Accelerated BSN Programs – Rhode Island Nursing Schools
Rhode Island has a rapidly growing need for nurses. In order to fill this need, more and more schools are offering accelerated BSN programs. Also called second degree or fast track BSN programs, these schools allow students who already have a non-nursing degree to earn a Bachelor’s degree in nursing in as little as 12 to 18 months.
With a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you should be prepared to take on many different nursing roles. In addition to working as hospital or clinic nurses, you may be eligible to apply for several different Registered Nursing positions including that of charge nurse, nursing supervisor, and CNA instructor.
To learn more about your options for study, request information from the schools below. Keep in mind that throughout your decision making process, the more information you have, the better prepared you will be to select the nursing school that best meets your needs.
Accelerated BSN Curriculum in Rhode Island
Getting into a Rhode Island accelerated nursing program requires that you submit prior transcripts and meet prerequisite requirements. You may have already completed general prerequisites such as:
- English and Speech
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Microbiology
- Chemistry
Early in your nursing degree program, you become acquainted with the basic roles of nurses within the healthcare system. You’ll learn how to assess patients, design nursing care plans, draw blood, administer medication, perform patient intakes, and manage basic health emergencies.
The second part of your coursework teaches you how to work in different nursing practice environments. Certain areas of nursing, such as obstetrics and pediatrics, have specific rules and techniques that must be learned before you can work in them. In your Rhode Island BSN program, you will likely learn about mental health nursing, pediatric nursing, labor & delivery nursing, and emergency room treatment.
After you have successfully completed your basic nursing courses, your school will assign you to a clinical site. There, you will put into practice your nursing skills by working with actual patients. You will be supervised by a clinical instructor, and will likely be able to put your book knowledge to the test in actual patient care situations.
Nursing Career Outlook in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has a large selection of nursing jobs for new graduates. Many of the biggest employers in Rhode Island are hospitals, nursing homes, and specialty clinics. Some of these employers are Brookdale Senior Living, Bayada Home Health Care, Waterview Villa, and Life Care Centers.
The need for nurses is high in Rhode Island. O*Net expects 440 new nursing jobs to open up each year until 2020 in Rhode Island, for an overall growth rate of 16%. Nurses in Rhode Island earn a median annual salary of $72,900, according to O*net (2012). Depending upon education and experience Rhode Island nurses may earn up to $90,000 per year (O*Net, 2012).
Nursing Licensing Considerations in Rhode Island
Becoming licensed as a nurse in Rhode Island may open up many career opportunities for you. Rhode Island is a compact nursing state, which means that you can use your nursing license to practice in any other state that is part of the Nursing Licensure Compact. To earn your Rhode Island nursing license, you have to first pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you have successfully passed the exam, you can apply for your license through the State of Rhode Island Department of Health. You have to renew your license every two years, and to do so, you must have completed ten hours of continuing education.
Once you are licensed and ready to start working, the Rhode Island State Nurses Association can help you navigate the workplace. If you join, you can find careers, pursue continuing education requirements, keep up on government affairs, and even join the association’s board if you want to make a difference.
