BSN Programs in Rhode Island
By EveryNurse Staff on June 14, 2021
The field of nursing is growing at a phenomenal rate in the state of Rhode Island, leaving employers on the lookout for qualified registered nurses. Those who have a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing tend to earn more money and be preferred by potential employers over those with just an Associate’s Degree or diploma. Graduates from a BSN program work hand in hand with doctors and other healthcare professionals in a multitude of healthcare settings. The first step to gaining the BSN is enrolling in a great nursing program in Rhode Island.
Schools With BSN Programs in Rhode Island
- At the University of Rhode Island, men and women can participate in the traditional BSN program, which is designed for those with no previous experience in nursing. Registered nurses who want to earn their Bachelor’s degree can do so through the RN to BSN bridge program. The traditional BSN program is a 121-credit hour program; 60 of those credits are core nursing curriculum and the rest are general education credits. Admission to the program is competitive, and students will need to maintain at least a “C” on their prerequisites in order to progress into the nursing upper-division coursework. Those who graduate will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Located in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island College gives individuals a few different BSN choices: the traditional BSN program, the accelerated second-degree option and the RN to BSN program. The traditional BSN is for students fresh out of high school with no nursing experience and is an 80-credit hour program that trains competent, qualified nurses. Those who enter into the second-degree program will not have to take their prerequisites, so the 80 credit hours of curriculum are all they will need to worry about. Those who complete the programs will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
- Salve Regina University offers a 128-credit BSN program for pre-licensure students to earn their degree and they also offer a completion degree for registered nurses. Both programs combine classroom instruction with laboratory and clinical experiences, all designed to train qualified, competent nurses. Students in the traditional program will gather approximately 850 hours of clinical experience and must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in order to progress through the program.
Rhode Island BSN Checklist
- Enroll in one of the schools offering a BSN degree or completion degree and graduate.
- Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses in the state of Rhode Island.
- Apply for your Registered Nurse (RN) license through the Rhode Island Board of Nursing, being sure to include the required $135 application fee and a passport-sized photo.
- Renew your license as mandated by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing to keep it current and valid.
Rhode Island Nurse Salary & Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks salary data for occupations of all kinds within the state of Rhode Island. As of May 2013, registered nurses earned an annual median salary of $74,080, which is significantly higher than the national average for this career. Research shows that those with more experience or a higher degree level (such as a BSN degree as opposed to a diploma or Associate’s degree) can earn even higher salaries. The top 10% of RNs earned more than $96,000 per year.
