Nursing at Providence College Home
Nursing at Providence College
Grounded in the liberal arts and embedded in Providence College’s Catholic and Dominican tradition, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides an innovative and rigorous academic curriculum that encompasses theoretical and clinical coursework leading to evidence-based nursing practice.
With a focus on students’ personal and professional growth, our nursing curriculum fosters critical thinking and decision-making abilities, along with the technically advanced knowledge and skills needed to be successful as registered nurses practicing in diverse healthcare settings.
Under the direction of highly qualified, experienced, and cross-disciplinary faculty, students will complete a variety of required courses in the nursing program and choose electives from several other disciplinary fields. Carefully chosen clinical experiences at prominent local, regional, national, and international healthcare settings will prepare students to care for patients and families in ways that promote human dignity and flourishing.
DEGREE PROGRAM
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers a premier education in nursing. The major requires 22 nursing and health science courses for 76 credits. This includes nine clinical experiences for 35 credits. Additional courses will fulfill the college’s core curriculum, including the Development of Western Civilization, as well as nursing proficiencies and core requirements. Coursework is designed to provide an innovative educational experience for students and graduates to share the global mission of Providence College with the world community and its diverse populations.
Spanish Minor for Health Professions
A minor in Spanish Minor for Health Professions is offered to students within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and students in complementary disciplines like biology or social work. The coursework provides a combination of language and culture studied through didactic classes along with immersive “real world” opportunities in community-based medical settings where there will be significant interaction with patients and health care professionals. This blended experience will have a transformational impact on students, and the patients, families, and communities they will serve.
CLINICAL PARTNERSHIPS
Boston Children’s Hospital
Clínica Esperanza
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
House of Hope
Rhode Island Free Clinic
Rhode Island Hospital
The Miriam Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital
SAMPLE COURSES
Complex Nursing Problems
Equity in Healthcare
in the Community with Clinical
Maternal Newborn Nursing with Clinical
Medical Surgical Nursing I & II with Clinical
Microbiology for the Health Professional with Lab
NCLEX Exam Prep
Pediatric Nursing with Clinical
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing with Clinical
Public Health Nursing & Health Promotion
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Participate in service-learning initiatives while earning credit toward your degree
Experience global perspectives in healthcare while studying abroad
Engage in clinical healthcare in the vibrant Providence and Rhode Island healthcare community
Facilities
Last fall, the college broke ground on the permanent home of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences — the Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences. PC has hired SLAM, the same architectural firm that designed the award-winning Science Complex and the Ruane Center for the Humanities, to develop the 125,000-plus sq. ft. building. The design features the latest teaching-learning, research, and innovation facilities and equipment. You can view ongoing updates to the building design and artist renderings on our Future Home page.
Prior to the opening of the new building in January of 2025, students will take labs and classes on the newly renovated fourth floor of the Feinstein Academic Center. This new space includes advanced patient simulation and anatomy and physiology laboratories with augmented and virtual reality immersion. In addition to state-of-the-art labs, the newly redesigned facility features tutoring and study spaces, faculty offices, and additional resources to support student success inside and outside of the classroom. Below are sample architectural renderings of the new classrooms and labs.
STATEMENTS AND DISCLOSURES
The nursing program at Providence College has received Initial Approval from the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education. Upon graduation of the first nursing class in May 2027, we are eligible to submit for approved status.
Eligibility for Licensure as a Registered Nurse
Any applicant for initial licensure as a registered nurse who has a criminal conviction(s) and/or past or pending disciplinary action against a professional/trade/license/certificate should contact the Board of Registration in Nursing in the state in which he/she plans to practice to determine if his/her court record or disciplinary action will be a barrier to eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse. Please note: a previous court conviction does not automatically preclude someone from eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse. However, if someone falsifies a statement concerning a felony or misdemeanor conviction on the license application, and it is later discovered, the individual could be denied from practicing in nursing for the remainder of his/her life.
Professional Nursing Licensure Disclosure
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at Providence College has initial approval by the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration. The BSN Program is in compliance with 216 RICR-40-05-3, Title 216 – Department of Health, Chapter 40 – Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation, Subchapter 05- Professional Licensing, Part 3 – Licensing of Nursing and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs. and will prepare students to take the national licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Individuals graduating from the program will meet the requirements for licensure in the state of Rhode Island and will be able to take the NCLEX-RN®.
Passing the NCLEX-RN® is a requirement for licensure in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Additional licensure requirements may vary widely from state to state including, but not limited to, the number of required clinical hours, specific coursework, documentation verifying citizenship (i.e. social security number) as well as criminal background checks/fingerprinting. Providence College has not yet made a determination of whether the nursing program’s curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure in the remaining 49 states, District of Columbia or U.S. territories.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the agency in the state in which they wish to pursue licensure to determine/confirm whether Providence College’s BSN program meets the requirements for professional licensure in that state.
To obtain the contact information for the nursing professional licensing boards or to review your state’s licensure requirements, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Providence College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2026. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Immunization Requirements
Students in the Providence College School of Nursing & Health Sciences with clinical placements must confirm vaccination and/or bivalent booster requirements with the Director of Clinical Education. Students who are in clinical courses are required to have the primary COVID-19 vaccine and booster or single bivalent vaccine.
Visit this page for more information about the State of Rhode Island regulations.