Top LPN Programs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island LPN Schools and License Requirements, Salary, and Job Outlook
Licensed practical nurses are the medical professionals who work for the welfare of the patients by performing all the basic chores related to them. The collection of specimens like urine, sputum, blood, etc., inserting urinary catheters, dressing of injuries and wounds, emptying bed pans, and administering oral medications are some of the tasks that LPNs accomplish. They are mostly seen working in long-term medical facilities and report senior nurses and doctors. Besides nursing care facilities, LPNs also work in doctor’s clinic, hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, day care centers, etc.
Though there are not many approved nursing institutes in Rhode Island, these professionals are paid quite good in the state. Also, there are tremendous job opportunities for them in the country. If you are planning to become a licensed practical nurse in the state, go through the detailed information about the salary, license, career outlook, and top nursing colleges in Rhode Island.
The list of accredited nursing schools in Rhode Island is as follows –
1
Rank
Community College of Rhode Island
Type of Course:Diploma Program
Community College of Rhode Island is one of the largest community colleges and one of the top nursing schools in Rhode Island. With its oldest campus in Warwick, it has 5 additional campuses throughout the state. This institute aims at providing complete access to all the students who want to achieve knowledge, skills, and training required for offering the best care to the patients. Besides this, the college strives to set high academic standards and assist the students in attaining great heights in their careers.
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Address:
400 East Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
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Contact Number:
(401) 825-1000
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Type of Course:
Diploma Program
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Fee-
$13,906 (Tuition Fees – $11,506 , Books and Supplies – $2,400)
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Number of Students:
16,195 (all undergraduate, fall 2015)
2
Rank
Lincoln Technical Institute
Type of Course:Diploma Program
Lincoln Technical Institute (LTI) is operated and owned by Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and was established in 1946. Its campuses are located in various states of the USA, including Georgia, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, etc. This institute promises to put best efforts and assists the students to gain success and avail the job opportunities. LTI is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and aims to deliver the most qualified and trained candidates to the employers with whom they partner.
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Address:
622 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865
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Contact Number:
(401) 334-2430
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Type of Course:
Diploma Program
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Number of Students:
563 (all undergraduate, fall 2015)
License Requirements for LPNs in Rhode Island
Soon after the completion of a licensed practical nursing course from an approved school, university or college, candidates need to qualify the NCLEX-PN exam to obtain a license from the state board of nursing. Complete procedure related to the licensure is regulated by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing. Every student has to meet the requirements of the board. The license can be gained either by exam or endorsement. One has to follow the below given procedure in order to practice as a practical nurse in Rhode Island.
Step 1: Complete the LPN/LVN Program
First of all, every aspirant of licensed practical nursing in the state of Rhode Island has to complete a certificate, diploma, or degree program from an accredited college, school, or university. There are only 2 schools that provide LPN programs in Rhode Island. The coursework is divided into clinical and theoretical sessions.
Step 2: Clear the State Exam
In Rhode Island, candidates are allowed to obtain licensure by examination only in two cases. First, if you are applying for the license for the very first time, and second, if you are currently licensed in a non-compact state and want to obtain it in RI. Such candidates can apply for the license to the state board of nursing only after getting passing marks in the NCLEX-PN examination.
Step 3: Application for Licensure
Soon after passing the state exam for licensed practical nursing, candidates can apply for the license to the Rhode Island State Board of Nursing. You just need to properly fill and sign an application form and send it to the board. Along with the application, you are supposed to submit 2 passport-sized photos, authorization and certification form, and fee for the application. Fee for the form is payable to the Nursing Board of Rhode Island either in the form of money order or check.
Step 4: Verification
Verification of all the transcripts and documents is done by the board in order to cross-check all the information provided by the candidate. This processing may take some weeks or months. After proper verification, if the candidate fulfills all the requirements, his/her name will be included in the Rhode Island nurse aide registry. With this, s/he is allowed to practice as an LPN in the state in a legal way.
Step 5: Maintenance of Licensure
Gaining a license from the state board is just the initial stage. In order to continue working as a practical nurse in the state, candidates are required to renew their license after every two years. Renewal of license helps LPN work without any kind of interruption in Rhode Island. To renew the license, nurses need to follow a certain procedure and have to submit a fee for it.
Licensure by Examination
If you want to become licensed in the state of Rhode Island and are a resident of the state or practicing as an LPN in any non-compact state, you need to apply for licensure by examination to the state board of nursing. In order to accomplish this, you need to fulfill certain requirements, which are as follows –
- First of all, you need to submit a proof of your primary residence at Rhode Island. A copy of driving license and tax lease or return are the things that are required by the board.
- Essential official transcripts showing the date of your graduation and degree conferred are also required to be submitted by the candidates. These are needed to be sent directly by the school from where you have completed your LPN course.
