knowledge, develop clinical judgment, and strengthen patient care skills.
The program assigns clinical placements based on learning outcomes, accreditation requirements, and site availability. Students may rotate through multiple healthcare facilities throughout the LCCC service area (Wyoming, Nebraska, Northern Colorado) to gain experience in different areas of nursing practice.
More and more nurses are completing their baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) in order to enhance their employment opportunities, facilitate career advancement and/or prepare for graduate education.
- The ReNEW program plan is a four-year, eight semester (not including summers) baccalaureate curriculum that can be completed sooner.
- You can start at one of the Wyoming community colleges and be dually enrolled at the University of Wyoming.
- Upon successful completion of the four-semester (following acceptance) ADN benchmark, you are awarded an associate degree in nursing. With the BSN requirements completed, the BSN Degree can be awarded in as little as 1 semester.
- The courses/clinical experiences needed to complete the BSN are available through the university online.
- The first ReNEW Graduating class was May 2018.
For questions about ReNEW, please contact ReNEW@uwyo.edu or call 307.766.6574.
Associate Degree in Nursing
This program has received full approval as a nursing education program by the following accrediting agencies and national standards boards:
Wyoming State Board of Nursing; 130 Hobbs Avenue, Suite B; Cheyenne, WY 82002; 307.777.7601
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) ; 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400; Atlanta, GA 30326; P: 404.975.5000; F: 202.975.5020; www.ACENursing.org
Practical Nursing
Effective February 17, 2026, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires in Spring 2028.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs?status=Candidate
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
Outcome being measured: NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
Expected level of achievement: NCLEX-RN will be at 80% or better.
*December graduates test in subsequent year. i.e. Dec. 2019 graduates tested in 2020
| Year | # of Annual Testers | Annual Average | National ADN Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
53/61 |
86.89% | 82.48% |
| 2022 |
46/53 |
86.79% | 79.90% |
| 2023 |
46/50 |
92.0% | 88.56% |
| 2024 |
69/72 |
96.92% | 93.35% |
| 2025 |
64/71 |
90.4% | 86.71% |
| 2026 |
60/68 |
88.24% | 87.11% |
Outcome being measured: Program Completion
Expected level of achievement: 80% will graduate in 100% of the time
| Dec 2021 & May 2022 | Dec 2022 & May 2023 | Dec 2023 & May 2024 | Dec 2024 & May 2025 | Dec 2025 & May 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78.46% | 64.06% | 80% | 71.42% | 82.28% |
Outcome being measured: Job Placement Rates
Expected level of achievement: 95% of new graduates (seeking employment) will be employed within 6 months of graduation
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 100% | 100% |
PN Hybrid
| Year | # of Annual Testers | Annual Average | National ADN Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
6/8 |
75% | 86.60% |
| 2026 |
7/8 |
87.5% | 86.04% |
PN (After Completion of 2nd Semester in ADN program)
| Year | # of Annual Testers | Annual Average | National ADN Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24/27 | 88.89% | 79.60% |
| 2022 | 30/31 | 96.77% | 98.4% |
| 2023 |
36/36 |
100% | 86.88% |
| 2024 |
39/39 |
100% | 88.38% |
| 2025 |
41/42 |
97.62% | 86.60% |
| 2026 |
37/41 |
90.24% | 86.04% |
Acceptance into the program is conditional based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and drug screen. Instructions for completion will be provided once a student is accepted into the program.
Students will also be subject to random and for-cause drug screening throughout the program. Testing positive on the drug screening or evidence of tampering with a specimen will disqualify a student from participation in a clinical assignment and will result in dismissal from the program.
Certain criminal activity, as evidenced by a criminal background check, may also disqualify a student from clinical participation.
Students are advised that the inability to gain clinical education experiences can result in the inability to meet program objectives and outcomes. These circumstances may prevent acceptance into and/or continuance in the program.
