Master’s in Nursing Schools in Rhode Island

Whether you want to become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse leader, or nurse educator in the small state of Rhode Island, a Master’s degree in nursing may be key to your new career. A variety of schools in Rhode Island make it possible for you to take your nursing career to the next level. Nursing schools in Rhode Island offer several Master’s in Nursing programs, including online and RNtoMSN bridge options. Contact the Rhode Island nursing schools that have the graduate programs you are interested in directly from our site to learn more.

Featured Programs:

Rhode Island Nursing Career Info

One of the most popular ways to use a Master’s degree in nursing is to go into advanced practice. Rhode Island may have many opportunities for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists, since they all benefit from full practice rights in this state. Local groups like the Rhode Island Action Coalition campaign to help advanced practice nurses play a large role in the state’s health care system.

Specifically, going into practice as a nurse practitioner may present a variety of career options. EHR Intelligence notes that the amount of primary care practitioners in Rhode Island is growing; since nurse practitioners can practice independently, you may be able to tackle the primary care shortage in rural parts of the state.

Nursing education may be a good choice if you want to work with students at different levels of education. The Rhode Island Board of Education recently voted to open up a new nursing education facility that will likely require a whole new staff of Master’s-level nursing educators. Furthermore, registered nurses are ranked number four in a list of in-demand professionals in Rhode Island. Nursing educators are a crucial part of increasing the amount of graduating registered nurses.

As a nurse administrator, you will work with lower and upper level management teams in hospital and clinic settings. You will help create and implement policies and manage employees.

If you enjoy working in the field of obstetrics, but would like a bit more autonomy, a career as a nurse midwife might be for you. Nurse midwives work with childbearing women to achieve healthy pregnancies and births.

To learn more about MSN programs, classes, or cost, contact any of the schools listed on this page.

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

Whether you want to become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse leader, or nurse educator in the small state of Rhode Island, a master’s degree in nursing may be key to your new career. A variety of schools in Rhode Island make it possible for you to take your nursing career to the next level.

One of the most popular ways to use a master’s degree in nursing is to go into advanced practice. Rhode Island may have many opportunities for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists, since they all benefit from full practice rights in this state. Local groups like the Rhode Island Action Coalition campaign to help advanced practice nurses play a large role in the state’s health care system.

Nursing education may be a good choice if you want to work with students at different levels of education. The Rhode Island Board of Education recently voted to open up a new nursing education facility that will likely require a whole new staff of master’s-level nursing educators. Furthermore, registered nurses are ranked number four in a list of in-demand professionals in Rhode Island. Nursing educators are a crucial part of increasing the amount of graduating registered nurses.

In general, you can plan on completing a master’s degree in nursing in about two or three years. If you attend school full-time, it may be closer to two years; if you go part-time, it may be closer to three years. Most programs require between 35 and 50 credits. These credits include a mix of core courses and nursing specialty courses.

There are several Rhode Island organizations and nursing associations that award scholarships to master’s-level nursing students. The Rhode Island Foundation is a large organization that offers over 150 scholarships. You can also apply for scholarships through the Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island. The Massachusetts/Rhode Island League for Nursing awards four scholarships every year.

Rhode Island RN to MSN Bridge Programs

When you think about how many professionals contribute to the nursing field, you see how diverse and multifaceted the industry really is. Strong nursing departments rely on research, leadership, education, and advanced practice standards to ensure that nurses meet the standards of care that patients deserve. As a nurse in Rhode Island, you might be a good fit for an RN-to-MSN bridge program. As long as you have an Associate’s degree in nursing, this type of program allows you to expand your scope of practice and possibly improve your career prospects.

RN-to-MSN programs in Rhode Island are designed for motivated, hardworking students that are willing to work at an accelerated pace to earn their Master’s degree. As you work through 35 to 45 credits of RN-to-MSN courses, you can tackle many learning goals laid out by your nursing instructors. In your clinical courses, you’ll be tested on your ability to apply scientific nursing knowledge to patient care. Patient safety and quality of care are also highly valued in MSN programs. You need to learn how to use innovative nursing technologies to create the best patient care outcomes. By analyzing population health issues, you should learn how to create appropriate preventative health strategies.

