Unparalleled Preparation
- Small classes – personalized learning
- Prepared for two nursing roles
- Eligible for three certification exams
- CCNE accredited
- Accessible and competitive tuition
- Majority of courses available online
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This BSN-to-DNP program prepares you for both the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGACCNS) and Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) roles, allowing you to influence clinical outcomes for adult populations and deliver effective educational experiences in academic and clinical environments. Upon completion, you will be eligible to pursue certification in both specialties. Designed for nurses who hold a BSN and have at least one year of acute care experience, our program allows students to complete the majority of coursework online, studying full-time or part-time.
Students in this program may take the majority of their courses online via the RIC Hyflex model. This model is designed to provide the highest quality education coupled with the flexibility and accessibility needed by adult learners. Synchronous sessions are offered in both in-person and remote formats, allowing students the flexibility to participate in each class in the way that best meets their needs.
A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) prepared through a master’s, doctoral, or post-graduate certificate CNS program. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialists diagnose, prescribe, and manage the care of adult and older adult patients in acute and critical care settings. CNSs improve outcomes through direct patient care, leadership in evidence-based practice, optimization of healthcare systems, and advancement of nursing practice.
Program graduates may sit for both the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Nurse Educator certifications. Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification may be obtained through either the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (ACCNS-AG) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AGCNS-BC).
A Certified Nurse Educator is a nurse faculty member who demonstrates expertise in nursing education through a rigorous national certification process. Nurse educators design, implement, and evaluate nursing education programs across healthcare and higher education settings. Certified Nurse Educators improve outcomes by advancing evidence-based teaching, mentoring future and practicing nurses, strengthening clinical competency, and promoting excellence in nursing education and workforce development.
Program graduates may sit for both the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Nurse Educator certifications. Certified Nurse Educator certification may be obtained through the National League for Nursing (NLN).
Learn more about admissions requirements, courses, retention, program outcomes, and tuition & fees.
Both CNSs and NPs provide advanced clinical care and can diagnose and prescribe, but their focus differs. If you're drawn to working directly with patients over time, an NP path may be the right fit. If you're more interested in improving how care is delivered — influencing nursing practice, leading change, and shaping outcomes at a systems level — the CNS role may be for you.
Most Clinical Nurse Specialist programs require at least a year of acute care nursing experience. This experience is crucial as Clinical Nurse Specialist education builds on practical clinical judgment and problem-solving skills. Prior experience managing complex patients and navigating fast-paced hospital environments is beneficial for success in a Clinical Nurse Specialist program.
Graduates with a nursing education background often transition into academic faculty roles, clinical educator positions in hospitals, or staff development and professional practice roles. Some individuals choose to pursue dual careers, working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in practice while simultaneously teaching or leading education initiatives. This dual preparation provides graduates with a broader range of career options beyond a single career track.
The program’s “education” component encompasses not only theoretical knowledge of teaching but also practical skills such as course design, learner evaluation, simulation, and teaching in both classroom and clinical settings. Typically, a practicum component is included, where students gain hands-on teaching experience, either with nursing students or practicing staff.
Eligibility for certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist is available. While the nursing education component does not mandate a single mandatory certification, graduates with a nursing education background are prepared to pursue credentials such as Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), which aligns with their career goals.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Rhode Island College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
To begin the process you will need to sign up for an account with CollegeNET. Once you have a CollegeNET account, you will be able to log in any time and see your Activity Log which shows you a personalized status page.
We have 30+ full-time faculty teaching in the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing, each with a master's degree in a nursing specialty. 20+ Zvart Onanian School of Nursing faculty are doctorally prepared, and many hold national certifications.
Students of the DNP Program will demonstrate mastery of all of the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) and the AACN (2021) Competencies and level-2 Sub-competencies within the Ten Domains for Nursing, leading to achievement of the following DNP End-of-Program Outcomes:
Rhode Island Nursing Education Center (RINEC) is a Providence-based facility for baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral level nursing instruction for RIC's Zvart Onanian School of Nursing and URI's College of Nursing.