Practical Nursing - Diploma

  • Health

NURP

This program may be completed at the Knight (Warwick) Campus.

The Practical Nursing - Diploma program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

Students who complete the Practical Nursing course of study receive a diploma and are eligible to take the examination for licensure as a Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). Students who complete first semester classes of the Practical Nurse program are eligible to take the examination to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

Applicants may earn credits before applying for diploma status, but they must consult with One Stop Student Services. Courses may be taken at the Community College of Rhode Island or at any other accredited college.

Technical Standards: The physical activity (strength) level for a licensed practical nurse (075.374-017) is classified as “medium” by the Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. CCRI Technical Standards are located in the "For Students" tab under Nursing Links on the Nursing website.

Note: Some courses require prerequisites, co-requisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.

Important:
All admission requirements must be completed satisfactorily before an applicant can be offered acceptance into the Practical Nursing program. At the time of admission, the student must meet the current admission requirements of the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must reapply to the program and meet the current admission requirements. Once accepted into the Practical Nursing program, the student must attend an orientation conducted by the Nursing Department.

General Policies

See important general policies in the beginning of this section regarding the Performance-Based Health Sciences (PBHS) application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements to Apply for the Practical Nursing Program

  1. CCRI Application for Enrollment in General Studies with a pre-practical nursing concentration
  2. Official copy of a high school or GED® transcript, or baccalaureate transcript from an accredited institution, including date of graduation or completion
  3.  CCRI uses a multiple measures approach to determine admission into Health Science programs (For example: High School and GED® transcripts, SAT, ACT, HESI A2 or Accuplacer scores). Placement can also be determined by taking college level English and Math courses. Anyone with a degree from an institutionally accredited higher education institution may have this requirement waived following submission of the official college transcript .                                                                                             
  4. Reading Comprehension Requirement:  
  • Waived for students with a Bachelor's degree or higher 
  • High school GPA of 2.7 or higher*  
  • SAT reading and writing score, 410 or higher* or  
  • ACT of 27 or higher * or  
  • GED of 164 or higher*  
  • If using the ACCUPLACER test issued by CCRI's Advising Center, the following guidelines are used: score of 90 or above in Classic Accuplacer or score of 259 or above in Next Generation Accuplacer   
  • or Reading and Study Skills Program (ENGL 1002) with a grade of B- or better, or Integrated Critical Reading and Writing (ENGL 0950) with a grade of B- or better. 
  • Score of 90 or above in Classic Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension or score of 259 or above in Next Generation Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension or ENGL 0890: Critical Reading with a grade of "B-" or better, OR ENGL 0950 Integrated Critical Reading and Writing with a grade of B- or better. 

 Mathematics Requirement:

  • Waived for students with a Bachelor's degree or higher  

  • High school GPA of 2.7 or higher* or  

  • SAT score of 411 or higher * or  

  • ACT score 17 or higher* or  

  • GED score of 165 or higher  

  • If using the ACCUPLACER test issued by CCRI's Advising Center, the following guidelines are used: score of 80 or above in Classic Accuplacer is required for Math (Arithmetic) or score of 255 in Next Generation Accuplacer is required for Math (Arithmetic) or Foundations of College Mathematics (MATH 0100) with a grade of B- or better. Note: Entry point into Foundations of College Mathematics (MATH 0100) is Developmental Mathematics Emporium (MATH 0095).  

5. HESI A2 Test. Score 70 percent or better on each section.

 Students who do not meet the benchmark in two attempts can retest for one final attempt after three (3) months from the second attempt.  Please note: HESI test scores do not expire. 

Complete the following required prerequisite courses. (These courses are limited to two attempts.)

  • BIOL 2201 (Anatomy & Physiology I) OR BIOL 1010 (Human Anatomy) with a grade of "C" or better and BIOL 1020 (Physiology) with a grade of "C" or better. 

  • ENGL 1010: Composition I with a grade of "C" or better 

  • Note #1: All attempts for the above prerequisite courses prior to January 1, 2015, including transfers, are considered ONE ATTEMPT regardless of the number of times the class was taken. If a student fails to meet the satisfactory grade requirements within the two (2) attempts, the student must wait five (5) years from the last attempt to retake the course. 
     

  • Note #2: BIOL 1010 is a companion course of BIOL 1020. Another college-level 4-credit, human physiology course (with lab) may be substituted for BIOL 1020. BIOL 1020, or a substitution, cannot be more than six (6) years old at the time of application. 

 

If you have taken BIOL 1010 or another course in Human Anatomy, you will have to take a stand-alone Human Physiology course at another institution before you apply to the Nursing program. CCRI does not offer a stand-alone Human Physiology course. 

  • BIOL 2201 is a companion course of BIOL 2202. Neither of these can be more than six (6) years old at the time of application and both courses are limited to two attempts. 

 

If you have taken BIOL 2201 (A&P1) as a prerequisite, you will have to take BIOL 2202 (A&P2) before you begin your second semester in the Nursing program. You may choose to complete A&P2 prior to entrance into the Nursing Program, if desired. 

  • The transfer of Anatomy and Physiology courses is subject to approval by the CCRI Biology Department Chairperson. 