In the early days of your MSN program, you create a solid foundation of advanced nursing knowledge that can prepare you for specialty nursing courses. You may start with classes like Advanced Health Assessment, Health Care Systems, Advanced Nursing Research, and Advanced Pharmacology. If you pursue a degree in patient care, you’ll likely take courses that focus on disease, pathology, and proper patient care techniques. These courses may include Advanced Pathophysiology, Differential Diagnosis, and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Practice.

Your time may be split between the classroom and a clinical setting. Most programs in Rhode Island require at least 600 clinical hours, which you may be able to complete at your current place of employment if you are working as a nurse.

There may be numerous nursing scholarships, grants, and loan repayment programs for you once you start your Master’s degree, particularly since Rhode Island has such a large demand for advanced nursing professionals. The Student Nurses’ Association of Rhode Island awards the SNARI/RISNA Partners in Nursing Scholarship each school year. Graduate nursing students may apply for scholarships through the Rhode Island Nursing Foundation. Each scholarship is worth $500 to $1,000. You may also wish to consider federal sources of funding. Senator Reed recently urged advanced nursing students to take advantage of loan repayment and tuition reimbursement options.

Since you are likely already working as a registered nurse, you should have a valid RN license after you complete your MSN. However, for many nursing specialties, that’s not enough. The Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education has stricter licensing requirements for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. Applicants in these specialties must pass additional licensing exams.

In a small state like Rhode Island, you can have a huge impact on the nursing community by earning an MSN. Advancing your education may encourage other RNs in the state to do the same, leading to a greater application of nursing research and stricter nursing standards for excellent patient care.

Rhode Island Direct Entry MSN

Are you interested in pursuing a second career in nursing while advancing your impact and role at the same time? A direct entry MSN program can help you get there. Designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, direct entry MSN programs in RI can set you on track to earn your Master’s of Science in Nursing degree in as little as three years. Find out how you can experience a new and rewarding career in the field of nursing today.

Contact the schools you see on our site to learn more about becoming a nurse while still utilizing your previous academic achievements.

What can I do with a MSN degree?

An MSN degree can open the door to many new opportunities for you. Not only is there a possibility for earning a good pay, but a MSN degree also makes you more desirable on the job market. There are many careers available for those with a master’s of science in nursing degree in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island is addressing the issue of the primary care physician shortage in their state by filling in the gaps with nurses who have advanced degrees in family medicine. Nurse practitioners play a vital role in high quality, patient-centered healthcare. Nurse practitioners have similar characteristics to doctors in that they can diagnose and treat common and acute illnesses. In Rhode Island, advanced practice registered nurses are considered independent contractors and have prescriptive authority.

Another issue Rhode Island is desperate to address is the lack of nursing educators. One study of the projected nursing shortage in the State of Rhode Island points out that the underlying problem stifling the production of nurses is due to the shortage of nurse educators. Turning away qualified students who wish to enroll in nursing education programs, or placing them on lengthy waiting lists, is no longer acceptable given the pending nursing shortage crisis facing the state. A MSN degree with a specialization in nursing education could help you become a part of the solution by preparing you for a role as a nursing educator in Rhode Island.

As you decide upon your advanced practice nursing degree keep in mind that one of the most celebrated positions in the nursing profession is the nurse anesthetist. With an increase in pay comes a lot of responsibility.

Nurse anesthetists take care of patients before, during and after surgical procedures that require administration of an anesthetic. Nurse anesthetists stay with their patients for the duration of the procedure, constantly monitoring every important body function and individually modifying the anesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort. Opportunity for employment looks favorable.

Where can I work with my MSN in Rhode Island?

The healthcare industry is currently expanding, allowing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) the ability to work in a variety of settings including private offices, hospitals, nursing care facilities, birthing centers, schools, and clinics. Some APRNs may even treat patients in their patients’ homes. APRNs may also travel long distances to help care for patients in medically underserved areas.

