Rhode Island Nursing Schools and Programs

Selecting then applying to nursing schools in Rhode Island can be a time consuming task. For those just getting started in Nursing, we suggest that you focus on your near term Rhode Island education goals and licensing requirements. The first question to ask yourself is: Do I want to begin my career as a Nursing Assistant, Practical Nurse, or Rhode Island Registered Nurse?

Finding the best Nurse Practitioner school in Rhode Island before you become a Registered Nurse, for example, may bog down the school selection and application process. Furthermore, many four year undergraduate colleges routinely accept transfer credits for prerequisites often called pre-nursing courses.

While earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, ASN) or Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BDN, BSN) is an important milestone for nurses, many Rhode Island nursing school students gain meaningful work experience and an income upon completion of a shorter Certified Nursing Assistant or Licensed Practical Nursing program in the state of Rhode Island.

To help students search for the best nursing school in Rhode Island, we have outlined some key questions to ask. Below on this page you will find the following:

1. How do I become a nurse in Rhode Island?
2. Is Rhode Island a nursing compact state?
3. How long is nursing school in Rhode Island?
4. How much does nursing school in Rhode Island cost?
5. Is it hard to get into a Rhode Island nursing school?
6. List of nursing schools in Rhode Island.

How do I become a nurse in Rhode Island?

If you want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the state of Rhode Island, you will need to complete a Practical Nurse training program. Practical Nursing programs generally last 1 to 1.5 years. Upon completion of your Rhode Island practical nursing program, you will have to pass the nationwide NCLEX-PN exam. After you pass the NCLEX-PN exam, you will apply for a Practical Nurse license from the Rhode Island Board of Nursing.

If you want to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Rhode Island, you will need to complete a Registered Nurse training program. Registered Nurse programs generally last 2 to 4 years. Upon completion of your Rhode Island registered nursing program, you will have to pass the nationwide NCLEX-RN exam. After you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you will apply for a Registered Nurse license from the Rhode Island Board of Nursing.

Is Rhode Island a nursing compact state?

No, Rhode Island is not part of the nursing license compact. States which joined the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) allow the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) to practice in other participating states using one multi-state nursing license. This means that a Rhode Island Licensed Practical Nurse or a Rhode Island Registered Nurse must apply for a license by endorsement when moving to another state.

How long is nursing school in Rhode Island?

The amount of time you spend in a Rhode Island nursing school will vary based upon the career path you choose. You can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in as little as 6 to 12 weeks. Become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1 to 1.5 years, a Rhode Island Registered Nurse (RN) in 2 to 4 years, or stay in nursing school longer to become a Nurse Practitioner in 6 to 8 years.

Above on this page we created a tabular image which summarizes how long nursing school is in Rhode Island. That image includes the number of nurses employed in the state of Rhode Island, along with the average wages earned at each education level.

Notice that in the state of Rhode Island, far greater numbers are employed as a Registered Nurse (RN) compared to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Notice also that a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Rhode Island earns far more in wages compared to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Use the nursing program acronyms CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD to help identify which Rhode Island nursing schools offer the length of program you desire.

How much does nursing school in Rhode Island cost?

Tuition for a nursing school in Rhode Island will cost between $4,000 to $6,000 per year for state residents seeking a two year Associate degree, an ADN or ASN, for example. The larger public four year colleges and universities in Rhode Island cost more between $8,000 to $13,000 per year for state residents seeking their Bachelor Degree in Nursing, a BDN or BSN.

To help reduce the cost of nursing school in Rhode Island, a student can generally take their pre-nursing courses at a smaller two year college. Then, transfer those credits into the larger four year college or university of your choice. Each college has their own method of awarding transfer credits for pre-nursing coursework. You will need to plan ahead and question the receiving school before you start your first pre-nursing class.

Is it hard to get into a Rhode Island nursing school?

We list the quoted acceptance rate provided by each Rhode Island nursing school. A college acceptance rate is calculated by dividing the number of accepted students by the number of total applicants. Reviewing the list of nursing schools in Rhode Island provided below, we can see the acceptance rates range from about 70% to 100% or Open. SAT and ACT scores are displayed on each individual nursing school page.

If you are having trouble getting accepted into a Rhode Island nursing school due to a below average GPA, SAT, or ACT score, here are two strategies which might help: 1) take your pre-nursing courses at your local community college then reapply later as a transfer student with an above average GPA, and, 2) get your Nursing Assistant or Practical Nurse license to help you gain experience and stand out from other college applicants.

The nursing program acronyms CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD, etcetera used in our list of Rhode Island nursing schools may differ from the actual title published by the college or university.

Nursing schools in Rhode Island and other states, for example, may follow their own traditional degree naming convention, or, attempt to follow a newer naming convention trending nationwide.

Nursing Schools

Last updated: August 1, 2024