Overview
River Valley Community College’s Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN-RN) Degree requires 2 years of focused education courses, along with co-requisite and general education courses, which may be completed prior to or sequentially with program enrollment.
We offer several pathways toward RN licensure:
1) Traditional ASN-RN Program (4 semesters)
2) For existing LPN’s (see “Current LPN’s) header below for more information.
- LPN-RN Bridge Program
- LPN-RN Direct Entry Program
Program Updates (as of 05/05/22)
Applications are closed for Fall, 2022, ASN and LPN-RN program entry. Interested applicants may apply for Fall, 2023, program entry. Priority application deadlines are as listed below. Click the “Admissions” tab above to apply.
- ASN-RN Program: December 31, 2022
- LPN-RN Bridge Program: February 15, 2023
- LPN-RN Direct Entry Program: March 15, 2023
Why Choose RVCC’s Nursing Program?
- Affordable tuition: $21,000 for entire program (in-state)
- Low faculty-to-student ratios
- In-person education with online components
- Approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON)
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Clinical placements at both critical access hospitals and Dartmouth Health
- 2 geographic options: Claremont and Keene
- 2 new RN pathways for current LPN’s (see “Current LPN’s” below)
Get to Know RVCC Nursing!
Our 2022 virtual informational session dates/times are below. Additional dates to follow.
May 26: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Zoom hyperlink to access these virtual informational session meeting dates is: https://ccsnh.zoom.us/j/9910150758
Can’t make one of these meetings? View our online presentation here: Nursing Informational Session
If you have additional questions, click on the light blue-colored “Request Information” button.
Current LPN’s
Are you an LPN that wants to continue your education? Note our 2 new LPN-RN pathways:
LPN to RN Direct Entry Program:
- For RVCC graduates only who have graduated with LPN certification within 2 years from program entry.
- Two semesters (Fall, Spring)
- Application deadline: March 15 of each calendar year.
- LPN to RN Direct Entry Program link
LPN to RN Bridge Program:
- For LPN’s who have graduated with LPN certification (from RVCC or alternate school) greater than 2 years from program entry.
- 3 semesters (Summer, Fall, Spring)
- Application deadline: Feb 15 of each calendar year.
- LPN to RN Bridge Program link
Additional Program Details
Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the graduate will earn an ASN degree and is eligible to apply to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON) and Pearson VUE Candidate Services for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
RVCC also offers a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program. Details here: RVCC LPN Program Link
Application Process & Details
Step 3: Submit all high school and college transcripts to the Admissions Department. Official transcripts may be sent directly to RVCCAdmissions@ccsnh.edu or via mail to:
River Valley Community College
Admissions Department
1 College Place Claremont, NH 03743
For credits to be considered for transfer into RVCC, you must have achieved a grade of “C” or higher from an accredited institution. All science classes that are transferred into the program must be less than 10 years old.
Step 4: Register for and take the Test of Essential Academic Skill (TEAS) test. Additional TEAS details are below under the “TEAS” heading.
Step 5: Possess current New Hampshire Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) licensure is required by July 1 of program entry year; however, applicants may be eligible to have this requirement waived if they are currently working in Allied Health/possess an equivalent skillset. Additional LNA details are below under the “LNA” heading.
It is highly recommended that students prepare and register for the TEAS test within the year prior to program acceptance to allocate sufficient time for success.
TEAS Testing
The TEAS test is presently offered only online at RVCC due to COVID-19 restrictions. Students must register at least 48 hours prior to a testing date in order to be eligible.
TEAS Registration Instructions:
- Register here: TEAS Registration
- Select “River Valley CC Teas”
- You will need to have free proctoring software installed on your computer prior to testing. Details are here: Proctorio Software and Quick Start Guide
- 2022 TEAS testing dates are as follows (dates added frequently, so please keep checking):
- May 4 & 23
- June 8 & 20
- July 6 & 18
- August 3 & 29
- Estimated cost: $120
LNA Licensure
If you are an applicant and have a skillset that is comparable to an LNA, you may be eligible for a waiver. Please contact RVCCNursing@ccsnh.edu to receive an LNA skills self-evaluation survey/waiver application. If you need to obtain LNA licensure, please see the bottom of this webpage.
Selection Criteria
Submission of a competed application packet is the responsibility of each nursing candidate.
Candidates must complete both college admission requirements and all items above order to be eligible for admission.
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 program entry.
Candidates are ranked numerically by the following scoring criteria at time of application (total of 29 points possible).
Scoring Area #1: TEAS scores: up to 20 points
Reading: 73.8 – 78.6 (1 point); 78.7 – 81.0 (2 points); 81.1 – 83.3 (3 points); 83.4 -85.7 (4 points); 85.8 or greater (5 points).
