Rhode Island Nurse Practitioner Degree Options and Overview
Within the small state of Rhode Island, there’s a growing need for care providers who can work with families, adults and gerontological patients. If you’re ready to take on more responsibility in your nursing role, this is your chance. Keep reading to learn all about nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island, how to become licensed and what career paths are available. Contact schools now with the search box above and the featured school listings below.
Healthcare is changing in Rhode Island and across the country. With new patients pouring into clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions, many employers are in desperate need of primary care providers.
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in Rhode Island?
If you have a registered nursing license, you may be interested in pursuing a nurse practitioner degree at the Master’s or doctoral level. No matter where your clinical talents lie, you may use them to propel your career forward.
Average Master’s Degree Requirements in Rhode Island for NPs
- Credit hours required: 40 credit hours
- Average cost: $1,500 per credit hour
- Clinical hours required: At least 500 hours
- Timeframe: Two years
Average Doctoral Requirements in Rhode Island for NPs
- Credit hours required: 85 credit hours
- Clinical hours required: No fewer than 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Five to six years
Education Options for Nurse Practitioners in Rhode Island
To qualify for admission to an NP program, you may need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. While RN-to-MSN programs allow Associate’s-level nurses to work toward a Master’s degree, these programs are fairly uncommon and competitive. With a Bachelor’s degree and some nursing experience, you may meet the admissions requirements for most local schools.
While comparing nurse practitioner schooling options, look into their specialty track options. In addition to completing advanced nursing courses that apply to this field as a whole, you must specialize in one patient population. Programs in Rhode Island include acute care, family care, and gerontological care.
Common Course Options in Rhode Island
- Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- Advanced Methods in Nursing Research
- Advanced Adult Physical Assessment
- Advanced Pediatric Physical Assessment
- Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nurses
- Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Primary Healthcare Nursing
If you are in a Master’s program, you need a minimum of 500 clinical hours to qualify for certification. Many programs go far beyond the 500-hour requirement, a move that helps students develop competence and confidence. Doctoral programs require upwards of 1,000 hours.
How Can I Pay for Nurse Practitioner School in Rhode Island?
- BestNursingDegree.com: We hope to make nursing education more accessible and affordable. Four times per year, BestNursingDegree staff selects applicants for $2,500 nursing scholarships.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: If you take out undergraduate or graduate student loans, you may make significant progress in repayment through this program. Selected applicants complete a two-year commitment at an NHSC-approved site, at which point the program pays up to $50,000 of student loans.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: This program also requires two years of full-time work in a Health Professional Shortage Area. However, selected applicants receive a scholarship upfront instead of getting their loans repaid.
- Rhode Island Student Loan Authority: This is another excellent option for students with student loans. The Primary Care Educational Loan Repayment Program pays off up to $20,000 per year for four years if you work in an area where there is a primary care shortage.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for NPs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island NP programs should prepare you for the licensing process. Maintaining your nursing license through the Rhode Island Department of Health can save a lot of time when you graduate. Provide proof of your graduate degree, nursing license, and national certification to become a licensed nurse practitioner.
Rhode Island is one of many states that give NPs full practice rights (AANP, 2016).
Nurse Practitioner Careers in Rhode Island
Since NPs can work within their full scope of practice in Rhode Island, you may explore many opportunities after graduation. You may open your own practice if you have the funding and business management skills needed to open a clinic. You may also look into traditional employment options at urgent care centers, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and schools.
On average, Rhode Island nurse practitioners earn $108,950 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). This is a significant increase for most registered nurses. Between 2014 and 2024, demand for nurse practitioners may jump 18% (O*Net, 2016).
There’s no better time than now to learn more about Rhode Island nurse practitioner education.
Selected NP Programs for Rhode Island Nurses
- University of Rhode Island. Located in Kingston, the University of Rhode Island offers a master’s-level family nurse practitioner program, as well an acute care nurse practitioner program.
- Rhode Island College. Rhode Island College offers a master’s-level acute care nurse practitioner program. Students can choose to attend either full-time or part-time. Rhode Island College is located in Providence.
- Georgetown University. Georgetown is located in Washington, D.C., but the college offers online NP programs that are accessible to Rhode Island students. Students can select either a Family Nurse Practitioner program or the Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. Georgetown faculty work with students to arrange clinical experiences close to home.
