University of Rhode Island Nursing School Review
The University of Rhode Island (URI), founded in 1888, is the flagship school in the Rhode Island higher education system. It has four campuses: the main campus is located in Kingston, the Center for Continuing Education is located in Providence, the renowned School of Oceanography is located in Narragansett, and the National Center for Environmental Education is located in West Greenwich. Over 16,000 students take classes at URI, and among these students, the most popular major is nursing. URI’s College of Nursing offers baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, all of which are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The College of Nursing accepts about 850 students each year in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS in Nursing) program. Incoming students do not need any prior nursing experience. To complete the program, a student must earn 121 credits. Of these, sixty credits are for nursing classes and the rest are for general education requirements, electives, and nursing prerequisites. Students in the program spend most of the first year taking general education courses and prerequisites, starting their first nursing class in the spring of their first year. Clinical rotations start in the second year. After completing 121 credits and earning the BS in Nursing degree, a student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If successful, he may begin working as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BS
An RN who has completed an associate-degree program or a diploma program may opt to complete a bachelor’s degree through the RN to BS accelerated program. The incoming RN will receive thirty-two credits toward the lower level nursing courses, in recognition of her previous nursing education and her nursing experience. If she has completed any college-level courses that fulfill URI’s general education requirements, she may transfer in those credits as well. In total, including the advanced placement credits for the lower-level nursing courses and the transferred credits for the general education courses, she must earn 120 credits to graduate. This includes eighteen credits of upper-level nursing courses. The length of the program will vary, depending on the incoming RN’s transcript.
Master of Science in Nursing
A bachelor’s-prepared RN who wishes to continue his education can do so through the Master of Science in Nursing (MS in Nursing) program. This program can be completed on either a part-time or full-time basis, and students may begin in either the fall or the spring. The majority of the classes are offered on the Kingston campus, although some may also be available at the Center for Continuing Education in Providence. Students in the MS in Nursing program take fourteen credits of core graduate nursing classes, and an additional twenty-seven or twenty-eight credits in a chosen area of specialization. URI’s MS in Nursing program offers the following areas of specialization: Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric/Mental Health, Family Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Post-master’s Certificate
A nurse who has already earned a master’s degree in one area of specialization may work toward certification in an additional area of specialization without completing core graduate nursing courses. Students on the post-master’s certificate track need to complete between twelve credits and twenty-eight credits, depending on the chosen certification. URI offers post-master’s certificates in four different areas: Psychiatric Mental Health, Family Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
A master’s-prepared nurse who wishes to specialize in research may complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD in Nursing) degree through URI. This will take two years on a full-time basis or up to five years on a part-time basis. The curriculum consists of forty-three credits of graduate nursing classes and eighteen credits toward a dissertation.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for nurses who have already earned a master’s degree and have earned advanced practice certification. Students may opt to complete the program on a full-time basis, which will take two-and-a-half years, or on a part-time basis, which can take up to five years. The program consists of forty-two credits, and includes 510 clinical hours.
Thanatology (Loss, Death, and Grief)
Training in thanatological issues is included as part of the post-graduate and undergraduate curriculums. Those nursing students who want a more detailed study of thanatology may opt to take more intensive classes on the subject. A student can choose either to take an interdisciplinary minor in thanatology or the post-baccalaureate Thanatolgy Certificate Program (currently suspended and under review). This second option alows one to pursue a professional career as a thanatologist while preparing the student for national certification in thanatology if desired.
Contact:
The University of Rhode Island
45 Upper College Road,
Kingston, RI 02881
Salve Regina University Nursing School Review
Salve Regina University (SRU), founded in 1947, is justifiably famous for its scenic campus. The university occupies several of the historic Newport Mansions, along the scenic Cliff Walk, overlooking the Sakonnet River. In addition to its unique campus, Salve Regina University is respected in Rhode Island and the surrounding area for its academic programs, at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. Approximately 2500 students take classes at the university, working toward degrees in the humanities, education, social work, science, business, and nursing.
Through its Department of Nursing, Salve Regina University offers nursing programs at the undergraduate level for prospective nurses and for Registered Nurses (RN). All programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Pre-licensure Track
An incoming freshman can enroll in Salve Regina University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS in Nursing), Pre-licensure track. This track takes four years to complete. Students spend the first three years of the program taking both general education courses and nursing courses. The fourth year focuses solely on nursing classes, and includes a capstone project. Hands-on experience is an important part of the program, with clinical rotations beginning in the second year. After graduating from the program, a student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Second-Degree Students Track
A student who already holds a degree in a field other than nursing may complete a BS in Nursing through the Second-Degree Students track. Prior to beginning the program, he will meet with an advisor, who will evaluate his transcript and decide if he needs to complete any general education courses. Depending on his previous education, he may only need to complete two religion classes. Salve Regina, a Catholic University, will waive all general education requirements for qualified second-degree students, except this one. In addition to the religion classes, he must complete prerequisites in the sciences, statistics, computer science, and social sciences. Once he begins the nursing courses, he can finish his BS in Nursing degree in just four semesters. After finishing, he is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Degree Completion Track
If an RN who is a graduate of a diploma program or an associate-degree program wishes to earn a full bachelor’s degree, she may do so through the Degree Completion Track. Salve Regina University will award her thirty-two advanced placement credits for her previous nursing coursework. In addition, if she has taken any classes that fulfill Salve Regina’s general education requirements, she can transfer in those credits. In total, she must earn 124 credits to graduate, which includes the advanced placement credits for nursing classes and the transfer credits toward the general education requirements. Depending on how many credits she has to earn, then, the length of the program will vary. An RN who already knows that she wishes to pursue graduate-level nursing education may opt to complete a senior thesis, in addition to the required capstone project.
