Rhode Island Nursing Colleges & Licenses
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“Nursing education prepares a person for a prosperous life, whether focused on relieving human suffering, fostering human flourishing, or pursuing opportunities for a better world. What could be better than that?”
Betty Rambur, PhD, Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice, University of Rhode Island’s College of Nursing
Nursing has long been a respected and challenging profession. These professionals have provided care to numerous patients during times of war and peace, amid social upheaval, and in many other circumstances.
In the present day, the nursing profession is beset by several challenges. Some of these challenges include the demographic shift towards an older population occurring in many developed nations, including the United States, the multiple and enduring impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid technological change, a need for more nurse educators, and a healthcare delivery model frequently driven by profit that risks contributing to professional burnout, patient safety issues and other problems.
Nurses are the largest group of health professionals in Rhode Island. A majority of nurses in Rhode Island are registered nurses (RNs). One of the biggest challenges facing the state’s nursing workforce is the successful education, hiring, and retention of RNs. In recent years, the number of young RNs just starting their careers has increased while the number of RNs aged 55 and older has remained constant.
Older nurses who remain in the workforce but reduce their weekly hourly workload can create staffing and other challenges. Reduced availability of the most senior nursing personnel can increase risk to the quality and timeliness of patient care and imperil the successful mentoring of incoming nurses just starting their careers. When making efforts to improve the sustainability of the state’s healthcare system, it is important not to underestimate the manifold potential impacts of a nursing brain drain.
A variety of groups, including healthcare providers, professional associations, trade associations, labor and community organizations, educators, and others have expressed serious concern about the state’s ability to train and retain a nursing workforce sufficiently large to meet the state’s needs projected during the remainder of the 2020s and beyond. To fill the roughly 7,400 RN job openings expected between 2020 and 2030, Rhode Island must train (or otherwise recruit) and retain approximately 740 new RNs annually. This large need for new nurses means newly trained professionals will likely find many opportunities in an employee job market.
Though small in size, Rhode Island offers several quality nursing education programs. Read on to discover the state’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers.
Meet the Expert: Betty Rambur, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Betty Rambur is a nationally recognized nursing leader and professor at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Nursing, where she holds the Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice and has served as interim dean. Her career spans over three decades, focusing on healthcare payment reform, ethics, workforce redesign, and value-based care. She is a commissioner on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Dr. Rambur has been instrumental in shaping health policy, contributing to population health initiatives, reducing disparities, and advocating innovative care models such as virtual and primary care nursing.
Dr. Rambur has authored the influential textbook, Health Care Finance, Economics, and Policy for Nurses: A Foundational Guide, now in its second edition, which supports nurses navigating evolving healthcare systems. She led North Dakota’s statewide health reform efforts and has received numerous honors, including the Lois Capps Policy Luminary Award in 2024 for her outstanding contributions to nursing and health policy. Her work extends to advisory roles in Rhode Island’s health committees, reflecting her commitment to improving healthcare systems through nursing leadership and policy transformation.
NursingColleges.com: How has completing a nursing degree enhanced your career?
Dr. Rambur: Fundamentally, nurses are healers dedicated to caring for and nurturing those struggling with their health. Dedicated nurses live robust lives centered on giving rather than personal gain. Such values are sorely needed in society. These core values empower pathways to a meaningful life and endless, interesting, evolving opportunities.
Indeed, nursing education prepares a person for a prosperous life, whether focused on relieving human suffering, fostering human flourishing, or pursuing opportunities for a better world. What could be better than that?
NursingColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you’d give to a prospective nursing student?
Dr. Rambur: Be open to new experiences and a wide array of opportunities. Nursing is much broader than you can imagine, and it has room for all kinds of talents, even ones you don’t yet know you possess. Professional nursing creates rich life and career opportunities within and beyond the bedside.
