At the University of Wyoming, Student Health offers a variety of services to ensure the wellbeing of the campus population. Nurse practitioner Jennifer Oiler has been with Student Health for almost 2 years and strives to help students maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Oiler received her first degree in biotechnology, which led her to do head and neck cancer research. However, she wanted to be more involved with patient interactions.
“I’ve always really liked people, and I’ve always really enjoyed science,” Oiler said. “I was really interested in the human aspect of what was going on with the patients, and I decided that nursing was a better way to get to spend time with people.”
After working at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Laramie, Oiler joined the staff at Student Health.
“I saw that there was an opening at Student Health, and I wanted to be more involved on campus,” Oiler said. “I was excited to be on campus and to work with people that I know.”
As a nurse practitioner, Oiler sees patients all day when students are on campus. She provides a wide range of healthcare services, from well-woman exams to mending skateboard injuries.
Oiler also teaches at the nursing school, and students who are in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program come into Student Health to work alongside her. She enjoys witnessing the students’ progress throughout the program.
“I love watching the students grow and develop from walking into the exam room with the first standardized patient we give them and not knowing what to do, to being totally in control and knowing exactly what to do by the end of the program,” Oiler said.
Watching her students succeed is not the only rewarding part of Oiler’s job. Seeing her patients accomplish their health goals is one of her favorite aspects of her career.
“The most rewarding part about my job is getting to know each student individually and seeing them grow and develop over the time that they’re here,” Oiler said.
Her main goals for her patients are for them to be able to take care of their own health and know when to seek help.
Oiler said that students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare should shadow nurses and doctors to get a better understanding of what the job involves. She also recommends volunteering to see how healthcare works behind the scenes.
Oiler is looking forward to hosting campus events to increase awareness for student wellbeing when the pandemic is over. She hopes to see further expansion for Student Health Services.
“My dream for Student Health would be for us to have a space where we could be co-located with other services that the students need, like the psychology clinic,” Oiler said. “That way, we can make sure that every student is getting all the services they need.”
Student Health Services can be found on campus in the Cheney International Center.
