[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /]Rhode Island is experiencing an increase in demand for nurses, just as everywhere else in the country. This makes it an interesting place to enter the nursing workforce, where you can also enjoy an average annual salary of $88,250. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that this salary is rising. So how do you [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]become a nurse in Rhode Island[/hen-ui-link]?[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-secondary”]ENTRY LEVEL PRACTICE NURSES[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Entering the nursing workforce is a 3 stage process.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]CHOOSE WHETHER YOU WANT TO BECOME AN LPN OR AN RN[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The LPN (licensed practical nurse) should have completed a one year diploma program, [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/common-courses-you-will-take-for-your-rn-degree/”]while the RN[/hen-ui-link] (registered nurse) should have finished a 2 year associate degree (ADN) or 4 year bachelor degree (BSN). The longer you study, the better your job and growth prospects, and the better your salary.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These vary [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/rhode-island/”]depending on the school[/hen-ui-link]. Most [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]ADN[/hen-ui-link] and BSN programs will require you to complete a number of undergraduate courses.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]PASS YOUR NCLEX EXAM[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm”]NCLEX[/hen-ui-link] examination for LPNs is the NCLEX-PN while the [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nclex/things-to-know-about-the-nclex-exam/”]NCLEX-RN[/hen-ui-link] is for RNs.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-secondary”]ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]According to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.health.ri.gov/partners/boards/nurseregistrationandnursingeducation/”]Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education[/hen-ui-link], becoming an APN (advanced practice nurse) in Rhode Island is a 4 stage process.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]COMPLETE A GRADUATE DEGREE THAT IS REGIONALLY ACCREDITED, OR ACCREDITED BY AN AGENCY THAT THE BOARD RECOGNIZES[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can check whether or not the program meets the necessary requirements through the [hen-ui-link href=”http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx?6d6f64653d31267264743d332f372f3230313220333a35383a343020504d”]U.S. Department of Education[/hen-ui-link]. In order for the program to be recognized, it must include didactic studies as well as a supervised clinical experience.There are additional requirements for each recognized area of specialization, as follows:

CRNP ([hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/”]Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner[/hen-ui-link]): complete a master degree (MSN) in nursing as a minimum.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNS ([hen-ui-link href=”/clinical-nurse-specialist/”]Clinical Nurse Specialist[/hen-ui-link]): complete an MSN with a psychiatric and mental health nursing concentration.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CRNA ([hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-anesthetist/how-to-become-a-crna/”]Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist[/hen-ui-link]): complete a program accredited by the [hen-ui-link href=”http://home.coa.us.com/Pages/default.aspx”]Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]BECOME NATIONALLY CERTIFIED IN YOUR AREA OF SPECIALIZATION[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may choose to focus on a specific population. The national certification bodies recognized by the Board are:

The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nbcrna.com/Pages/default.aspx”]National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nursecredentialing.org/”]ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) and the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index”]PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care and Primary Care.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aanpcert.org/ptistore/control/index”]AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nccwebsite.org/”]NCC (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Women Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]APPLY TO BE LICENSED WITH OR WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Those who apply for licensure by endorsement are also able to apply for a 90 day Temporary Work Permit. However, they must hold a Rhode Island RN license and an advanced practice license from a different state. CRNAs must include transcripts of their program in order to receive the temporary permit. No prescriptive authority is granted on a temporary permit.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you have also completed the relevant forms for prescriptive authority as a CNS or CRNP, you must also complete the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act Registration, which is in the application package. Once you receive your registration, you must apply for your DEA number and send a copy of this to the Board within 60 days of receiving it.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You must also pay all the necessary fees. The initial application is $130. Prescriptive privileges come with a fee of $50. Finally, if you want to prescribe controlled substances, the fee is $140. You may also need to pay a fee to the DEA.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]RENEW YOUR LICENSE BIANNUALLY BY MARCH 1[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You will receive a reminder of this by January 1. You can renew your RN license, APN license and prescriptive privileges [hen-ui-link href=”https://healthri.mylicense.com/”]online[/hen-ui-link]. You must also pay all the necessary fees, which are $90 for your RN license, $40 for your APN license, $40 for your prescriptive authority and $140 for your controlled substances.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You must also be able to demonstrate that you have maintained your national certification. This means complying with the continuous education (CE) requirements as set by your certification agency. The Boar has set additional CE requirements for all nurses, including those who are not currently practicing. 10 units of CE are required in each cycle of renewal. A unit is either 10 hours of CE or 100 hours of contact practice.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you are a CRNP and hold prescriptive privileges, you must also demonstrate you took part in 30 hours of CE in pharmacology. As a CNS with prescriptive authority, you must also take part in 30 hours of CE in pharmacology, focusing specifically on psychotropic drugs. You must complete these hours every six years.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The CE hours can be completed online. They must, however, be part of a program recognized by the Board.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.health.ri.gov/partners/boards/nurseregistrationandnursingeducation/”]Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]3 Capitol Hill[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Providence, RI 02908[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Phone: 401-222-5960[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RI Relay 711[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card]

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