RI+Nurses+Institute



No one has ever been told becoming a nurse is going to be easy. College freshmen are immediately enrolled into a demanding curriculum. The Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter School located in Providence, prepares 134 aspiring nurses in every aspect of the field. These students are geared to focus in the subject of science and high levels of math. Students must be aware of the possible prolonged semester and grueling hours that can also include summer classes. Therefore, this report is particularly for prospective and current students who plan or are currently attending this school. Because this is one of the first charter schools of its nature, it is currently receiving a lot of recognition from scholars and the community as a whole. Highly recognized nurses have visited and observed the school since its opening in 2011 in hopes that this is the start of a new form of career education. The objective of this charter school is to produce well educated and experienced nurses that will pave the way for other schools similar to this, leading to the expansion of the use of charter schools associated with nursing and career development. Because this school is still developing certain aspects such as student achievement, the faculty within the school, and the surrounding community are continuously being analyzed for their effectiveness. The school is critiqued and judged based upon student proficiency in different subjects and how well these scores are compared to the state of Rhode Island. In order to achieve the highest academic score possible, the school is responsible for providing adequate faculty that have many years of experience and know the most up to date nursing and teaching techniques. The most important aspect to a school is having students to teach. The surrounding community must be cooperative and willing to send their children to this school in order to allow it to have a chance at succeeding. By that the school must meets the needs of the outside neighborhoods especially in financial and extra support ways.
 * Introduction **

As a new school that is highly regarded, it is crucial that the students excel in all aspects of their academics. Compared to the state of Rhode Island, this nursing charter school is considered ‘leading’ according to InfoWorks. Upon evaluation, this charter school was given 74.6 points while Rhode Island as a whole scored 56.0 out of a possible 100 points. These points were given out as an overall score to help determine their classification standings. When 11th graders were measured individually in various subjects, they ranked below the average Rhode Island student. In 2012-2013 academic year, 19% of the students were classified as proficient in math, the state had 34% of its students as proficient. The 15% difference can be seen as a significant margin but does not call for concern yet, due to the charter school's recent opening in 2011. However, in one year the charter school's mathematic scores' increased from 4% to 19% whereas Rhode Island only had a 4% increase during that same year. In regards to reading, the charter school's scores are dramatically increasing (by 21%) whereas Rhode Island is only slightly increasing (by 3%). It is evident that this nursing school is still in the developmental stages but rapidly evolving and preparing their students significantly each year for standardized testing (RIDE, 2012).
 * Student Achievement **

The field of nursing requires an understanding of complex material as well as the ability to apply that material to clinical settings. This nursing charter school provides well qualified instructors who are highly regarded in their designated areas of nursing. They hire college level professors and certified secondary level educators (About Us). In addition, nurse practitioners are hired to teach the more rigorous curriculum and provide advice from their own past experiences (About Us). The instructors work within smaller classes demonstrating techniques and clarifying questions posed by the students. This school offers opportunities such as the option to earn college credits and take part in hands-on experience. Once these students complete the program, they are more likely to be granted acceptance into prestigious universities in hopes of furthering their nursing careers.
 * Faculty **

Providence is known to be the home of many families within the lower socioeconomic status who contribute to the poverty rate of Rhode Island. Over 80% of the students that attend the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter School are eligible for subsidized lunches according to InfoWorks (RIDE, 2012). The state of Rhode Island’s average eligibility for reduced lunches is 46%. This number is so high due to the large amount of students coming from the Providence area. This school does not offer bilingual aid however 6% of the Rhode Island students require this assistance. The nursing institute does, however, offer special education services to the 4% of students that call for this additional help. The success of this school depends on how it accommodates the families of Rhode Island that way students are willing to come to this school and put forth the extra necessities that are required such as longer school days or summer school.
 * Families and Communities **

The Rhode Island Nurses Institute is a work in progress but is clearly being met with high expectations. The school offers a wide variety of opportunities and resources for future nurses to become better acquainted with. The students' rigorous curriculum is constantly developing, therefore the students are expected to maintain high academic standings. These students are taught by the most qualified professors and continuously challenged in and outside the classroom. Although some of these students may be suffering from hardships in their family life, their academics are not as heavily affected because of the amenities provided by the school. The environment of this particular charter school is set up for the students to flourish and develop into working nurses.
 * Conclusion **


 * References **:

// InfoWorks! Rhode Island Education Data Reporting - RIDE.ri.gov //. Accessed November 8, 2013. http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov/school/ri-nurses-institute-middle-college-charter-high-school/accountability/accountability-summary/2012/1.

“About Us.” // About | Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter School //. Accessed November 13, 2013. http://www.tomorrowsnurses.org/about/.