Mathematics: 70.0 -76.7 (1 point); 76.8 – 80.0 (2 points); 80.1 – 83.3 (3 points); 83.4 – 86.7 (4 points); 86.8 or greater (5 points).
Science: 52.1 – 60.4 (1 point); 60.5 – 64.6 (2 points); 64.7 – 68.8 (3 points); 68.9 – 72.9 (4 points); 73.0 or greater (5 points).
English & Language Usage: 63.3 – 70.0 (1 point); 70.1 – 73.3 (2 points); 73.4 – 76.7 (3 points); 76.8 – 80.0 (4 points); 80.1 or greater (5 points).
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.
Scoring Area #2: Completed science co-requisites: up to 9 points
Anatomy & Physiology I; Anatomy & Physiology II; Microbiology (3 points for each A; 2 points for each B, and 1 point for each C).
Science courses must have been completed with a grade of “C” or better within the past ten years from the time of acceptance.
LNA Information
Need a local Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) course? RVCC now offers LNA courses. Details here: RVCC LNA Program website
Additional New Hampshire Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) educational programs are listed in the hyperlink below. Please note that not all privately-held programs may be listed.
Alternatively, candidates are encouraged to reach out to local long-term care facilities, as many offer LNA courses at reduced cost.
RVCC now offers American Heart Association (AHS) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers courses. Details here: RVCC AHA BLS Course
Upon Acceptance
It is understood that acceptance is conditional upon submission of satisfactory evidence in the form of the required documents (physical examination, vaccinations, CPR course, background check, and drug screening) by college/clinical site deadlines.
Covid and Flu vaccines are mandated by the clinical sites and are therefore required prior to the start of all nursing programs at RVCC.
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.
End-of-Program Student Achievement
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| RVCC Pass Rate | 100% | 100% | 97.5% |
| NH Pass Rate | 96.71% | 95.68% | 96.2% |
| National Pass Rate | 88.29% | 88.18% | 86.6% |
Program Retention Rates (within 100% of the time of the program’s stated length)
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
75% |
81.3% |
86.6% |
Program Retention Rates (within 150% of the time of the program’s stated length)
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
93.5% |
87.5% |
93% |
End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of RVCC’s Associate in Science in Nursing Program will be able to possess competence in the following End-of-Program Outcomes:
1. Patient-Centered Care: Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and a full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for the patient’s preferences, values, and needs.
2. Teamwork and Collaboration: Function effectively within nursing and interprofessional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making to achieve quality patient care. Collaborate with the patient and family using effective communication to develop patient-centered, goal-oriented, culturally appropriate plans of care.
3. Evidence-Based Practice: Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.
4. Quality Improvement: Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care.
Use self-reflection for continuous improvement in professional actions, behaviors, and clinical practice.
5. Safety: Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. Integrate knowledge, judgement, and skills to practice nursing safely and competently within structured health care settings.
6. Informatics: Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
Additional program outcome details are as follows:
- The first-time pass rate for RVCC nursing graduates is equivalent to or exceeds 80% for all first-time test-takers annually.
- 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 08/21
Course Sequencing
First Year: Fall Semester
First Year: Spring Semester
Second Year: Fall Semester
Second Year: Spring Semester
The Associate in Science Degree nursing program at River Valley is approved by the State of New Hampshire as an entry-level nursing education program. Details may be located here:
https://www.oplc.nh.gov/entry-level-programs-registered-nurse
The Associate in Science Degree nursing program at River Valley Community College located in Claremont, New Hampshire, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326; (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN
Board of Commissioners for the Associate in Science Degree nursing program at River Valley Community College is Continuing Accreditation Status through Spring, 2029.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at:
ACEN accredited programs search link
Questions about accreditation should be addressed to ACEN at the address listed above.
The Associate in Science Degree nursing program at River Valley Community College meets the state education requirements for Registered Nurse licensure in the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. River Valley Community College has not determined if the Associate in Science Degree nursing program at River Valley Community College meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Contact the state regulatory agency for nursing in any other state for which this information is needed.
Additional Details
The New Hampshire Board of Nursing’s licensing regulations may restrict candidates who have been involved in civil or criminal legal proceedings. Questions about licensing restrictions should be addressed to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 0330
Eileen Glover
LPNProfessor & Department Chair; Allied Health
Sonya Kuykendall
Faculty | NursingProfessor & Program Director; Nursing, Claremont
Aime Reed
Faculty | NursingAssociate Professor, Program Director & Clinical Coordinator; Nursing, Keene
Denise Ruby
LPN | NursingProfessor & Department Chair; Nursing
Mission
The RVCC Nursing Student Handbook can be found in the hyperlink below, and is updated every summer.
Health Sciences and Services61-63 Credits Required
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate in 2021
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate in 2020