APRNs working in physicians’ offices or schools typically work during normal business hours. Those working in hospitals and various other healthcare facilities may work in shifts to provide round-the-clock patient care. They may work nights, weekends, and even holidays. Some APRNs, especially those who work in critical care or those who deliver babies, may also be on call.

How can I get into a Direct Entry MSN Program?

When looking to become a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or any graduate nursing role, you must first earn a master’s degree from an accredited program. The direct entry MSN program usually requires that you hold a bachelor’s degree and have graduated with at least a 3.0 minimum GPA.

The direct entry MSN program is designed for those who do not have any background in the nursing field. Upon acceptance, you will receive classroom education as well as clinical experience that will help prepare you for the RN licensure exam. An advanced practice registered nurse must become a licensed registered nurse (RN) before pursuing education in one of the advanced practice roles. You can expect courses in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology as well as coursework specific to your chosen specialization. In addition to learning necessary information, the program will also teach you intrinsic qualities such as leadership, communication, resourcefulness and critical-thinking skills.

A master’s degree in nursing can help prepare you to enter an advanced-level career. Find out what direct entry MSN programs are right for you by checking out our list of accelerated MSN programs in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island CRNA Programs

What’s your favorite part of being a registered nurse? Maybe you like how the field of nursing is based in evidence and constantly evolves to provide the best possible outcomes for patients. Perhaps your favorite part of being a nurse is spending time with patients and building connections with them. If you want to use your experience to positively contribute to the field of nursing, you may be ready to combine these rewarding aspects of your practice in a nurse anesthetist program in Rhode Island.

Nurse anesthetists are a very important part of Rhode Island health care. Though Rhode Island is a small state, the population density of this state is over 10 times higher than the national average (U.S. Census Bureau). A lack of anesthesia specialists can mean that patients wait longer than necessary for surgery, possibly leading to worse outcomes for patients. Whether you work in one of Rhode Island’s smaller communities or one of its big cities, your job as a nurse anesthetist may bring you into contact with all sorts of patients.

To become a nurse anesthetist, you should be ready to thoroughly study various aspects of nursing and work closely with various health care professionals. You may work with anesthesiologists, general practitioners, surgeons, and other advanced nursing professionals. Keep reading to find out what it means to become a nurse anesthetist in Rhode Island.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in Rhode Island

As nurse anesthetists take on a great amount of responsibility, programs in this field tend to have strict admissions requirements. By becoming familiar with these requirements ahead of time, you can plan your education and work experience accordingly. You should have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school, as well as a registered nursing license in Rhode Island. It’s important to have quite a bit of work experience before applying for a CRNA program. Most schools require one to three years. You may need to work in critical care, trauma care, or emergency care.

Your curriculum may be divided into two parts. Most programs start with a classroom portion in which you learn about pharmacology, nursing ethics, and different aspects of health assessment. Courses in this part of your training may include Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Advanced Physiology, Research for Evidence-Based Practice, and Advanced Pharmacology. From there, you move on to clinical-based courses that put you in real clinical settings. Classes in this category include Anesthesia Principles, Specialty Practicum, Anesthesia Pharmacology, and Chemistry & Physics for Nurse Anesthesia. In your clinical courses, you must get at least 550 hours of experience to qualify for certification.

While finishing a nurse anesthesia program in Rhode Island, you may qualify for several different types of financial aid. Loans, scholarships, and grants may all help you pay for your education. Quite a few scholarships are school-specific, including the Class of 1957 Endowed Scholarship and the Eleanor M. Olson Nursing Scholarship. The Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island awards the Graduate Nurse Scholarship, which is worth $500 to $1,000 per student. The Rhode Island Foundation is a more general organization that offers scholarships to students in different fields of study. They have multiple scholarships dedicated to the field of nursing. Even if you have to take on student loans to cover part of your education, there may still be aid available if you are willing to work in an underserved area after graduation.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in Rhode Island

To work as a nurse anesthetist in Rhode Island, you must meet specific certification requirements and licensing requirements laid out at a state level and a national level. First, you become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist through the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. You complete this process by passing a nurse anesthesia exam and supplying proof of your completed nursing education. You can then have your passing scores sent to the Rhode Island Nurse Registration and Nursing Education Board. You can fill out your application for advanced practice status and become a licensed nurse anesthetist.

