The first few months of the program are devoted to classroom instruction with a gradual introduction to client care. This is designated as the preclinical period. The remaining months, or clinical period, is spent in a variety of health care settings with correlated classroom instruction. 

 Admission Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better is highly recommended; or a GED certificate.
• Satisfactory score on the PSB Entrance Test. ($35.00 non-refundable fee required)
• Must be able to meet essential requirements of the program.
• Two satisfactory Professional or Academic Reference Forms. Current or past employees of Riverside Health System will be evaluated for job performance and eligibility for rehire.
• Official TOEFL results if English is your second language. Minimum score of 550 (paper) or 79 (Internet-based)
• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens by birth must provide immigration or citizenship documentation.
• Essay
• Recommendation from Dean/Director of any nursing schools you have attended in the past.
• Satisfactory interview (for applicants meeting above requirements).

Admission is on a competitive bases. Riverside School of Health Careers reserves the right to select those applicants who are deemed best qualified for both the program of study and potential employment by Riverside Health System.

A complete physical, immunizations, and CPR certification are required prior to beginning nursing courses.

Advanced Placement/Transfer Credit

Academic:

• Applicants requesting advanced placement/transfer credit considerations for courses taken at other accredited educational institutions must submit an official transfer evaluation request/fee and course catalog.
• The applicant must provide an official transcript and a copy of the course syllabi for each request.
• Only courses successfully completed with a grade of at least 80 within three years of the application date will be considered.
• A reference from the director or advisor of the previous school is required for evaluation of the request.
• The admission entrance requirements for the individual program must be met.

Educational Facilities

The School of Health Careers is located at 316 Main Street, Newport News, VA. Faculty offices, classrooms, clinical skills laboratories, student services, computer lab, Health Sciences Library, student cafe', and alumni meeting room are conveniently located at the campus location at 316 Main Street. The Computer Learning Lab offers a generous number of computers and computer-assisted instruction. Students use these programs to reinforce nursing concepts and clinical skills during day, evening, and weekend hours. The clinical skills laboratories offer advanced technology, and the Health Sciences Library has a wide selection of professional books and periodicals.

As part of the Riverside Health System, the School of Health Careers operates in association with Riverside Regional Medical Center, a state-of-the-art health system serving the area's 400,000 residents. With 570 beds and a medical staff of more than 350, Riverside Regional Medical Center offers 35 specialty practices and expansive medical services. 

The medical center houses a regional Cancer Treatment Center; a Heart Center with a full spectrum of services from emergency care, diagnostics and delicate heart surgery to three stages of Cardiac Rehabilitation; and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center. The Riverside Emergency/Trauma Center, a Level II facility, responds to more than 58,000 emergencies each year. Riverside New Foundations, an outpatient substance abuse treatment center has one of the finest reputations in eastern Virginia and has cared for thousands of citizens. 

In addition, our affiliated healthcare institutions include our nationally recognized Hospice Program, fully-computerized laboratory, Home Health Agency and Diabetes, Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Neurosurgery, Dialysis, Pediatrics, One-Day Surgery, Convalescent Centers and Sleep Disorders specialty units. With Wellness as a major focus in today's health care, Riverside takes the lead in Wellness promotion with Positive Life Style programs, Wellness Centers and community education. 

Riverside Health System covers the healthcare needs of more than a quarter of a million people each year. The finely-tuned combined effort of our 6,000-plus employees position Riverside to maintain its leadership and reputation for quality well into the 21st century. 

Students in the Riverside School of Health Careers also have the opportunity for learning experiences in selected areas of other Riverside facilities as well as in community based agencies.

Accreditation

Approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Curriculum Plan

1st Period- 12 Weeks- Preclinical

	Subject	Hours
	Orientation	4
	Medical Terminology	8
	Anatomy	80
	Growth & Development	15
	TPC I	30
	Nursing Foundations I (Concepts/Skills)	152
	Nutrition	34
	Total Theory	323
	Clinical Hours	10
	Clinical Related	12
	LEVEL TOTAL	345

2nd Period- 12 Weeks- Preclinical/Clinical

	Subject	Hours
	Pharmacology	65
	Nursing Foundations II	90
	TPC II	40
	Gerontology/Geriatrics	24
	Total Theory	219
	Clinical Hours	140
	Clinical Related	25
	LEVEL TOTAL	384

3rd Period- 12 Weeks- Clinical

	Subject	Hours
	Obstetrics	30
	Pediatrics	25
	TPC III	45
	Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing	23
	Total Theory	123
	Clinical Hours	245
	Clinical Related	25
	LEVEL TOTAL	393

4th Period- 7 Weeks- Clinical

	Subject	Hours
	TPC IV	27
	Employment Skills	4
	NLN Test	8
	Total Theory	39
	Clinical Hours	84
	Clinical Related	35
	Preceptorship	80
	LEVEL TOTAL	203
	Seminars & related classroom	64
	Clinical Related (Includes Community Resources, Clinical Conferences, Clinical Labs, Workshops, & Computer Lab	35
	PROGRAM TOTAL- Theory: 766 Clinical:658	1424

How to apply

Download, complete, and submit the following application packet:

• Welcome Letter
• Application
• Admissions Procedure Checklist
• Preadmission Test Registration
• Essential Program Requirements
• Reference Form (2 required)
• Tuition and Financial Aid Information Sheet

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Disclaimer

Riverside School of Health Careers provides educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental condition(s) so long as the condition(s) do not limit the applicant's ability to perform essential functions of a student with or without reasonable accommodations. An individuals qualifications must meet the established criteria for admission to the selected program of study.

Riverside Health System is committed to making its educational programs available to individuals with mental or physical disabilities to the fullest extent practicable. However, admission to an educational program sponsored by Riverside health Systems does not necessarily indicate that the individual will be capable of performing all the essential functions of the particular job or jobs for which that educational program is preparing. If accommodations are provided by the school, this does not necessarily mean future employers will be able to accommodate. Please read the essential program requirements.

The information contained in this website is informational only, and not intended to be contractual in nature.  We reserve the right to change or alter any statements herein without prior notice.