Riverside School of Professional Nursing is pleased to offer a 2-year Day Division Nursing Program and a 3-year Evening/Weekend Division Nursing Program. The nursing program of study is specifically designed to be concise and meet the needs of a variety of students in a changing contemporary health care environment.

What We Offer

• Two programs leading to a Diploma in Nursing and eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in Virginia.
• A full-time Day Division.
• A full-time Evening and Weekend Division that permits the student to complete most nursing requirements during evening and weekend hours.
• Advanced placement for applicants with prior nursing knowledge/experience.
• Theoretical instruction integrated with clinical experience in our modern, 570-bed medical center.
• Hands-on clinical experience in a variety of settings.
• Financial Assistance.

Curriculum

Prerequisites for the Professional Nursing Program:

• Anatomy & Physiology with Lab: 5-8 semester hours
  
• Microbiology with Lab: 4 semester hours
  
• English Composition: 3 semester hours
  
• General or Introductory Psychology: 3 semester hours
  
• Developmental Psychology: 3 semester hours
  
• General Sociology: 3 semester hours
  
• College Math (100 level or higher): 3 semester hours

• Term One
• RN 205 - Destination Graduation
• RN 215 - Medical Terminology for Clinical Application
• RN 225 - Fundamental Nursing Skills I
• RN 235 - Basic Nutrition for Nurses
• RN 240 - Nursing Principles
• RN 250 - Dimensional Analysis
• Term Two
• RN 236 - Diet Therapy
• RN 245 - Basic Pharmacology for Nurses
• RN 255 - Pathophysiology
• RN 260 - Health Assessment
• Term Three
• RN 265 - Gerontological Nursing
• RN 270 - Adult Health Nursing I
• RN 275 - Maternal Newborn Nursing
• Term Four
• RN 305 - Leadership and Management
• RN 330 - Adult Health Nursing II
• RN 335 - Child Health Nursing
• Term Five
• RN 350 - Adult Health Nursing III
• RN 355 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• RN 360 - Fundamental Nursing Skills II
• Term Six
• RN 365 - NCLEX (c) Review
• RN 370 - Issues and Trends
• RN 375 - Senior Seminar
• RN 385 - Role Transition

Nursing courses provide an early emphasis on Nursing Leadership, Health Promotion, and Nursing skills. Students learn to use the nursing process, think critically, collaborate, and become a leader in the delivery of nursing care.

Planned clinical learning experiences take place in acute and long-term inpatient settings as well as in a variety of community settings, such as community mental health, schools, work places, homes, and clinics, where individuals, families and communities have health needs.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better; or a GED certificate.
• High school Chemistry - Grade "C" or above.
• A minimum of 10 semester credit hours of the required college level courses must be completed with grades of "C" or above, before you may apply.
• Satisfactory score on the Nurse 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
• Copy of current state license if you are an LPN.
• 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.

Evening/Weekend Program

The Evening/Weekend Division offers an option not found in most nursing programs. It is a 3 year program which permits the student to complete most of the nursing requirements during evening and weekend hours. Learning experiences will be the same or similar to those provided in the Day Division. Students enrolled in this division are subject to the same school policies and course requirements as day students. The prerequisite nursing support courses must be completed prior to entering.

LPN to RN Fast-Track Articulation Program

This program allows the LPN licensed in the state of Virginia to advance more quickly through the School of Professional Nursing.  Students must apply and be accepted into the RN program before beginning the articulation program.  After acceptance, students take an 8-10 week LPN to RN bridge course.  Upon successful completion of the bridge course, students will only be required to complete the senior level of the RN program (12 months for the Day Division or 18 months for the Evening/Weekend Division).

Educational Facilities

The School of Health Careers is located at 316 Main Street, Newport News, VA. The campus features faculty offices, classrooms, clinical skills laboratories, student services, computer labs, a health sciences library, a student cafe', and an alumni meeting room. 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.

Riverside Regional Medical Center, where students have a large portion of their clinical experience, is a modern, 570-bed facility. This medical center provides students with experience in specialties such as medical-surgical care, orthopedics, neurology, operating room, obstetrics, pediatrics, critical care, and psychiatry.

Opportunities for geriatric, psychiatric, and rehabilitation nursing are offered at near by The Gardens at Warwick Forest and Riverside Rehabilitation Institute. 

How to apply

Download, complete, and submit the following application package:

• Welcome Letter
• Application
• Admissions Procedure Checklist
• RN Prerequisites
• Essential Program Requirements
• NET Registration Form
• Reference Form (2 required)
• Tuition and Financial Aid Information 
  
•  Note: In order to view this file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available for free from the Adobe web site.

Accreditation

The School of Professional Nursing is:

• Approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing
• Accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
• Member of the Assembly of Hospital Schools of Nursing, American Hospital Association

Riverside Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO)

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.