Dedicating yourself to the field of anesthesia may have positive effects on your career and your job outlook.

To get your career started on the right foot, consider joining the Rhode Island Association of Nurse Anesthetists. This group supports nurse anesthetists through training events, networking events, legislative advocacy, and other member benefits. You may also get in touch with other anesthesiology professionals to take your career further.

Becoming a nurse anesthetist may be the key to finding a career path that you love. With your increased education, you may find that you can take on a more hands-on role in patient care and care administration. Furthermore, your Master’s-level or doctoral-level education may make you a leader to other nursing professionals in Rhode Island.

If you are ready to explore the field of nurse anesthesia and see what it can do for your career, your journey begins with the right education. Contact CRNA programs in Rhode Island today to get started.

Forensic Nursing in Rhode Island

Each year, the field of nursing is responsible for impressive new developments that move the field of healthcare forward. Not only does this strengthen the industry you work in, it may give you the opportunity to explore new career options.

If you are curious about how you can use your registered nursing experience in a challenging and fulfilling career path, this is an excellent time to learn about the field of forensic nursing.

Forensic nurses work with some of the most vulnerable people in society, from victims of sexual assault to those victimized by other types of violent crime. They work closely alongside criminal justice professionals to ensure that evidence is gathered and stored correctly. As a forensic nurse, you may work with state agencies and nonprofit organizations like the Rhode Island Statewide Task Force to Address Adult Sexual Assault.

Wondering about different certification paths and career options?

Get more information now by contacting forensic nurse programs listed below.

Master’s Degree Programs in Forensic Nursing in Rhode Island

To enroll in a forensic nursing graduate program, you may need to meet fairly competitive admissions requirements. These career paths and specialties put you in contact with vulnerable patients, and instructors must know that you can handle the responsibility of this task.

Not only do you need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you must have relevant nursing experience. On average, you need at least one year of full-time nursing experience to get accepted to a graduate forensic nursing program.

On top of general forensic nursing programs, which cover the collection and processing of evidence, you may be interested in becoming a legal nurse consultant. This career path involves spending more time in the courtroom than with patients.

To thrive in this field, you need an extensive knowledge of state and federal law, as well as the ability to research cases and give an unbiased professional opinion.

Legal Nurse Consultant Graduate Courses
• Evidence, Investigation, and Discovery
• Medical Records Review
• Introduction to Forensic Nursing
• Trial and Advanced Litigation Processes
• Healthcare Law and Regulatory Compliance
• Civil Procedure and Pretrial Practice
• Legal Nurse Consultant Paralegal Principles and Practices

Regardless of which type of program you choose, your long-term goal may be certification, which requires that you meet each agency’s forensic nursing requirements.

If you want to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or an Advanced Forensic Nurse, your certification documents must go through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.

The Role of Forensic Nurses in Rhode Island

After learning how to become a forensic nurse, you may be one step closer to deciding which career path fits your talents and interests. You may also want to consider which type of role you would like to play in the healthcare industry of Rhode Island.

If you want to ensure that patients who have been victimized by crime have access to the proper physical and mental healthcare services, you may thrive as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

If you are interested in exploring your options in a legal setting, consider becoming a legal nurse consultant.

If you become a forensic nurse or SANE, you may become active in sexual assault programs throughout Rhode Island, such as the one at the Women & Infants Hospital.

Now that you know more about your career options in this field, start exploring forensic nurse degrees in Rhode Island.

Check out the list of schools below and get in touch with programs that interest you.

Rhode Island Clinical Nurse Leader

Have you seen the role of nurses change in Rhode Island? Whether you have an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you have likely experienced plenty of different nursing roles in your career. One of the newest nursing roles is that of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), a position that combines clinical experience with staff management and evidence-based practice.

