Nursing-Registered Nurse (RN)

Overview

The Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ASN) program requires requisite nursing courses and 2 years of focused nursing courses. Upon successful completion of the program and general education coursework, students will earn an ASN degree and will be eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Priority application deadline is December 31 of each year for Fall Semester acceptance; however, students will be accepted on a rolling admission basis until all course slots are full.  

*Please note that applications are CLOSED for Fall, 2020, entrance. Interested students may apply at any time for Fall, 2021, entrance.

Interested students are required to attend a mandatory nursing informational session. Dates are frequently updated on this website. Pre-registration is not necessary; students can simply attend a session.

Update as of 04/08/20: Due to COVID-19, the following changes have occurred:

ATI TEAS testing and Nursing Informational Sessions at RVCC will be postponed through May, 2020.

Please check this site frequently for updates to these issues.

In the interim if you have questions, please view information contained on this website. If you have further questions, click on the light “Request Information” button located on the right side of your screen (if on a computer), or below (if on a mobile device).

Nursing Department Mission

Accreditation Information

Our program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Questions about the status of accreditation for the nursing program should be addressed to:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN),
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org

Admission Requirements

Submission of a competed application packet is the responsibility of each nursing candidate. Candidates will not be considered for admission until all admission requirements have been met. Candidates are notified by March 1 of each acceptance year.

Candidates must complete the college admission requirements and complete all items below to be eligible for admission. It is highly recommended that students prepare and register for the TEAS test (as below) within the year prior to program acceptance to allocate sufficient time for success. The steps below can be performed simultaneously.

Step 1: Attend a nursing informational session (dates are on “Overview” page).

Step 2: Complete a college application (see the blue “Apply Now” box on the right of this page).

Step 3: Submit all high school and college transcripts to the Admissions Department. Official transcripts may be sent directly to:

River Valley Community College
Admissions Department
1 College Place Claremont, NH 03743

Official transcripts may also be sent directly from high school or college electronically to: RVCCAdmissions@ccsnh.edu

Step 4:  Register for and complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) of Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) – www.atitesting.com Students must achieve minimum scoring in the following areas: Reading-73.8; Math-70.0; Science-52.1; English-63.3.

In case an applicant does not pass all 4 areas of the TEAS, the last two consecutive TEAS scores will be considered. Test scores are valid for a period of two years.

The TEAS evaluates the academic ability of prospective RN students. TEAS preparatory materials are available on ATI’s website above and are also available in the RVCC library. TEAS testing dates for RVCC are on ATI’s website. Students may take the TEAS test at any designated testing site (if not at RVCC); however, please designate results to be sent to RVCC if tested at an alternate site.

Step 5: At present, all applicants must possess an unencumbered New Hampshire license as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) by July 1 of program entry.  LNA licensure must remain current and unencumbered throughout program duration. Ancillary licenses (MA, OTA, PTA, EMT, etc.) are not permitted as substitutes for LNA licensure.

NH LNA educational programs are listed here: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/nursing/lna-programs.htm.

Alternatively, candidates are encouraged to reach out to local long-term care facilities, as many offer LNA courses at reduced cost.

Selection Criteria

*Please note that applications are CLOSED for Fall, 2020, entrance. Interested students may apply at any time for Fall, 2021, entrance.

Admission to the nursing program is very competitive. Science courses must have been completed with a grade of “C” or better within the past ten years from the time of acceptance.

Qualified candidates who are not accepted in the selection process may be assigned to a prioritized waiting list-based on the above criteria. Wait-listed candidates may be subsequently admitted if an opening becomes available prior to the beginning of the Fall Semester.

Upon Acceptance

It is understood that acceptance is conditional upon submission of satisfactory evidence in the form of the following documents no later than July 1 of the acceptance year, unless otherwise stated. Accepted applicants are not to submit these documents to the college or nursing department; accepted applicants will receive specific instructions on how to complete and submit these requirements through the college’s approved vendor.

Details of required documentation for accepted students are listed here:

Required Documentation Items

Program Goals

The goal of the nursing program at River Valley is to provide the upcoming workforce with well trained, effective and prepared nurses to care for populations within a community.

Program Statistics

NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Program Completion Rates (within 150% of program stated length time)

Job Placement Rates (Graduates)

Graduate & Program Outcomes

Graduates of RVCC’s Associate in Science in Nursing Program will be able to:

• Provide safe, patient centered care using clinical judgement and evidence-based research.
• Direct nursing care that optimizes patient healthcare experience.
• Demonstrate ethical, legal and professional behaviors along with a quest for life-long learning and continuous self-improvement.

Program Outcome Details:

• The first-time pass rate for RVCC nursing graduates is equivalent to, or exceeds the national pass rate for first-time test takers who are graduates of associate degree nursing programs.
• Eighty percent (80%) of students will graduate from the RVCC Nursing Program within 3 years of the initial admission into the program.
• Within six months of graduation from the RVCC nursing program, 90% of graduates will be employed as Registered Nurses.

Revised 03/2020

The RVCC Associate in Science Nursing Handbook can be found in the hyperlink below, and is updated every summer.

2019-2020 ASN Handbook