3 Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Rhode Island – 2024


Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

1,390 NPs practice in Rhode Island, most of them in medical facilities and healthcare clinics in the greater metropolitan Providence area. While nurse practitioners are able to work independently in The Ocean State, the state is small geographically and does not have many large medically underserved rural areas. Consequently, CareerOneStop projects that the demand for NP jobs will only increase by 19 percent within the next decade. Graduates of accredited nurse practitioner schools in Rhode Island earn more than $125,250 a year on average. Check out our list of the best nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island for 2024 in the text below.


WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN RHODE ISLAND (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 3 Best NP programs in Rhode Island for the year 2024.)


1) University Of Rhode Island - Kingston


Programs Offered: MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate

If you are seeking to enroll in one of the best nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island to complete your graduate nursing education, then the University Of Rhode Island’s NP programs with several concentration options can be a befitting choice. With an MSN, BSN to DNP, and post-master’s certificate, no matter where you are in your academic journey, here, you will find a program that matches your interest and goals. Besides, the college also offers several opportunities to fund your education through assistantships, traineeships, and loans. This nursing school is not only highly ranked in the nation for its graduate nursing programs by the US News & World Report but also ranks top in New England for receiving federal research funding. Furthermore, the university’s close-knit environment and inter-disciplinary learning opportunity make it a popular choice among the other NP schools in Rhode Island.

MSN Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

If you are ready to take your BSN-prepared RN position to the master’s level, then this program is right for you. Here, depending on where you find your calling, you can choose to specialize in either family health, adult-gerontology care, or psychiatric mental health. Regardless of the track you choose, you can complete the program at a pace convenient to your life schedule. So, if you choose to enroll full-time, you can complete the program within 2.5 years, whereas as a part-timer you stretch the duration to up to five years. Along with didactic training, the curriculum provides clinical learning opportunities in a variety of settings. Each track first starts with core courses in evidence-based practice, foundations of advanced nursing practice, nursing research, and healthcare policy. Thereafter, depending on your area of focus, you will proceed to complete specialty-specific courses, after which you will be eligible to take the national NP certification exam. To earn your MSN degree, you will require earning credits anywhere close to 42.

BSN to DNP Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist

This BSN to DNP path is ideal for someone seeking to change healthcare by serving in leadership roles. As a registered nurse, through this program, you will not only attain the terminal nursing degree but also gain expertise in your chosen NP population focus. Now, if you are asking yourself if this program is worth the time and tuition dollars when you can become an NP by earning an MSN at URI in a shorter duration, then well, yes! it is. Because as a graduate of this program, you will not only transform healthcare systems and policies but also greatly enhance your earning potential and career avenues. On a part-time basis, most students complete this program within 3 to 4 years, whereas the full-time schedule requires 2.5 to 3 years of time investment. This post-BSN program requires you to earn 72 credits in graduate core and specialty-specific courses.

Post-Master’s Certificate Concentrations: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Whether you are aspiring to become a nurse practitioner in Rhode Island or are seeking to expand on your advanced nursing practice, either way, this post-certificate program with four concentration options serves you well. Through this program within just 1 to 2 years, you will be able to get certified in your chosen area of focus.


2) Salve Regina University - Newport


Programs Offered: MSN

As a working nurse, are you searching for online nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island to advance your nursing career in primary care? Well, then you are in the right place as Salve Regina University not only trains evidence-based primary care providers but also offers its coursework through synchronous and asynchronous online classes. Now, if you are wondering if the online mode will be effective to master clinical skills, then here, the college has thoughtfully blended a 40-hour skills-based on-campus experience so that you do not lose out on the in-person learning experience. In the nation’s smallest state, where primary care is witnessing a growing demand, this nursing school has significantly contributed to healthcare by training competent and compassionate nurses for more than 60 years. Its faculty, comprising of experts, has passionately enhanced not only the knowledge of their students but also their own, by relentlessly pursuing innovation and research.

MSN Concentrations: Family nurse practitioner

This MSN program, open to BSN-prepared nurses leads to certification as an FNP. To become a nurse practitioner in Rhode Island, you are required to complete this 48-credit curriculum, comprising core and FNP-specific courses. The flexibility that this program provides due to its online format can prove to be a boon, especially if you are juggling multiple responsibilities. To qualify for this program, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an active RN license. Upon enrolment, the 28-month training starts with laying a solid foundation in core concepts of advanced physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, foundations of APNs, global influences in healthcare management, health assessment, healthcare informatics, and evidence-based research. Thereafter, specialization-specific courses educate you on the healthcare management of individuals and families across the lifespan. Additionally, apart from the didactic courses, you must complete 600 hours of clinical training. Among all the other nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island here, apart from gaining exceptional professional skills in primary care, this Catholic NP school offers an education that is grounded in the values of service and holistic nursing care.


3) Rhode Island College - Providence


Programs Offered: MSN and Graduate Certificate

Counted among the best nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island, Rhode Island College’s NP programs have prepared many graduates who are committed to serving the health care needs of the state’s residents. This nursing school designs its NP education with a strong focus on clinical expertise. Through interprofessional education, state-of-art simulation technology, and diverse clinical experiences the college trains leaders who are equipped with the tools to improve health outcomes for diverse patient populations, locally as well as globally. If you are looking out for NP programs in Rhode Island that lead to a specialization in adult-gerontology acute care, then here, you have two pathways to earn your certification as an AGACNP.

MSN Concentrations: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP)

To qualify for this MSN, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, the college requires you to have an unencumbered RN license in Rhode Island and at least one year of relevant acute care experience. The 45-credit coursework that prepares you for a promising Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP career comprises courses in research methods of advanced nursing practice, healthcare systems, pharmacology, health assessment, professional role development, and pathophysiology. Additionally, you will master concepts in genetics & genomics in healthcare and the management of adult/older adult health and disease. Furthermore, based on goals, you will choose one elective course from varied topics such as nursing education, global health and simulation in interprofessional healthcare education.

Graduate Certificate Concentrations: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

This graduate certificate NP program in Rhode Island builds up on your previous nursing knowledge and makes you certified as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. To qualify for this program, you must have an MSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an active RN license. Upon enrollment, you will complete 18 credits in courses that train you in the management of critically ill adults and older adult patients.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What are the Total Number of Accredited NP Programs in Rhode Island?

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners reports that currently there are Six accredited nurse practitioner programs in Rhode Island.

Program Type #
BSN to MSN3
BSN to DNP1
MSN to DNP1
Post-Master's Certificate 1
Total6



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