Across Rhode Island, the demand for highly trained nurses is increasing. In fact, several colleges and universities have received large grants to expand their MSN programs (Rhode Island Public Radio). This is intended to help Rhode Island meet the growing need for nurses at the graduate degree level.

If you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to take your nursing career one step further, this may be it.

Learn more by comparing Master’s in nurse leadership programs in Rhode Island below.

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in Rhode Island?

With nursing becoming a bigger part of health care in New England, this is an excellent time to learn about becoming a Clinical Nurse Leader. This certification, which is overseen by the AACN, refers to a specific clinical role that utilizes advanced education and nursing experience to improve care outcomes and streamline care in various settings.

These goals are often highlighted by the learning outcomes of Rhode Island colleges and universities. You may find that schools in this area focus on students learning how to apply evidence to practice, effectively serve as leaders in different specialties, integrate research into practice, engage in interdisciplinary care, study population health needs, and uphold ethical practice standards. Since you must be ready to function in an advanced role by graduation, be ready for a program that is extremely academically rigorous.

Courses that may be required in a CNL Master’s degree program include:

Professional Role Development
Health Care Systems
Advanced Nursing Research
Public Health Nursing
Biostatistics in Nursing
Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
Differential Diagnosis in Nursing

You can typically complete a CNL program in about two years. You must learn an average of 33 credits to graduate. At some schools, this includes clinical work at a local hospital, nursing home, or clinic.

As this is a clinical practice role, a registered nursing license is required. The Nurse Registration and Nursing Education Board requires all new applications to be submitted by the last day of February every other year. You can then apply for certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader through the AACN.

Initial certification is earned through a rigorous three-hour exam. After that, you must complete 50 hours of continuing education every five years and renew your license at the end of every five-year cycle.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?

Clinical Nurse Leaders fill a number of extremely important roles in Rhode Island’s clinical care settings. As a nurse leader, you may be responsible for a specific shifts or a team of nurses. This part of your job involves following up on nurses’ work, making sure that they are using evidence-based practices, and evenly distributing the work load.

As part of your work, you may also be assigned to specific patients. CNLs are often expected to create high level, multidisciplinary plans of care for their patients. These plans should integrate the work of nurses, physicians, specialized care providers, and anyone else involved in a patient’s medical care.

To create a plan that is well-suited to a patient, you must be up-to-date on the latest in nursing research and evidence, including recommendations from national nursing groups. Studying research and evidence may also show you ways that policies and procedures can be changed in your facility.

Since this is a relatively new role in the field of nursing, it can be tricky to figure out exactly what you should be doing as a nurse leader. You may find that you are creating your roles as you enter the field. Learning from others who have walked the same path is extremely helpful. Look into joining the Organization of Nurse Leaders, a New England association that benefits those in high-level nursing positions.

As a field, nursing is constantly changing and evolving to meet industry and population needs. Be ready for whatever changes come your way by furthering your education.

Graduate nurse leadership programs in Rhode Island can help you get started. Request information from the schools below to learn more about your options for becoming a CNL in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Nursing Research Graduate Programs

If you wish to further your nursing career, earning your graduate degree in nursing research can help you strengthen your profession’s contribution to the enhancement of healthcare across Rhode Island. As a clinical nurse researcher, you will need to be proficient in evidence-based care, promoting quality healthcare for communities, families, and individuals.

To learn more about your options for becoming a leader in nursing research in Rhode Island, contact the schools listed below for program and curriculum details.

Featured Programs:

Rhode Island Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

Depending on your career aspirations, you have a few graduate degree program options available, which require different research competencies and expectations. Master’s programs generally take two to three years to finish and prepare you for successfully evaluating research findings for the development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines. By the end of the program, you should be able to not only form and lead medical teams but also identify practice problems and collaborate with scientists.

Practice-focused doctoral programs can take an additional two to three years to finish, focusing on the highest nursing practice levels beyond initial discipline preparation. As a student, you will hone your nursing skills and gain the ability to implement complex clinical interventions that are tailored to community, family, and individual needs (AACN).

