Rivier, what to expect for the first year.

[vampymegs]

Hi, I'll be starting the nursing program at Rivier in Sept of 2010 in the evening program. I was wondering if there were any current or past students that might be able to fill me in a bit on what the program consists of. Our orientation is on the first day of class so a heads up would be fabulous. I am wondering what to expect for a work load, do I need to bring books to lecture (I found in other pre-reqs that it wasn't necessary to bring the books to class). Well, lab would be an exception to this.

I will be in clinicals on Thursday nights, I heard you have to go to the clinic site the day before your actual clinical time, does this happen each Wednesday or only once? How long do they give you to complete a care plan? Are there papers do? I also have heard in other programs they have classes and they arent grouped together in one "Nursing Fundamentals" ... are there subclasses at Rivier? How are the instructors?

I'm sure I have more questions but this will do for now ) Thank you so much in advance.

[lilyteen]

I never brought books to class. As for clinicals, yes you definitely have to go to the clinical site (dressed in a lab coat) to get your patient assignment and to prepare for the next day. You have to go each week to the clinical site the evening before your first clinical day to obtain your patient assignment. I do not know how frequently you must submit a care plan, because this varies depending upon which clinical rotation you are in. Each rotation requires different written paperwork, and again, this varies depending upon the class. The clinical paperwork pertaining to your patients can be very cumbersome in the beginning, but rest assured it is for your learning benefit. You will also need to prepare a medication work sheet for each and every med that you will be administering to your patient. I found this to be time-consuming initially but I considered it a learning experience. The instructors are the best there is! I cannot say enough about how much I adored my instructors - each of them are so different. You do not mention what class you are in, but I am thinking you might be going into Fundamentals. When going for check-off procedures, they put up a schedule which has all the available time slots and then it is first-come first-serve as to who gets what appointment times. Hope this info helps.

[vampymegs]

Thank you so much for all of the information!!! I am starting to see why so many people have told me that it's almost impossible to hold a full time job while going through a program like this, not sure what I will do here ... certainly wont drop the program but if I have to quit my job I'll need to find insurance for me and my girls as well as income for my expenses. I am nerve wracked on that front now oh man ... anxiety sets in .... ugh

I am going to be starting Fundamentals 101. My usual work schedule is 830-530. My boss has already approved my leaving early to get to class as well as leaving early on Thursday for clinicals. I am thinking that I'll have to try it out for the first few weeks and adjust the rest if it's not jiving.

I have heard that the instructors at Riv are fabulous and very helpful, do you find that there is usually a friendly atmosphere on the clinical rotations in regards to the nurses on the floor? Also I remember how tight knit the students were in the pre-req classes, I was wondering if you found the same in your classmates?

[Jw1724]

Nurses on the floor varied greatly between sites. I had good and bad experiences, but mainly good. Most are open to nursing students.

The careplans are usually due the following week after seeing that patient.

[vampymegs]

oh I'm breathing sigh's of relief here! :) thank you !