Rivier College

RedSox33RN · Mar 21, 2006

I'm a current student at Riv in the nursing program. I love it there. Yeah, it's pricey, but I feel I'm getting a great education. Because it is such a big nursing program (I think over 500 students between the ADN, BSN and MSN programs, day and evening), there are a lot of clinical sites. The woman who schedules the clinical sites for students does a great job of placing you nearest your home, as best she can. For instance, due to where I live, I know I'll not be placed in any of the Mass. clinical sites.

I think it is a highly respected program - now. Apparently a few years ago there was a below-avg rate of students passing the NCLEX, but the whole program has been revamped. An 80 or above is required for ALL nursing classes and science classes. It used to be a C or better for sciences, but with the increase in both, the NCLEX rate is now 100% for the past couple of years.

SarahLovesNovember, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2006

Thank you very much for your response. I'm excited about getting into this program. I have talked with the admissions counselor and she said my chances look good to get into the program. Are you in the ADN or BSN program? What year are you in and do you know if you get to choose where you do your clinicals or preceptorship? Do they offer NICU? Thanks so much!

RedSox33RN · Mar 24, 2006

I'm in the ADN program, but the great thing about Riv's program is that even if you are in the BSN program, you are awarded an ADN, because part of the requirements for graduation of the BSN program is that you have passed the NCLEX. So you can also work as an RN while getting your BSN if you'd like.

I'm finishing up my first year, in Med/Surg 1 now. I'll graduate next year with my ADN.

You don't really get to choose your clinicals or preceptor, but Irene (the woman who does the clinical placements, a WONDERFUL woman!) is great about placements for students, especially if you're a commuter. I commute over an hour to get there, and I've always been placed in Nashua hospitals. I know I'll never get placed at ones down in Mass or over toward the coast.

There is no specific course covering NICU, but during the second year, there is a Maternity and Peds rotation, and any NICU time will be done then, but there isn't a clinical rotation in one. I did hear that Peds is a hard rotation to get patients in, because of the fewer number of pediatric patients and that a lot of parents don't want students working on their kids. There is a lot of "doubling-up" of students working with the same pt in that rotation - or so I've heard.

It's really a great program. I hope you hear something soon!

kukukajoo, LPN · Mar 29, 2006

Glad I stumbled on this. I will be sending out my application this week to Rivier. I just dropped in the mail my req to NLN and money order for them to send my scores to them.

Only thing is I have already been accepted at NHCTC-Laconia (I live in Laconia) and not sure if I want to commute so much for so long, but.... my goal is to have a bachelors and beyond so we will see. I am at least keeping my options open and seeing what I qualify for aid-wise. They could make me an offer I cant refuse!

SarahLovesNovember, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

For Rivier do you need to take the NLN?

kukukajoo, LPN · Mar 31, 2006

They requested a copy of my NLN scores but I think they also asked if I took the SAT. Their website is www.rivier.edu but I can't find the admissions requirements specific to the Nursing programs.

ncmorris · Mar 31, 2006

Hey Sarah, I too am applying for the Nursing program at Rivier. I just bought the NLN pre exam book. Hopefully it will help. Any suggestions that you or anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck.

kukukajoo, LPN · Mar 31, 2006

The algebra was the toughest for me by far. I found the Chemistry and Biology (science section) was basic and had very little physics in it that were easy for me even though I never had physics. The Algebra, had some complex stuff and fractions and you cant use a calculator. The English portion will be easy if you have good reading comprehension and know proper structure. Some of the vocab words were a bit hard but I still did well. Try to start doing those wordpower things in Readers Digest as some words were not very common. Funny I cant think of ONE now!

I bought the book, but never used it!

Also at NHTI in Concord they have a free study/info session for the NLN you can sign up that gave tips and study materials that I found very helpful!

RedSox33RN · Apr 7, 2006

I had been out of HS for a long time when I got into Riv. They accepted the HS chemistry I took way back when. I also had never taken the SAT's, but did take the NLN exam. I actually took the NLN 2 times, the first being over 10 years ago, and a couple years ago before applying to nursing schools. My first results were much better than the latest one, and thankfully I saved those test results. Riv decided to accept me based on the first results, otherwise I would've had to retake the NLN exam again. I don't know if the exam had changed that much, but I had been hospitalized the 4 previous days before the exam for an acute illness, and I still wasn't feeling well when I took the NLN. Riv was really understanding about that and since I could "prove" I had good results in the past, I didn't have to do it again.

I remember the science portion of the NLN being very difficult (for me, at least) this time around. I thought a lot of it would be medical-type science questions, but I was very, very wrong about that! I must have had 7 or 8 questions on ELECTRICITY! No joking! About how it worked, what an OHM was, etc. I recommend getting a book on the NLN exam, like the poster above did. There were medical/science questions for sure, but it was the chemistry stuff and earth science stuff that really got to me.

Brush up on basic algebra and geometry concepts also. There are NO calculators allowed, so do everything without one. I practiced with a calculator for everything, and I think that really hurt me.

I am not a fast reader, and didn't have enough time during the English portion to answer all of the questions after reading through the articles and stories they have. I would recommend practicing quick reading while understanding the main concepts of an article.

If I think of anything more I'll post it. I think there are a lot of other posts on this site related to NLN exam questions. Good luck!

SarahLovesNovember, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2006

I didn't realize it was such a difficult test! If I took the SAT's 4 years ago, would they accept those in place of the NLN? They said I should apply early fall of this year for the fall 2007 entry. That seems really early but I guess they know best. For the clinicals do they switch up the hospitals on you or do you stay at the same place? Do you get to work as an LNA after the first semester? Thanks everyone!!

RedSox33RN · Apr 7, 2006

I didn't realize it was such a difficult test! If I took the SAT's 4 years ago, would they accept those in place of the NLN? They said I should apply early fall of this year for the fall 2007 entry. That seems really early but I guess they know best. For the clinicals do they switch up the hospitals on you or do you stay at the same place? Do you get to work as an LNA after the first semester? Thanks everyone!!

I *think* Riv requires the NLN also. They didn't require the SAT from me because I'm a non-traditional student. I think most nursing programs require the NLN or some form of pre-nursing entrance exam.

Each clinical you are placed with a different clinical instructor and USUALLY are at a different hospital. I've done clinicals at St. Joe's and SNHMC so far. I know for this summer's psych rotation I'll be somewhere different also. But I very well could be back at one of those hospital's for my Peds/OB rotation in the fall. The woman that does the placements is REALLY good about placing you as close as she can to your home (for commuters). She knows I travel over an hour just to get to Riv, so she wouldn't place me at a hospital in Mass.

When you have successfully completed Nursing 101 (also called Nursing Fundamentals), you can requsition a form from the Nursing Dept stating successful completion. The State of NH will grant you an LNA license based on that form, so you don't need to take a separate course for it. You actually are over-qualified at that point for an LNA license, but you won't be able to pass meds or anything while working as an LNA that you do in clinicals. But it is good for keeping up your skills, while earning a little bit of money AND being able to put it on your resume.