How to Become an RN in Rhode Island: 5 Steps
Looking for information on how to become an RN in Rhode Island? Nurses are vital to RI’s healthcare system, providing care in hospitals, clinics, community health offices, and more. There are many reasons you might want to become a nurse, including job stability, income potential, and career flexibility. Let’s go over what it’s like to be an RN in the state and how to become a registered nurse in Rhode Island.
Like the rest of the U.S., Rhode Island needs nurses, and proposed legislation in the state aims to increase the number of healthcare professionals while improving wages and working conditions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of RN jobs to grow by 6% over the next several years. Learning how to become an RN in Rhode Island could be your gateway to a career with both stability and demand.
What Does an RN in Rhode Island Do?
One of the benefits of learning how to become an RN in Rhode Island is the potential for working in different settings and carrying out specialized responsibilities. Here’s a general overview of a few specialties you could work in as a nurse in Rhode Island:
- Acute care nursing: Work in hospitals, emergency rooms, or surgical units, providing critical care to patients with serious injuries or illnesses.
- Long-term care nursing: Provide ongoing care for elderly patients or those with chronic conditions in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or rehabilitation centers.
- Home health nursing: Assist patients in their homes by managing medications, wound care, and overall health monitoring, allowing them to recover or manage conditions in a familiar environment.
- Public health nursing: Work in community clinics, schools, or government agencies to promote wellness, provide vaccinations, and educate populations about disease prevention.
- Psychiatric nursing: Support patients with mental health conditions in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, or addiction recovery centers.
How Long Does It Take to Become an RN in Rhode Island?
Completing the steps for how to become a registered nurse in Rhode Island takes several years, and the educational pathway you choose will determine your specific timeline. Below is an overview of the degree routes:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs typically take about 2 years to complete and are offered at technical schools and community colleges.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs generally take 4 years and are offered by universities and colleges. If you have a previous non-nursing baccalaureate degree, an accelerated BSN could help you become an RN in as little as a year.
For more information on comparing these options, see our article on ADN vs. BSN degrees. Once you’ve decided between the two, check out programs at the highly ranked Rhode Island nursing schools below.
Here are some of the top BSN programs in Rhode Island:
- Salve Regina University
- University of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island College
- New England Institute of Technology
Check out these ADN programs in Rhode Island:
- Community College of Rhode Island
- Lincoln Technical Institute
As you’re researching nursing programs, be sure the school you choose is accepted by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing. This will allow you to sit for the licensure exam after graduation. While evaluating schools, you can also look up NCLEX pass rates to determine how well each program is preparing students for licensure.
How to Become an RN in Rhode Island: 5 Steps
There’s a fairly standard nationwide process for how to become an RN. In Rhode Island, the main differences are in the licensure application and renewal requirements. See our step-by-step guide below for more information.
Step 1: Complete Nursing School
Nursing school equips you with the skills and hands-on training needed to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings. Whether you pursue an ADN or BSN, your coursework will cover essential medical concepts, patient care techniques, and clinical decision-making. You’ll also go to clinical experiences in settings like med-surg units, labor and delivery, ambulatory care, and more.
Expect to take nursing courses in the following areas:
- Pharmacology
- Nursing fundamentals
- Pathophysiology
- Adult health
- Pediatrics
- Women’s health
- Mental health
If you want to work during school, Rhode Island allows nursing students to apply for a nursing assistant license. Working as a CNA can help you become more comfortable in the healthcare setting and learn more about the area you’d like to work in as a nurse.
Another option is nurse externships, which allow nursing students to rotate through different hospital units while carrying out similar duties to a CNA. Find CNA jobs and jobs for student nurses in Rhode Island.
Step 2: Apply for RN Licensure by Exam
To register for the licensure exam, you’ll need to complete an initial application for licensure that is contingent upon passing. Rhode Island is a compact state, and nurses who are eligible for compact licenses must apply for them. Here’s what you’ll need to complete the state application:
- $135 application fee
- Proof of RI as primary state of residence (i.e., copy of a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, federal income tax return, or military form 2058)
- Background check with fingerprints
- Official transcripts sent from your school of nursing, including graduation date and degree
In addition to the state application, you’ll also need to apply for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) through the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) registration page. The fee to register is $200. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive authorization to test in your email inbox with a link to schedule the exam.
New legislation in Rhode Island now allows new grad nurses to begin working before they’ve officially become licensed. But remember that if you take advantage of this law and begin working, you’ll need to become licensed within 90 days to continue.
Step 3: Pass the NCLEX-RN
The NCLEX-RN is the national licensing exam for registered nurses, and it’s an adaptive test with 75 to 145 questions. Expect to be tested on your clinical judgment and critical thinking. And don’t forget, the newest NCLEX offers partial credit for questions like select all that apply, drag and drop, matrix grid, and more.
NCLEX-RN test content is made up of the following categories:
- Safe and effective care management
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial integrity
- Physiological integrity
Feeling stressed about preparing for the NCLEX? There are many ways to study for licensure exams. Your school may offer additional test review sessions to help structure your test prep. You can also view the NCSBN’s exam preview and take their sample questions to see what the test is like. You may also want to purchase additional practice tests and review packages to structure your preparation.
You’ll be able to access your NCLEX results within two business days of your test date, and official results will come from the RI Board of Nursing within six weeks. What if you fail the NCLEX in Rhode Island? In this case, you’ll receive a Candidate Performance Report, which will help guide your review as you prepare to take the test again. You can retest 45 days after your last exam date.
Step 4: Start Your Job Hunt
Looking for RN jobs in Rhode Island? With your RN license, you’ll have access to opportunities in various specialties. As a new graduate nurse, you might opt to begin your career in acute care settings, where you’ll likely start in a nurse residency program alongside other new nurses. On the other hand, this isn’t everyone’s chosen track, and you can also find roles in post-acute care, clinics, and other areas as a new nurse.
If you’re feeling stressed about putting together your first job applications, we can help. See our guides on new grad nurse resumes and new grad cover letters, and be sure to watch our video on top skills to include in your resume:
Some of the top healthcare employers in Rhode Island include the following:
- Miriam Hospital (Brown University Health)
- Butler Hospital
- Eleanor Slater Hospital (State of Rhode Island)
- Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital (Brown University Health)
- Hasbro Children’s Hospital (Brown University Health)
- Kent Hospital
- Providence Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VA)
What can you expect to earn as a nurse in Rhode Island? On average, RNs in RI earn $99,770 per year. Nurses in metropolitan areas tend to earn more, so you can increase your earning potential by moving to one of the largest cities in Rhode Island by population:
Step 5: Keep Your License Up to Date
Once you’re an RN, you’ll need to track your license expiration date to remain eligible to work as a nurse. Learn more about renewals with our three-step guide on nursing license renewals in Rhode Island.
Find Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare
Now that you know how to become an RN in Rhode Island, why not check out nursing roles in your area? IntelyCare helps CNAs, RNs, NPs, and other nursing professionals find roles that fit their schedules and skills. And with personalized job notifications, great roles come to you. Learn more today.
