Rhode Island RN to BSN Bridge Programs
New healthcare initiatives in Rhode Island have presented nursing with a myriad of special challenges. An aging population presents healthcare consumers with an increasingly high rate of chronic conditions; healthcare reform initiatives will increase the number of patients who have access to care; new preventative care initiatives will expand services and need for medical professionals; and medical technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, requiring life long, self directed learning. As reported by the Huffington Post (2012), numerous RNs, like you, are meeting these challenges by advancing nursing education and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
It’s been said that knowledge is power, and we believe that an educated nurse is a powerful member of the healthcare team.
If you are ready to expand your nursing knowledge by beginning an RN to BSN, we at BestNursingDegree.com can help.
We understand what it means to be a working nurse who is looking to go back to school. It can be overwhelming just finding the right program! That’s why we have compiled a list of all the RN to BSN programs in Rhode Island, saving you time and energy that is better spent on your patients and your practice.
To begin, all you need to do is submit a request for information to all of the schools we’ve featured that you may be interested in. Once you have had the chance to learn about what programs are available, you can make a well informed decision about how to best achieve your educational and career goals in nursing.
Curriculum of RN to BSN Programs in RI
As your role changes along with the landscape of healthcare, your scope of practice will likely evolve considerably as well. In order to meet the challenges of staff management, complex patient education and the decline of patient resources, you may need to expand your education. Nursing has become significantly more complex in recent years and earning your BSN may provide you with the tools, information and expanded perspective that can keep you abreast of your profession.
A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing can provide you with the advanced information and resources required to manage a complex healthcare environment. As an extension of your knowledge, experience and intuition, your courses may include the following:
- Nurse Informational Technology: introduces developing medical software, programs and the use of extensive databases for patient information
- Advanced Pharmacology: provides an in-depth look of the actions, purpose and potential side-effects of new generation medications
- Nursing Research: essential for nurses who deliver evidence-based care and require a rationale for their treatments and actions
- Advanced Clinical Foundations: sharpens your assessment, diagnostic reasoning and evaluation plans for treating patients and referrals
- Management of Complex Conditions: designed to assist you in the assessment and evaluation of an aging population that suffers from multisystem failure and chronic disease or conditions
- Nursing Leadership: prepares you for the management of staff, mentorship strategies and the advancement of administrative roles
Careers for BSN Graduates in Rhode Island
As an RN with a BSN, there are likely numerous positions available in Rhode Island. Specialty areas of nursing that enjoy the autonomy of practice, nurse executive positions and certified areas of nursing are available to the RN that holds a BSN. Career choices for a baccalaureate prepared RN may include the following:
- Nursing Educators are needed in Rhode Island to teach novice nurses in colleges, hospitals, universities and vocational/technical schools
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Nurses require specialty skills to teach prenatal care, the birthing process and assist with the surgical procedures
- A Certified Pediatric Nurse is a credential available for an RN with a BSN that has studied the care and illness of children
Additionally, Intensive care units, catheterization lab specialists and skin and wound nurses often require a BSN to be eligible to obtain specialty certificates in their field of mastery. Corporate and occupational nursing may be an option after earning your Bachelor’s and often entails dispensing medication, providing educational materials and presentiing health seminars to employees of a large business or corporation. A BSN prepared nurse can also enter th field of nurse informatics, which requires internet technology, database management and software knowledge.
Benefits of a BSN Degree
As a BSN graduate, you may notice an increase in the respect and value you already experience by healthcare employers in Rhode Island. You may find more lucrative opportunities and be better prepared for an increasingly complex healthcare environment as well. Ultimately, the main outcome of completing an RN to BSN program is the difference you can make for your patients. More education and experience translate directly to better outcomes, safer care, and enhanced health, which are likely just as important to you as how much you can earn.
Nursing Programs to Consider in RI:
- Salve Regina University (Newport) Salve Regina grants a number of credits to those entering the degree completion track for prior educational preparation and experience. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits at the university. Program offerings include classes in ethical challenges of nursing and holistic health assessment.
- Rhode Island College of Nursing (Providence): Course scheduling is flexible with classes offered on weekdays and evenings. Transfer credits are awarded for previous courses in nursing and general education. Students must complete 45 semester hours at RIC, including classes in public and community health nursing, and contemporary nursing practice.