HESI A² Test: Score of 70 percent or better on each section. If a student does not achieve at least a 70 percent on one or more of the HESI A² tests, he or she may retake the necessary test(s) once within the next 12 months. Students are limited to two attempts within the 12-month period from the date the original test was taken. A minimum of two weeks between exams is required. Please note: HESI test scores do not expire. 

  1. A minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to apply to the program and must be maintained while enrolled in the Practical Nursing program.
  2. All the above requirements must be met satisfactorily BEFORE submission of the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) application and does not guarantee acceptance. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester must resubmit a PBHS application for the program and meet current requirements.
  3. Once accepted in the Practical Nurse Program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Nursing Department. 
  4. Complete and submit an online PBHS application here. Deadlines are listed on the form.
  5. Conditionally accepted students are required to complete the following:
    • When notified by the Office of One Stop Student Services, submit a background check through CastleBranch by the deadline identified. Results of BCI may prevent admission due to clinical agencies’ requirements.
    • Submit all required health records to CastleBranch.com by the deadline identified. Health records must include COVID-19 vaccine documentation or completed and approved RIDOH Medical Exemption form. Only Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Medical Exemptions are permitted. There are No Religious Exemptions accepted. RIDOH Medical Exemption Form 
    • CNA License must be submitted at time of PBHS Application
    • Final acceptance is based upon completion of the above criteria by the deadlines identified in the conditional acceptance notification.
    • Please note: Requirements are subject to change.
    • For more clarifying information regarding any of the above, please visit www.ccri.edu/nursing/admissionfaq or contact the Office of One Stop Student Services at: Deb Watson, Newport County Campus: 401-851-1637, dwatson@ccri.edu  

Program Requirements

  • A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 is required for graduation and the awarding of a Practical Nursing diploma.
  • Students must maintain a passing status in the theoretical and clinical components of each Practical Nursing course. Effective September 2022, the passing grade will be 77/C+. In the event that a student fails either the theory or the clinical component of a required Practical Nursing course, the course must be repeated in its entirety. Nursing courses are graded using a department-specific grading policy which is posted in the Nursing Student Policy Manual.
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201) is a prerequisite requirement of the Practical Nursing program. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in the course. If the required benchmark for this course is not achieved, student may not progress in the program. Students are limited to two attempts. 
  • Note:  Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201)/Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 2202) grades are valid for six years.

Reinstatement

  • Reinstatement to the Practical Nursing program is based on space availability. Priority is given to students in good academic standing at the time of withdrawal. Students returning to the Practical Nursing program must be approved by the Scholastic Standing Committee and may be required to repeat previously done course work and/or complete additional course work.
  • A student is eligible to repeat only one non-clinical Nursing course, with the exception of dropping/failing both Nursing non-clinical courses simultaneously during Semester 1 (NURS 1015P and NURS 1061P). If only one non-clinical Nursing course is dropped/failed during Semester 1, that single class will be considered their one and only repeat attempt.
  • A student is eligible to repeat only one clinical Nursing course. If one clinical Nursing course is dropped/failed during any semester, that single class will be considered their one and only repeat attempt.
  • A student requesting to repeat a Nursing course must meet the current admissions criteria.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:

  1. Provide safe, evidence-based patient-centered nursing care to a diverse population in a variety of health care settings.
  2. Provide a rationale for judgments used in the provision of safe, quality care and for decisions that promote health of patients and their families within their community.
  3. Implement established quality measures to improve desired health outcomes from an individual, unit and systems perspective.
  4. Demonstrate accountability for the delivery of standard-based nursing care that is consistent with legal and ethical principles.
  5. Function effectively in collaborative relationships within the healthcare team.
  6. Utilize information management systems and patient care technologies to implement best nursing practices.

Suggested Course Progression

Suggested course progression reflects full-time status with a minimum of 12 credits for the first two semesters. Students in the Practical Nursing program are required to take only 11 credits in their final semester.

Plan of Study Grid
PrerequisitesHours
BIOL 2201 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4
ENGL 1010 Composition I (or ENGL 1010A) 3
 Hours7
Year 1
Semester 1
NURP 1010 Practical Nursing I^ (Work-based learning course; must be completed before beginning Semester 2) 7
NURS 1015P Gerontology (Must be completed before beginning Semester 2) 2
NURS 1061P Pharmacology I (Must be completed before beginning Semester 2) 1
BIOL 2202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (Must be completed before beginning Semester 2) 4
 Hours14
Semester 2
NURP 1020 Practical Nursing 2^ (Work-based learning course; must be completed before beginning Semester 3) 9
NURS 1062P Pharmacology II (Must be completed before beginning Semester 3) 1
PSYC 2010 General Psychology (Must be completed before beginning Semester 3) 4
 Hours14
Summer Session
NURP 1030 Practical Nursing 3^ (Work-based learning course) 10
NURP 2500 PN Capstone 1
 Hours11
 Total Hours46

Note: Human Anatomy (BIOL 1010) & Human Physiology (BIOL 1020) or Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201) & Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 2202) with a final grade of C or better in each will waive the in-program requirement of Human Biology (BIOL 1070)

 

Transfer

Please meet with an Academic Advisor/Student Success Coach if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. Your Academic Advisor will help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Check out the Joint Admissions Agreement if you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island. The JAA program offers seamless transfer to RIC or URI with additional benefits. Transfer information, events, and articulations are available on the Transfer Center website.