Contact:
Salve Regina University
100 Ochre Point Avenue,
Newport, RI 02840
St. Joseph School of Nursing Program Review
St. Joseph School of Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, is a part of St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island, an organization which includes Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, St. Joseph Center for Health and Human Services, and Southern New England Rehabilitation Center. The school is an affiliate of CharterCARE Health Partners, which operates Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital.
The St. Joseph School of Nursing (SJSN, SJSON), which has been in existence since 1899, is on the campus of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. It offers a diploma in nursing program which is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education.
Diploma in Nursing Program
St. Joseph School of Nursing’s Diploma in Nursing program takes three years to complete. Students begin in a fall semester, and study without a break through the following spring, summer, fall, and spring. Students do not take classes in the summer between the second year and the third year; they return in the fall and wrap up the diploma program in the spring. The program consists of nursing classes and clinical rotations, completed through St. Joseph School of Nursing, and science and general education classes completed through either Community College of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College. Students in the diploma program will receive thirty college credits for these general education classes, which they may transfer if they wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at a later date. St. Joseph School of Nursing has a strong emphasis on clinical training; students begin clinical rotations in the first semester of the program and continue throughout the remainder of the program. In total, a student can expect to spend nearly 2000 hours in a clinical setting over the course of the three years. After graduating from the program, a student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If successful (as 99 percent of St. Joseph School of Nursing graduates are), she may begin her career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
LPN to Diploma Program
A graduate of a practical nursing program who is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is eligible to skip the first year of nursing courses (fall, spring, and summer semesters). He must, however, complete all general education classes that diploma students normally take during the first year of the program. Apart from these, he can complete the diploma program in just four semesters.
Continuing Education Options
A graduate of St. Joseph School of Nursing diploma program may transition smoothly into Rhode Island College’s RN to BSN program. Alternatively, she can transfer into Salve Regina University’s BSN program. She has the option of choosing other RN to BSN programs, of course, but St. Joseph School of Nursing has signed articulation agreements with these two schools to allow for easy transfer of nursing credits. A graduate from the diploma program also has thirty credits, either from Community College of Rhode Island or from Rhode Island College, to transfer toward the general education requirements of any BSN program.
Contact:
St. Joseph School of Nursing
200 High Service Avenue,
North Providence, RI 02904
Rhode Island College Nursing Program Review
Rhode Island College (RIC) was founded in 1854 as a teacher training school. While it still has strong and well respected programs in education, the school has since branched out to offer degrees in the arts and sciences, business, social work, and nursing. As part of its School of Nursing, RIC offers baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing, all of which are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Basic Baccalaureate Program
The Basic Baccalaureate Program, which awards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, takes four years to complete following the suggested course sequence on a full-time basis. However, students have the option of enrolling part-time and completing the program over a longer time period. The program includes seventy-seven credits of nursing classes and nursing support classes, in addition to the general education classes required by the college. A graduate of the Basic Baccalaureate Program is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If successful, he may begin his career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Basic Baccalaureate Program for Second Degree Candidates (Accelerated Option)
A student who has already earned a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing can complete a BSN degree in a shorter time period. Before beginning the program, she must meet with an advisor who will evaluate her transcript and determine what, if any, general education courses and nursing support courses she needs to complete. In addition to these courses, she will take fifty-seven credits of nursing courses. The course sequence requires five semesters (including one summer semester) to complete. After graduating, she is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Program
An RN who is a graduate of an associate-degree program or a diploma program can advance in his career by completing a BSN degree. RIC’s RN to BSN program gives an RN thirty-seven credits of advanced placement credits toward the lower-level nursing courses. In addition, depending on her transcript, an RN may be able to transfer credits toward the general education requirements. An advisor will determine his individual course of study when he is accepted to the program. In addition to any missing general education courses and nursing support courses, he must take twenty credits of upper-level nursing courses in order to complete the BSN degree.
Master of Science in Nursing
A nurse who has earned a BSN degree is eligible to enroll in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, which prepares advanced practice nurses. Students in the MSN program may choose to study either full-time or part-time. On a full-time basis, the program takes four full semesters and one summer semester to complete. The program consists of core graduate nursing courses, and courses in an area of specialization. RIC offers two different areas of specialization:
Adult Health with an Acute Care Emphasis
Students on the Adult Health with an Acute Care Emphasis track must earn forty-five credits total. After completing the classes, they are eligible to take the following certification exams: Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner exam offered the ANCC, Adult Acute Clinical Nurse Specialist exam offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), or the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner exam offered by the AACN.
Public Health/Community Leadership
A student on the Public Health/Community Leadership track of the MSN program must earn forty-two credits total. She is eligible to take the ANCC exam for Advanced Public Health Certification. Depending on her course of study, she may also be eligible to take the Public/Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist exam.
Contact:
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue,
Providence, RI 02908
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