My classmates and I all thought we knew what nursing was and what we could be: a psychiatric nurse, a maternity nurse, an ER nurse, etc. Yet, our careers have been much broader—a nurse attorney, a health system CEO, a nurse entrepreneur, an author and health policy expert, and much more. There are so many challenges and opportunities that only nurses can envision and address. So, be solution-oriented; use your talents to change the world!
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island (URI) College of Nursing catalyzes transformational change in the healthcare sector. The College of Nursing values social justice, diversity, inclusivity, civic engagement, intellectual curiosity, compassionate care, and much more. Its mission is to prepare nursing professionals who, as exceptional and compassionate clinicians, scholars, and leaders, will enhance both the health and health care of individuals, families, and whole communities locally and globally. Three nursing programs are available. These are the pre-licensure BSN, RN-to-BSN on-campus, and online RN-to-BSN programs.
URI’s pre-licensure nursing program provides students the academic and personal preparation to become professional nurses. Students study foundational theory and develop hands-on clinical experience with various patient populations. Close collaboration with expert faculty augments student learning, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to innovative, compassionate care.
The RN-to-BSN on-campus program is offered via cooperation with the Office of Strategic Initiatives. Through partnership with clinical agencies the College of Nursing and Office of Strategic Initiatives develop nursing student cohorts who will complete training together. This program is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who wish to complete their baccalaureate degree. The online RN-to-BSN program is not currently accepting students. Interested prospective students should consult the school website for updates on the status of this program.
- Location: Kingston, RI
- Duration: 15 months (RN-to-BSN programs) to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Rhode Island College (RIC) Zvart Onanian School of Nursing is recognized as a leading provider of affordable, high-quality undergraduate and graduate nursing education in Rhode Island. RIC offers three different programs for bachelor’s degree-level nursing training. These are the basic baccalaureate program, a BSN degree program for second-degree holders, and an RN-to-BSN program. Applicants with strong skills in the sciences and mathematics and well-developed problem-solving and critical-thinking skills are considered competitive candidates.
The basic baccalaureate program is a traditional program targeting high school graduates and transfer students. This four-year program combines knowledge of the arts and sciences with nursing theory. The three major components of the curriculum are general education courses, cognate courses, and nursing courses. The BSN program for second-degree students builds upon the traditional BSN program. Prospective students craft an individualized study plan when they apply. Second-degree students are first admitted to RIC and must apply to the School of Nursing.
Finally, the RN-to-BSN program offers a pathway for RNs to further their education and enhance their career options. Students choosing this path apply to RIC as transfer students. They are awarded 37 transfer credits for their past nursing coursework upon acceptance. Additional credits may also be offered for other past academic coursework.
- Location: Providence, RI
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
New England Institute of Technology
The New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) offers a fully online RN-to-BSN program designed specifically for nursing professionals who have an associate degree or nursing diploma and an active, unencumbered RN license. Completing a BSN can help students prepare for roles with increased responsibility or for graduate school-level nursing training.
The curriculum features courses on the theoretical and practical nursing knowledge needed to provide competent, quality care to various patients in a diverse, changing society. Students are trained to work in multiple settings and effectively collaborate with various healthcare professionals. Graduates work in various settings, including primary care, acute care, community health, rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to the NEIT MSN family nurse practitioner program.
- Location: East Greenwich, RI
- Duration: 15 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1934, Salve Regina University is a Catholic institution of higher education dedicated to excellence in learning and the cultivation of progressive ideas. Salve Regina University offers a bachelor’s degree in nursing, featuring a curriculum emphasizing liberal education, ethics, and skilled, patient-centered health care. The university offers two study tracks. These tracks are a pre-licensure track and a degree completion track for RNs. Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN examination to secure licensure to practice as an RN and pursue additional nursing study.
The pre-licensure track consists of 33 courses, and students complete 91 credit-hours. Students typically complete non-nursing coursework in the first three semesters before focusing solely on nursing courses for the remainder of their studies. The degree completion program requires 125 credits to graduate. Students receive 58 credits for past education to become an RN. Additional past coursework may also be eligible for use as transfer credit. In addition to core curriculum courses, students must complete a set of nursing major courses specific to this degree program.