Topics may cover advanced leadership skills, data management, and policy advocacy. You may also enroll in a research-focused doctoral program, which focuses on the pursuance of intellectual inquiry and independent research. During the program, you will learn how to plan and start independent research programs as well as seek the necessary support during the initial stages.

If you wish to become a senior investigator in the medical community, then you may need to enroll in a postdoctoral program. As a student, you will need to devote your time to further developing your research skills. Under the direction of a senior investigator, you will learn how to establish a research program and face academic, administrative, and clinical demands. Before graduation in any degree program, you will need to fulfill the required clinical practicum, entailing a minimum of 500 hours of hands-on experience at an approved medical facility.

Click on a graduate degree program to learn more about nursing research careers today.

With most graduate degree programs in Rhode Island, you may qualify for a scholarship or loan through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing or the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. As a nursing student, you may qualify for one of the following scholarships:

Continuing Professional Development Scholarship
Disadvantaged Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Giva Corporate Outstanding Nursing Student Scholarship
NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in Rhode Island

American Nurses Credentialing Center offers various licensing exams that you can take to specialize in an advanced nursing sector. Once you are a licensed clinical nurse researcher, you may find employment opportunities as a:

Clinical nurse coordinator
Clinical data manager
Nurse scientist

According to recent research, approximately 100 natural science managers work in the state of Rhode Island, including clinical nurse researchers. Start your career as a clinical nurse researcher in Rhode Island today by learning more about graduate programs in nursing research.

Rhode Island Certified Nurse Midwife

Women all over the United States want and deserve evidence-based health care, whether they’re trying to maintain day to day health or give birth to a healthy child. Part of giving women excellent care is giving them the choice of different care providers. Certified nurse midwives are becoming an increasingly important part of health care in Rhode Island, where women may choose to give birth at home, a birth center, or the hospital.

If you are looking into becoming a certified nurse midwife (CNM) in Rhode Island, contact the schools you see listed below to request more information.

Many women who choose to use the services of a certified nurse midwife want to have natural labors or avoid the use of medication during labor. As a CNM, you can provide them evidence-based pain relief methods, from massage and water submersion to laughing gas, which is becoming a popular option.

As you develop your practice and get familiar with the women in your community, you can tailor your skills and offerings to meet their needs. Take the first step now by contacting certified nurse midwife programs in Rhode Island.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in Rhode Island

Your journey to becoming a certified nurse midwife begins with the right education. The good news is that you are well on your way if you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. An undergraduate degree in this field is required for most nurse midwifery programs, although some programs allow you to start with core nursing courses and then move on to midwifery courses if you have a non-nursing undergraduate degree. Strong academic performance is also typically required; most schools require a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Rigorous programs may require prior nursing experience in labor and delivery.

Your curriculum should be multifaceted and demanding, as this is what it’s like to work as a certified nurse midwife. Some of the courses that may be included in your curriculum include Labor, Birth, & Delivery; Families in Crisis; Integrated Women’s Reproductive Health Care; Foundations of Antepartum Care; and Contraceptive Care for Women. Starting in your third semester—although it does vary from school to school—you begin completing your clinical hours. Clinical hours may take place in clinics, hospitals, and birth centers, depending on what is available in your area.

Rhode Island has a strong network of nursing foundations and employers that aim to help students succeed by providing financial aid options. The Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island awards scholarships from $500 to $1,000 each. The Student Nurses Association of Rhode Island funds annual scholarships as well. Many scholarships are provided by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Rhode Island

When you take your nursing education further with a Master’s degree, you may be rewarded with a great job outlook. Before you can enjoy these benefits of practice, you must be able to legally practice in Rhode Island. You can get your national certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board, which oversees certification for CNMs in all 50 states. Once you’ve met this requirement, contact the Nursing Registration and Nursing Education Board to get your advanced practice license.

Nursing is an exciting field with plenty of opportunities for professional and personal growth. Learn more about this specialty by reaching out to certified nurse midwife programs in Rhode Island listed below.

