LPN Programs in Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island has four campuses offering LPN programs in RI. These are all early exit diploma programs that take about one year to complete assuming all pre-requisite courses and requirements have been completed prior to entry into the program. Below you will find contact information for each of the programs as well as information about LPN program admission requirements, job outlook, employers and salaries in Rhode Island.
There are some requirements to be aware of prior to applying to any LPN program in Rhode Island as well as prior to considering a career as an LPN. It is required by most college nursing departments that applicants hold a High School diploma or a GED. The Office of Health Professionals Regulation Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education requires that an applicant for licensure hold a High School diploma or its equivalent as well. Some additional LPN program admission requirements may include pre-requisite courses, 18 years of age, an entrance exam and completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Please, contact the schools listed below or visit their website to learn about their most current admission requirements.
Graduates of the LPN programs listed below are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). Students must apply for licensure with the state of Rhode Island as well as register for the NCLEX-PN as part of their new LPN application process. Rhode Island also considers applicants for licensure who have completed the prescribed curriculum in an approved program of practical nursing as well as the theory and clinical practice and hold a diploma or certificate from the program, which must be furnished at the time they apply.
LPN Salaries, Job Outlook and Employers in Rhode Island
Entry-level salaries for an LPN in Rhode Island vary, but the most recent salary data collected by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training shows that an entry-level LPN in Rhode Island makes $21.37* an hour while the mean hourly wage is $24.04*. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training also provides long-term job growth projections through 2016 for an LPN in Rhode Island. These projections show 15% job growth for LPNs. In fact, the LPN profession is one of the top 50 Rhode Island occupations with the largest growth. These numbers are estimates and calculations crunched to provide an idea of what an LPN may make and what the job growth may be through 2016. These numbers are a good indication that the LPN profession will be a strong career choice. Another benefit of becoming an LPN is that there are avenues to advance your career via additional education and certifications. An LPN to ADN or BSN program is an example of how many LPNs move on to become a professional registered nurse in Rhode Island.
LPNs can find work in a variety of settings, which creates an opportunity for a diverse career path. If you don’t like the facility or field you are working in there may be a position somewhere that fits your needs. Some Rhode Island employers of LPNs include Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, South County Hospital in Wakefield, Genesis Health Care (skilled nursing, rehabilitation services), Mollen Immunization Clinics, SunBridge Health Care (Residential care – short and long term), Maxim Healthcare Services, Amedysis, Inc. and Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick. These names are provided to give you an idea of the variety of nursing settings an LPN in Rhode Island may find work. They are also good places to start a job search once you complete all the requirements to become licensed and work as an LPN in Rhode Island.
You might also want to check out the Medical Assisting programs in Rhode Island. Medical assisting requires completion of a similar length educational program without the licensure requirements of an LPN and also has similar job growth projections.
*Salary Data: Taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
LPN Programs in Rhode Island
| Community College of Rhode Island – Knight Campus 400 East Avenue Warwick, Rhode Island 02886-1807 Telephone: (401) 825-1000 | Community College of Rhode Island – Flanagan Campus 1762 Louisquisset Pike Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865-4585 Telephone: (401) 333-7000 | Community College of Rhode Island – Liston Campus One Hilton Street Providence, Rhode Island 02905-2304 Telephone: (401) 455-6000 | Community College of Rhode Island – Newport County Campus One John H. Chafee Blvd. Newport, RI, 02840 Telephone: (401) 851-1600 |