Community College of Rhode Island Nursing Program Review
On its numerous campuses throughout the state, Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) offers career-training and academic programs to students. The main campuses are in Warwick (Knight Campus), Lincoln (Flanagan Campus), Providence (Liston Campus), and Newport (Newport County Campus). Satellite campuses are located in Providence (Downcity Campus) and Westerly (Westerly Middle School), and some distance education classes are available as well.
Community College of Rhode Island has been preparing students for direct entry into the workforce as well as for transition to four-year colleges since 1960. One of the careers that a student at CCRI can prepare for is nursing. CCRI offers two programs in nursing, both of which are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), as well as a nurse assistant program.
Practical Nurse Diploma Program
As a graduate of the Practical Nurse Diploma program (also called Level 1 Nursing), a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can provide nursing care to patients under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RN) and physicians. Before beginning the program, a prospective student must complete prerequisites in biology, English, a humanities elective, and two health sciences classes. Once enrolled in the Practical Nurse Diploma program, a student spends three semesters studying nursing, and completing general education classes in psychology. In total, she must earn sixty-three credits to graduate. The Practical Nursing Diploma program at CCRI is available on all four main campuses: Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, and Newport. The program is available during the day on all four campuses; the Lincoln and Newport campuses also offer weekend and evening nursing classes. After graduating from the Practical Nurse Diploma program, a student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
Associate in Science Degree Nursing Program
A student who wishes to prepare for a career as an RN can complete the Associate in Science Degree Nursing (ADN) Program (also called Level II Nursing). Students in this track complete all the same prerequisites as students on the practical nursing track (biology, English, a humanities elective, and two health sciences classes) and spend the first two semesters taking the same nursing classes. In the third semester, as practical nursing students prepare for the NCLEX-PN, students in the ADN program go on to upper-level nursing courses. In total, an ADN student must earn seventy-one credits to graduate. The ADN program is available on all four campuses (Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, and Newport) and is also offered in the evenings/weekends in Lincoln and Newport. After graduating from the ADN program, a student is prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Associate in Science Degree Nursing – Advanced Placement
An LPN who wishes to return to school and complete the ADN program does not need to take lower-level nursing courses. She can take an exam to test out of the first semester of nursing courses (ten credits), or the first two semesters of nursing courses (twenty-one credits). If successful, she can begin right away with the upper-level nursing coursework in the ADN program. She does need to complete any missing prerequisites and general education requirements in order to graduate.
Certified Nurse Assistant Program
In just six to ten weeks, a student can become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) through CCRI’s CNA program. Classes are offered at different times, including nights and weekends, and at multiple locations, including all the main campuses (Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, and Newport) and the satellite campus in Westerly. A student in the CNA program will receive eighty-eight hours of classroom instruction and thirty-two hours of hands-on, clinical practice. After completing the certificate program, he is eligible to take the state exam for nurse assistants.
Contact:
Community College of Rhode Island
Knight Campus
400 East Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886
Flanagan Campus
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
Liston Campus
1 Hilton St.
Providence, RI 02905
Newport County Campus
1 John H. Chafee Blvd.
Newport, RI 02840
CCRI Downcity
80 Washington St.
Providence, RI 02903
Westerly Middle School
10 Sandy Hill Rd.
Westerly, RI 02891