- Applicants also need to send an application to the Department of Attorney General. This is to be done for a national background check and is supported by a state background check and fingerprints. For detailed and complete information regarding this process, visit http://www.riag.state.ri.us/homeboxes/BackgroundChecks.php
- To sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, candidates have to apply to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). For this, you need to visit https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm or call on (866) 293-9600 (a toll-free number). Once you apply to the NCSBN, you are made eligible for the examination. You are not allowed to sit for the state exam until the board receives the official transcripts (as described in point 2) from your school of graduation.
License by Endorsement
If you are a licensed practical nurse in a non-compact state and want to become licensed in Rhode Island, which is a compact state, you need to apply for licensure by endorsement to the state board. In order to attain it, you need to satisfy some requisites-
- Submit proof of residency to the Nursing Board of Rhode Island. Your driving license, or a lease or tax return may work. Along with this, it is a must for every candidate to include the address of the state.
- Background check with fingerprints is also required. For this, you need to apply to the Department of Attorney General. This is to be done for a national background check and is supported by fingerprints and a state background check. For detailed information about the procedure, visit http://www.riag.state.ri.us/homeboxes/BackgroundChecks.php.
- License verification is another requirement of the board that every candidate needs to fulfill. Every applicant must verify the license from all other state boards where the license was issued. In case, you have obtained the license in AL, HI, KS, OK, WV, PA, and CA; you have to request for verification to be directly sent to the board from that particular state. This process may take some weeks or months. You can get an Interstate Verification form on board’s website at www.health.ri.gov/forms/NurseVerificationForm.pdf.
Rhode Island Nursing License Renewal
For renewal of license in the state of Rhode Island, every candidate needs to complete 10 continuing education hours after every two years. Two out of these 10 hours should be pertinent to substance abuse. Continuing education course that you undertake must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Approved training programs inculcate courses approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, or its local chapter, other well-known professional nursing organizations, any school or department of nursing accredited by the board of nursing; or any professional, accrediting agency, or labor organization approved by the State Board. At the time of license renewal, nurses must sign a statement that shows completion of the continuing education requirements.
An extension of 6 months for the continuing education requirements may be given by the State Board of Rhode Island if the nurse has suffered an austerity. Documents related to the course completion should be maintained for 4 years.
Verification of Licensure in Rhode Island
To verify or check the status of your license, you can login to the website of Rhode Island Nursing Board. Candidates just need to provide some information and everything related to their licensure will be displayed on the screen.
Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Rhode Island
As per the statistics of indeed.com, the average salary of licensed practical nurses in Rhode Island was 46,000 (as of October 24, 2016). While data of bls.gov shows that mean hourly wage and annual salary of LPNs were $26.79 and $55,230, respectively.
Various Job Titles for LPN With Average Annual Salaries
| Job Title |
Salary |
| Patient Care Technician Student |
$15,000 |
| Medical Assistant Family Practice |
$26,000 |
| Long-term Care LPN |
$24,000 |
| LPN Cma Rma |
$28,000 |
| LPN Ambulatory |
$31,000 |
| LPN Long Term Care |
$30,000 |
| Clinical Nurse LPN |
$34,000 |
| LPN LVN |
$37,000 |
| Nar Nursing Assistant hope |
$23,000 |
| Nurse RN LPN |
$45,000 |
| Psychiatric Nurse |
$52,000 |
| LPN Primary Care |
$42,000 |
| Correctional Prison Facility LPN |
$21,000 |
| CNA Medical Surgical |
$25,000 |
| Renal Dialysis Nurse |
$48,000 |
Information Source: indeed.com (as of October 24, 2016)
The study of above table reveals the fact that Psychiatric Nurses earned the highest salary, i.e., $52,000. Renal Dialysis Nurses and Nurse RN LPN made $48,000 and $45,000, respectively. Patient Care Technician Students were the least paid nursing professionals who earned $15,000 per annum.
Annual Median Salaries Of Licensed Practical Nurses in Different Cities of Rhode Island
| Name of the City |
Annual Median Salary |
| Coventry |
$45,711 |
| Cranston |
$46,255 |
| Cumberland |
$46,255 |
| Narragansett |
$46,366 |
| Newport |
$46,615 |
| Pawtucket |
$46,255 |
| Providence |
$46,255 |
| Warwick |
$46,255 |
| Woonsocket |
$46,026 |
Information Source: salary.com
From the data given in the above table, we can conclude that the salary (i.e.,$46,615) of the licensed practical nurses in Rhode Island was the highest in Newport, while it was the lowest in Coventry, i.e., $45,711.
Job Outlook of a Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse in Rhode Island
As per the reports of bls.gov, there were 1,030 employed licensed practical professionals in May 2015, in Rhode Island. According to the population of the state, this employment level is very good. There are many job opportunities for these professionals in coming years. The prominent employers for LPNs in the state are- Kindred Healthcare, Milford Regional Medical Center, Landmark Medical Center, Brightview Senior Living, Narragansett Bay Anesthesia, etc.