- Lift 10-25 lbs Frequently
- Lift 26-50 lbs Occasionally
- Carry 10-25 lbs Occasionally
- Push/Pull up to 50 lbs Occasionally
- Squat/Kneel Occasionally
- Wrist Pronation/Supination Constantly
- Wrist Flexion/Extension Constantly
- Sit Occasionally
- Stand/Walk Constantly
- Crawl Infrequently
- Back Flexion Constantly
- Back Extension Occasionally
- Back Rotation Constantly
- Neck Flexion Constantly
- Neck Extension Occasionally
- Neck Rotation Frequently
- Reaching Above Shoulder Frequently
- Use of Fingers and Hands Constantly
- Repeated Bending and Reaching Frequently
- Ability for Rapid Mental & Muscular Coordination Simultaneously Constantly
- Near Vision Required
- Hearing (aid permitted)
Students must be able to observe demonstrations and learn from experiences in the basic sciences, including but not limited to, anatomy, physiology and microbiology laboratory situations. Students must be able to observe and learn from experiences in the clinical nursing laboratory such as the following examples: accurately read gradients/calibrations on a syringe; measure medications accurately; accurately recognize color changes on chemical reaction strips; assess heart, breath, abdominal sounds; assess normal and abnormal color changes in the skin; observe pupil changes; and observe digital or waveform readings. All nursing students admitted to Laramie County Community College Nursing Program must be able to meet these standards with or without accommodation(s).
Communications include not only speech but also reading, writing and computer usage, including handheld digital access. Students must be able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients, caregivers, physicians, other health professionals, clinical facility staff, faculty and staff, peers, and the community in general in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
Students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. Students should be physically able to collect specimens and perform basic tests (such as glucose finger stick, urine dipstick). Students should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Examples of emergency treatments reasonably required of nurses are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), administration of intravenous (IV) medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding, and assisting in moving and lifting patients using proper body mechanics. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and the use of tactile and visual senses.
Students must be able to comprehend and interpret documents written in English. Students should have cognitive abilities including measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Critical thinking is the ability to synthesize knowledge and integrate the relevant aspects of a client’s history, physical exam findings, and diagnostic studies. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of nurses, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the student should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures in order to understand normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology.
Students must possess the emotional health required to utilize their intellectual abilities fully, exercise good judgment, complete all responsibilities attendant to the nursing diagnosis and care of patients promptly, and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and their families. Students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal communication skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that should be assessed during the education process. As a component of nursing education, a student must demonstrate ethical behavior, including adherence to the professional nursing code and the LCCC and LCCC Nursing Program students' conduct codes.
How much will it cost?
For general college expenses, students should view LCCC’s cost of attendance. Students in the Nursing program have additional estimated clinical course fees of $500* a semester. This is an estimate and may change at any time.
Examples of how those fees are used include, but are not limited to, the following:
- ATI Integrated Testing Services
- Equipment and supplies for Skills Laboratory
- Equipment and supplies for the Simulation Laboratory
- Other costs unique to the nursing program
Is this career right for me?
If you are interested in a nursing career, it's important to understand the essential functions of a nurse as well as the traits that will help you along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nursing Program:
Can I complete any of the program coursework online?
Some prerequisite and general education courses may be available online. The Practical Nursing (PN) program is offered in a hybrid format, combining online coursework with required in-person laboratory activities, simulations, and clinical experiences. The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program requires in-person participation in nursing courses, laboratory activities, simulations, and clinical experiences. Students should plan to attend all required on-campus activities and assigned clinical rotations.
Can I work while enrolled in the program?
Students may work while enrolled in the Nursing program; however, the full-time program requires a significant commitment to classes, clinical experiences, studying, and assignments. Schedules may include early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends. Students are encouraged to carefully consider their work commitments, as class and clinical schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate employment or personal obligations.
Where will I complete my clinical experiences?
Students may work while enrolled in the Nursing program; however, the program requires a significant commitment to classes, clinical experiences, studying, and assignments. Schedules may include early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends. Students are encouraged to carefully consider their employment commitments, as they will not be excused from classes, clinical rotations, or other program requirements due to work schedules. Program schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate employment or personal obligations.