Graduates can practice in a large number of fields including, but not limited to, ambulatory care, cardiology, critical care, geriatrics, gynecology/obstetrics, HIV/AIDS, holistic care, home health care, hospice/palliative care, labor and delivery, long-term care, mental health, neonatal intensive care, plastic surgery, psychiatry, toxicology, trauma, wound care and still much more. Students who go on to graduate school studies will find even more opportunities to apply their skills.
- Location: Newport, RI
- Duration: Four years for pre-licensure track; variable length for degree completion track
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island (URI) offers a master’s degree in nursing program designed to prepare professionals to provide quality, compassionate care to various client populations. Graduates are prepared to successfully pass their certification exams and thereafter begin nursing practice. Students may choose to study part- or full-time. Classes are offered both days and evenings. Admission is only offered in the autumn of each year.
Students may choose one of three nurse practitioner specialties. These specialties are adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). The curriculum requires the completion of 42 to 47 credits of coursework and a minimum of 750 supervised clinical practicum hours. The curriculum is designed to train students in numerous competencies including nursing practice knowledge, person-centered care, systems-based practice, and informatics and healthcare technologies. Students also develop skills in scholarship, quality and safety, partnership cultivation, and professionalism.
- Location: Providence, RI
- Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Rhode Island College Zvart Onanian School of Nursing is recognized as an affordable, high-quality provider of undergraduate and graduate nursing education. The school is noteworthy for its reliably high passing rate on the BSN students’ NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The nursing school curriculum reflects a recognition of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing education, professional practice and population health and is designed to prepare graduates who can drive system-level change to successfully address issues such as structural racism and inequity and thereby improve health care outcomes for all individuals and communities as a whole.
The nursing school offers a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program with three concentration options. These are adult/gerontology acute care clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse practitioner (NP), and population/public health nursing. Students who complete training as a CNS or NP are eligible to take a number of certification exams. Population/public health nurses may assume leadership roles or work as nurse educators in academic settings.
Regardless of concentration, all students complete a curriculum featuring a strong clinical focus that prepares them to become nursing practice experts qualified to work in advanced practice roles.
- Location: Providence, RI
- Duration: Three semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Salve Regina University offers more than just undergraduate nursing education. The university also offers an online master’s degree in nursing. This program is designed for nurses who already hold a BSN and wish to enhance their skills and career prospects through additional education. Students may choose one of six start dates throughout the year. Students from partner institutions and military service people may be eligible for a preferred tuition rate.
The master’s program curriculum is designed in alignment with Salve Regina University’s mission, which emphasizes compassion, empathy, and social justice.
Students choose from a specialization in family nursing or psychiatric mental health. The curriculum consists of a total of 14-15 courses. Students complete approximately 50 credit hours and must also complete at least 750 clinical training hours. The online curriculum consists of live courses and courses where students set their own study pace. This design is well suited to working adults who already work in nursing. Students also must complete a skills-based colloquium on campus when they reach the clinical portion of their study plan.
Upon completing all requirements, students receive the master of science in nursing degree and are eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Graduates go on to work in advanced care roles in various settings, including independent practice.
- Location: Providence, RI
- Duration: 28 to 32 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Nursing School Accreditation and NLC Compact
Accreditation is a process designed to provide appropriate recognition, operational continuity, and information vital to academic institutions, the larger regulatory framework in which academic institutions function, and both current and prospective students. Accreditation is an attestation to the integrity and capacity of educational programs and the institutions of higher education in which they function to provide education of sufficient quality to reliably prepare students to become professionals capable of successfully using their skills within the labor market. Accreditation provides prospective students peace of mind. Accredited academic programs and their corresponding higher education institutions give applicants confidence that their decision to pursue education will be a worthwhile investment.
