Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Nurses

Initial Licensing & Renewal Information

Rhode Island Nurses Should be Aware of Phone Scam

Rhode Island nurses have been the target of a scam in which people pose as investigators from the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education (the BON) or the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Callers will falsely state that a nurse’s license is suspended or under investigation and they will request information, like financial information, or an APRN NPI number and DEA registration number.

The BON staff use the email address on file for all correspondence and never request personal information over the telephone.
If you receive a call or other notification stating your license is under investigation or has been suspended, please contact Lynda D’Alessio, Director of Nursing at Lynda.dalessio@health.ri.gov.If you are a target of a scam, please contact the FBI’s Boston Field Office at 857-386-2000 or the DEA Duty Line at 571-362-8 487. You may also report the threat with the FBI online at https://ic3.gov.

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Effective January 1, 2024, Rhode Island has rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compac…

Renewal notices are sent out 60 days before your expiration date. RENEW ONLINE

If you have never been licensed, apply. Make sure that you have completed the requirements and submit all the necessary paperwork. MORE

Board Approved Guidances

On April 10, 2023, the Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education voted to adopt American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice and ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses pursuant to RIGL section 5-34-7(3) for use by Board of Nursing (BON) members.

On June 12, 2023, the BON recommended the following guidelines for reinstatement of RN licensure:

  • RNs who have not practiced nursing for up to two years, no remediation is recommended.
  • RNs who have not practiced nursing for at least two years and up to five years will be required to take a Board-approved competency test, to provide confirmation of a passing grade on the test, and to provide clinical demonstration and proficiency.
  • RN' who have not practiced nursing for more than five years will be required to complete and pass a Board-approved RN refresher course—which shall include a pre-test and post-test and to demonstrate clinical competency.

At the March 18, 2024, Board of Nursing (BON) meeting, the BON approved two refresher courses offered for nurses that require remediation or refreshing of skills for reinstatement of licensure.  The Board reviewed the course content for both the University of Delaware and Boston College in Massachusetts courses.  The cost of class will be paid by the licensee/applicant.

 

Initial Applications

Renewals

Common Licensee Forms

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Continuing Education/Training

Nurses seeking to renew a nursing license must complete 10 continuing education hours during every two year licensing cycle, two of those hours must be about substance abuse.

Continuing education courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Approved training includes: courses approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or its local chapter, other recognized professional nursing organizations, any department or school of nursing approved by a board of nursing; or such other professional, labor organization, or accrediting agency approved by the Board. At renewal, nurses must sign a statement attesting to completion of the continuing education requirements.

A six-month extension for the continuing education requirement may be granted by the Board if the nurse has suffered a hardship. Documentation of course completions should be retained for four years.

Required Alzheimer's Disease Training

Effective August 1, 2019, every nurse has to complete one hour (per career) of CEU training regarding Alzheimer’s disease. RI LAW

Trainings for Treating or Managing Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) reminds Rhode Island prescribers of the US Congress’ new one-time requirement that went into effect on June 27, 2023, requiring any new or renewing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners, with the exception of veterinarians, to complete at least eight hours of education on the treatment or management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorder. Any new or renewing DEA registrants, upon submission of their application, are required to fulfill at least one of the following:

  • A total of eight hours of training from certain organizations* on opioid or other substance use disorders for practitioners renewing or newly applying for a registration from the DEA to prescribe any Schedule II-V controlled medications; or
  • Board certification in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Board of Addiction Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Association; or
  • Graduation within five years and status in good standing from a medical, advanced practice nursing, or physician assistant school in the US that included successful completion of an opioid or other substance use disorder curriculum of at least eight hours.

Prescribers can fulfill the requirement with the completion of a single, eight-hour course or multiple courses or activities totaling eight hours.

DEA-registered and new medical practitioners must fulfill this new training requirement before starting the process of renewing or completing an initial DEA registration.

National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Annual Pass Rates

The NCLEX is a national licensure examination that graduates take in order to become registered as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse. The NCLEX pass rate is the percentage of graduates who successfully passed the examination for the first time over the number of graduates who applied to take the examination. The Board of Nursing evaluates the nursing programs based on the annual pass rates of the nursing program. The data is collected from January 1 to December 31.

  2016-2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Licensed Practical Nurse              
CCRI 90.00% 90.63% 90.00 % 83.02% 95.38% 93.75% 88%
Lincoln Technical Institute 81.51% 84.09% 86.36% 81.66% 71.92% 77.43% 85%
New England Institute of Technology             100%
Registered Nurse              
CCRI 82.27% 89.22% 84.58% 82.52% 86.63% 83.68% 75%
New England Institute of Technology 100.00% 94.87% 93.02% 83.19% 80.18% 75.21% 85%
Rhode Island College 96.27% 97.69% 98.39% 96.15% 90.41% 82.31% 92%
Salve Regina 84.06% 87.14% 85.14% 95.52% 79.69% 69.62% 88%
University of Rhode Island 90.78% 89.31% 91.48% 90.29% 85.89% 81.41% 93%

Topics for Nurses

Screen all patients and caregivers.

  • Check a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and ask the patient about previous naloxone use.
  • Check Rhode Island’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for clinical alerts and evidence of high-dose opioids (i.e., more than 50 oral Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) per day), long-acting opioid use, or opioid use for longer than 90 days.
  • Screen all patients for a history or diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), mental health conditions, respiratory or neurologic conditions that affect breathing, harmful use or misuse of opioids, and/or opioid overdose.
  • Screen patients for use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to treat OUD.
  • Screen all patients to identify use of opioids in combination with benzodiazepines, alcohol, anti-depressants, and/or sedatives.

Educate yourself, patients, and staff.

  • Ask caregivers if they feel comfortable administering naloxone during an overdose in case a friend or loved one is experiencing a bad reaction to an opioid.
  • Tell patients who are taking opioids about the potential for bad reactions that make breathing slow down or stop, leading to an overdose.
  • Emphasize to patients that naloxone is an antidote and can save a life, just like a seatbelt or fire extinguisher.
  • Tell patients and caregivers about what to expect after giving someone naloxone.
  • Include a conversation about the importance of having naloxone on-hand as a standard part of opioid safety messages.
  • Ensure all office staff know where to locate and how to use naloxone in case of an overdose.
  • Review the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and the legal protections under Rhode Island’s Good Samaritan Law.
  • Sign and display these pledges on opioid safety.
  • Print, hang, and distribute educational materials about naloxone.

Promote increased access to naloxone.

  • Join the US Surgeon General and be a role model. Purchase and carry naloxone. Incorporate naloxone co-prescribing in EHRs, office protocols, and electronic prescribing systems.
  • Co-prescribe naloxone to patients who are currently being prescribed syringes and needles.
  • Stock naloxone in the office for emergency use and for direct dispensing to patients.
  • Remind patients and staff that pharmacists can dispense naloxone and bill insurance companies without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
  • If cost is a barrier for patients, help them enroll in a health insurance plan.
Nurses

Register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) . Check the PDMP each time you dispense/prescribe a controlled substance to help prevent fraudulent prescriptions from being filled. This will also help identify suspected pharmacy/doctor "shopping." MORE

Contact us for PDMP support.

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