Rhode Island Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs

If you have already earned your registered nurse license but wish to further your career into a leadership or research role at a medical facility in Rhode Island, then becoming a clinical nurse specialist may be the career path for you. Studies show that the demand for clinical nurse specialists is high due to the fact that these nurses provide patient specialized care while maintaining lower costs than physicians (Discover Nursing). As a clinical nurse specialist, you may focus on one of the following areas of expertise:

Nurse management
Administration
Patients and their families

To learn more about your options for becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rhode Island, contact the schools below and request program details.

From clinical practice and teaching to research and consulting, you will help guide the nursing staff and assist with workplace efficiency, which is why earning a Master of Science in Nursing is critical to becoming a successful clinical nurse specialist. When researching potential RN to MSN programs, you should enroll in a college that has achieved accreditation through a governing healthcare body, such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accredited MSN programs will help prepare you for passing the state licensing exam after graduation. Click on a college to review accredited MSN programs in Rhode Island today.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rhode Island

MSN programs in Rhode Island require you to fulfill certain prerequisites before you can enroll in graduate school. Prerequisites may include a bachelor’s degree, an RN license, the completion of a statistics course, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and the completion of the Graduate Record Examination. Once you have provided proof that you have completed the applicable prerequisites, you can enroll in a two-year program to earn your MSN degree, which can be completed through flexible online or traditional campus courses.

When choosing an MSN Clinical Nurse Specialist program, you will need to choose a nursing specialty, such as:

Adult
Acute care
Infectious disease
Cardiovascular
Home health
Perinatal
Occupational health
Neonatal
Rehabilitation
Oncology
Public health
School health
Women’s health
Parent-child

As a student, be prepared to delve into subjects like advanced health assessment, research methods, and physiology. Before you can graduate, you will need to fulfill an additional 500 hours of clinical training under faculty supervision to ensure proficiency in current equipment and techniques.

You may also consider earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice, which requires two to three additional years of educational training. DNP programs prepare you for a research role in the medical industry, increasing your marketability with potential employers. DNP programs generally require coursework in health economics, clinical data management, and advanced nursing health policy. Research MSN and DNP programs near you today by contacting the schools with CNS programs below.

With millions of Americans not having access to affordable healthcare because of a shortage of health professionals, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration encourages you to work in underserved areas by offering a variety of scholarships and loan options. Financial assistance options include the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps Scholarship Program, and Nursing Student Loans.

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rhode Island

You may choose to further your career aspirations by passing the CNS exam, which can be taken through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Certification opens up many employment opportunities in adult and child psychiatric-mental health, gerontology, home and public health, pediatric, and diabetes management-advanced nursing.

Once you have become a certified clinical nurse specialist, you will need to renew the license every five years, or you may not be able to practice legally after the certificate’s expiration date. Increase your employment marketability in Rhode Island by enrolling in an accredited MSN program today.

Rhode Island Public Health Graduate Programs

The nursing community of Rhode Island is extremely close and tight-knit, partially due to the small size of this state. This can benefit you in your nursing career in several different ways. When you first became a registered nurse, you probably felt comfortable learning from those with more experience than you and applying those lessons to your career. Now that you are ready to take your nursing career to the next level, you can enjoy the support of advanced nursing professionals in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island takes public health very seriously, as protecting the state’s residents is the main goal of the government. Public health nurses often use their expertise to weigh in on topics that may or may not directly relate to nursing, such as a recently proposed ban on smoking in downtown areas. Public health nursing graduate programs in Rhode Island can help you reach your full potential as a nurse.

Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in Rhode Island

Public health nursing programs in Rhode Island have a few goals. First, they want to strengthen the field of public health by graduating the most passionate and dedicated students in Rhode Island. Second, they want to teach you to think critically and creatively about health problems that affect the state of Rhode Island. Finally, they aspire to provide Rhode Island counties with the public health nurses they need to make Rhode Island the healthiest state in the country.

