Four-year colleges and universities are typically large institutions that offer intensive undergraduate programs of study. Many of these schools also offer graduate degrees. A number of Rhode Island’s major nursing employers, like Genesis Healthcare, prefer to hire nurses with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university. Some employers nationwide, like the U.S. Army and Navy, have gone one step further by mandating that all nurses have baccalaureate education.
Career paths
Rhode Island’s four-year colleges and universities offer a variety of degree programs. An aspiring registered nurse (RN) can enroll in a prelicensure program, either an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). All RNs must also pass the NCLEX-RN licensure examination before practicing. An existing RN who wants to assume a managerial or specialist role may pursue a graduate degree for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
APRNs must hold a master’s or doctor’s degree. Many existing nurses will enroll in a large state institution, like University of Rhode Island, to pursue graduate education for a specialist role like nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist. Although these graduate courses can be expensive, APRNs earn a significant return on their educational investment. For example, Rhode Island’s nurse practitioners receive a median annual salary of almost $100,000.
Four-year colleges and universities enhance their graduates’ employment prospects. For those interested in learning more, we have listed below all of Rhode Island’s colleges and universities with accredited nursing programs.