Academic nursing programs are typically accredited by one of two accrediting organizations: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
In Rhode Island, nursing professionals both seek and renew their licenses through the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education (RI BON). RI BON is a part of the state’s Department of Health (RIDOH). As of December 2024, over 25,000 registered nurses held licenses in Rhode Island. Licensure requirements typically vary according to state and the type of nursing specialty an individual practices. It is, therefore, important for prospective nursing professionals to clearly understand these requirements before embarking on a course of study.
In January 2024, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Rhode Island’s entry into the national Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows a registered nurse holding a multi-state license, also known as a compact license, to work in any state that is a member of the NLC. In other words, a multi-state license allows a nurse to practice in a home state (state of residency) and all NLC member states. While holding a multi-state license in an NLC member state has certain very real advantages, it is important to remember that the NLC requires nurses to abide by the nursing practice laws and rules of whatever state(s) in which they practice. Nurses must always be licensed in the states where they provide nursing services at the time such services are rendered.
Continuing education is generally required to maintain and renew a nursing license. If a nurse decides to move out of state or pursue work in a different specialization, the nurse may need to fulfill additional education or other requirements to practice elsewhere.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Rhode Island?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of December 2024. Certified nurse anesthetist salary data is available from Salary.com webpage.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 630,250 | 1,110 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,790 | $75,470 |
| 10th percentile | $45,670 | $61,190 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,730 | $76,840 |
| 90th percentile | $77,870 | $102,540 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,175,390 | 11,350 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $94,480 | $95,070 |
| 10th percentile | $63,720 | $69,350 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,070 | $94,840 |
| 90th percentile | $132,680 | $116,510 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 47,810 | No data available |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $214,200 | No data available |
| 10th percentile | $139,980 | $195,830 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $212,650 | $226,133 |
| 90th percentile | >$239,200 | $260,494 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 6,960 | 40 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $131,570 | $125,820 |
| 10th percentile | $87,320 | $88,230 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,650 | $135,940 |
| 90th percentile | $177,530 | $141,260 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 280,140 | No data available |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $128,490 | $133,460 |
| 10th percentile | $94,530 | $109,300 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,260 | $128,720 |
| 90th percentile | $168,030 | $166,460 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure in Rhode Island
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| LPNs applying for licensure in Rhode Island must:
|
Rhode Island LPNs must renew their license every two years by:
|
Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in Rhode Island
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| State of Rhode Island Department of Health |
RNs applying for licensure in Rhode Island must:
|
Rhode Island RNs are required to renew their license every two years by:
|
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in Rhode Island
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| In Rhode Island, CNSs are licensed as APRNs and must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a license:
|
In order to renew a nursing license, applicants must complete 10 hours of continuing education during the two-year licensing cycle, two of which must be about substance abuse. Continuing education courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Approved training includes: courses approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, other recognized professional nursing organizations, any department or school of nursing approved by a board of nursing, or such other professional, labor organization, or accrediting agency approved by the Board. Nurses must also sign a statement attesting to completion of the continuing education requirements. |
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Licenses in Rhode Island
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In Rhode Island, CNMs are licensed by the Advisory Committee on Midwifery. To be eligible, the following is required:
|
In order to renew a CNM license in Rhode Island, nurses must complete a renewal application that includes a statement of completion of 20 hours of continuing education in a two year period, including four hours in pharmacology. |
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in Rhode Island
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In Rhode Island, an NP is licensed as a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) and must meet the following requirements:
|
In order to renew a CNP license in Rhode Island, applicants must complete 10 hours of continuing education during the two-year licensing cycle, two of which must be about substance abuse. Continuing education courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Nurses must also sign a statement attesting to completing the continuing education requirements. Renewals cost $135. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterAt NursingColleges.com, Rachel Drummond has applied her extensive experience in education and mindfulness to elucidate the importance of self-care for nursing students since 2022. Through her writings, she underscores the role of mental and physical well-being in fostering resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.