If you are ready to meet these challenges head-on, then you can be an excellent fit for a graduate program in public health nursing. These programs require two to three years of full-time study, so you may want to keep that in mind as you plan out your work schedule and goals. In addition to covering nursing theory, programs in this area explore the clinical role of public health nurses. This may mean getting experience in government agencies, community health clinics, and public outreach programs.

The multifaceted curriculum of the public health program can make you a competent and confident advanced nurse. Throughout your education, you may enroll in classes like Advanced Public Health Community Nursing, Health Care Leadership, Environmental Health Nursing, Epidemiology, Biostatistical Methods, and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice.

The Rhode Island nursing community offers support to those who are ready to take their education to the next level. You may want to apply for scholarships offered by the Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island. Each scholarship is valued at $500 to $1,000.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Rhode Island

One of the exciting parts of working in public health is the fact that public health issues are always changing, so you are always expanding your education and thinking about the field of nursing in a new way. Rhode Island public health nurses made a shocking discovery about online dating apps—namely, that they led to a huge increase in STD transmission throughout the state. Be prepared to use your skills to address issues like this one.

Learn more about how you can protect Rhode Island residents from health threats by requesting information from public health nursing programs in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Healthcare Policy Graduate Programs

Who has the biggest impact on the field of healthcare? Perhaps this question is impossible to answer—healthcare providers, experts, administrative staff, and researchers all contribute to the ongoing improvement of the medical industry. However, there is no doubt that nursing policymakers are an essential part of this field.

Policies in the health arena affect spending, covered procedures, and the rights of patients. Rhode Island has had a fairly serious problem with healthcare spending in recent years (Rhode Island Public Radio). Public policy experts are in the midst of creating laws and policies that minimize governmental spending and ensure the proper use of state money.

If you are ready to take your career in a more political direction, you may be a great fit for a healthcare policy degree. Find out what it takes to become a nursing policy expert by reaching out to graduate healthcare policy programs in Rhode Island.

Featured Programs:

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in Rhode Island

The field of healthcare policy is a fairly significant deviation from the field of nursing, so you may want to prepare for a challenging educational experience that opens your mind to new topics, concepts, and ways of thinking. Of course, your knowledge of healthcare and nursing procedures is a huge asset in the field of health policy, but there are other industries and fields you must understand to feel confident in policy.

Health policy program in Rhode Island study this subject from several angles. You should analyze the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare policy, problem-solving principles in legislation, various approaches to policy issues, and important research tenets.

A solid variety of courses provide you with the education you need in these areas. As you explore different curricula, look for courses like Analytical Methods for Health Policy, Health Economics, Ethical Issues in Healthcare, Public Health Research, Health Law and Regulation, Health Services and Policy, Health Policy Seminar, and Health Services Research Methods.

On top of these classes, you may be expected to complete a research paper or a capstone project to meet graduation requirements. Some programs offer an internship option. Rhode Island programs may work with government agencies, healthcare associations, consulting firms, and research institutions to offer internships.

The expertise you have as a nurse is very important to your credibility, so make sure you keep your nursing license valid. The Nurse Registration and Nursing Education Board requires you to renew your license by the last day of February every other year.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in Rhode Island?

Since Rhode Island is such a small state, the nursing community of this state is extremely tight-knit. As a registered nurse, you should already be a member of professional organizations like the American Nurses Association of Rhode Island.

Your new position may put you in a position to work on their legislative priorities, which in 2015 included freedom of practice for nursing anesthetists, the nurse licensure process, staffing laws, and workplace protection for nurses.

You may also work with a wide variety of government agencies. Public health is a field that is closely intertwined with health policy. You may do legislative work with groups like the Rhode Island Public Health Association. As you progress in your career, you’ll build more and more professional connections, giving you more pull in the policy sector and increasing the amount of career opportunities you enjoy.

Health policy is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the nursing industry. When you influence policy, you make decisions that may affect the field for decades to come.

Find out more about what it takes to become a health policy expert by contacting Master’s in healthcare policy programs in Rhode Island.