Any Riverside students?

the six of us · Nov 11, 2008

Hi again...
I have checked out all of the nursing programs in the Tidewater area and aside from MCI, Riverside is the only school that offers evening and weekend programs.
Is anyone here familiar with or attending the Riverside Nursing Program?
Thanks again. :)
katie

I don't know any specifics of Riverside but I know a few people who have taken their program and other programs they offer and have really liked them. I was in the same boat looking for a night and weekend program but I am in the process of going to MCI because I just cant do a 3 year nights program and finish with only a certificate. That was the downside for me. Maybe they will follow suit and reconstruct their programs like Sentara is about to do because you could basically spend a couple more months at Riverside and have the equivalent to a Bachelor degree:bugeyes: I personally would have tried for Sentara (hands down) if they offered a night program closer to me~like the distant learning program they offer in Hampton, but it is only days:o. Sorry for my rambling, I just went through all this when deciding because I HATE to pay MCI but I also didnt want to spend 3 years on a program...and I had to have a night program. I wish you much luck and keep us posted on your decision:D

dettwiller5 · Nov 20, 2008

Hi- I am getting ready to graduate from RIverside's evening/weekend program in a few weeks. What uestions do you have?

Katie1971 · Nov 20, 2008

ok great. :) what do you think of the program? Do you already have a job set up? I guess basically anything you can think of that might be helpful. I have quite a bit of pre-reqs to take but would like to gather as much info from students from each program as possible.

thanks so much for replying. :nuke:

dettwiller5 · Nov 20, 2008

I have been very impressed with the program. No program is perfect but I will have to say that I feel extremely prepared as a new graduate. We had a ton of clinical experience in all units of the hospital. I precepted in the mother/baby unit and had a good experience. I applied to mother/baby and NICU at Riverside and have also applied to the same units at Mary Immaculate. I was just called for an interview for Mary Immaculate and have been keeping in contact with the nurse manager of mother/baby at Riverside. SHe told me to email her the day after graduation. I also applied to some med surg units at RIverside. A couple of people in my class were prehired on CVT. I dont think any of s will have a problem finding jobs.

tessa45 · Nov 23, 2008

Do any of you know the start pay for a new grad at Riverside or Mary Immaculate? Just curious, I imagine they are all pretty much the same. I went to Sentara about a year ago for an open house and was really surprised that they paid more in Hampton & Williamsburg than Norfolk and Va Beach. No more than seventy cents to a dollar, but I was still surprised given the cost of living in each area.

dettwiller5 · Nov 23, 2008

Actually, I do know the pay for both Mary Immaculate and Riverside.

Mary Immaculate:

base pay: 20.90

evening differential: 4.00

night differential: 6.00

weekend differential: .75

Riverside :

base pay: 20.24

evening differential: 3.25

nights: 5.25

weekend: 2.50

VirginiaTransplant · Nov 26, 2008

Hi Katie - Just to chime in, VCI (Virginia Career Institute) also offers a evening program. Or at least they did when I called about it originally. It was LPN only, but the woman on the phone told me they are getting a facility ready in Norfolk to begin a RN program next spring (2009). So you might check there as well. I checked Riversides program and really liked the way it was set up. Unfortunately living on the Norfolk side of the HBT it would be too much of a commute for me

tessa45 · Nov 26, 2008

Somewhere in another post, and it may have been under the student nursing post, someone said the cost of the VCI program was going to be over $40,000!! Ouch!