Professional Nursing

Riverside is proud to offer:

The Professional Nursing program leads to either an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Upon completion of either degree program, graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN© (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses).

• Full-time Day – BSN:
  Five, 16-week semesters plus two, 8-week summer sessions (3.5 academic years) - occasional evening or weekend hours may be required.
• Full-time Evening & Weekend – AAS:
  Four, 23-week semesters - occasional day hours may be required.
  
  
• Advanced Placement Option for qualifying LPNs in both BSN and AAS programs - View our LPN-to-RN page for more information
• Theoretical instruction integrated with laboratory simulations and clinical experience
• Hands-on clinical experience in our modern medical center and a variety of affiliated clinical sites
• Association with Riverside Health Career Planning services for current students and alumni.
• Financial aid for students who qualify

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS)

General Education Course Requirements - (Accelerated Transfer Track ONLY*)

Prerequisite College Courses/Credits 

The following courses must be completed prior to application submission:
Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab - 4 Credits
English Composition - 3 Credits
Developmental Psychology - 3 Credits
Chemistry with Lab - 4 Credits**

**Also accepted: 1 unit of high school or college-level chemistry verified before application to the core program, CLEP or 100-level chemistry course, job-related chemistry, developmental courses in chemistry, or chemistry-related courses from military education. Geneva-Portage courses may also be taken to meet the admissions requirement – CHEM 103, CHEM 104, or CHEM 121 but these are NOT ELIGIBLE for financial aid.

The following courses must be completed prior to the program start date:
Basic Nutrition for Nursing - 3 Credits

Pre- or Corequisite College Courses/Credits

The following courses may be completed prior to (or) during the program:

Intro to Healthcare or a College Success Course - 1 Credit
Microbiology with Lab - 4 Credits
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab - 4 Credits

(all must be complete before progressing to Level 2 nursing core courses)

*Traditional track students may take ALL above listed, non-transferred general education courses online from RCHS through the college’s partnership with Geneva College / Portage Learning. View our Pre-Nursing page for more information. 

 

Additional Requirements for AAS and BSN:

Pre-Admission Testing Requirements (AAS & BSN)

• ATI TEAS Suggested Score: 66.1% or higher
  
  
• Average Accepted ATI TEAS Score: 74.6%

Program Recommendations (AAS & BSN)

• Cumulative College-level GPA of 3.0 or better is recommended due to the competitive nature of admissions.
  
  
• Average Accepted GPA: 3.20

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

General Education Course Requirements - (Accelerated Transfer Track ONLY*)

Pre-Application General Education Course Requirements

The following courses must be completed prior to application submission:
Anatomy and Physiology I with lab - 4 credits
English Composition I - 3 credits
General or Intro to Psychology - 3 credits
Medical Terminology - 3 credits
Nutrition - 3 credits

Chemistry with Lab - 4 Credits**

**Also accepted: 1 unit of high school or college-level chemistry verified before application to the core program, CLEP or 100-level chemistry course, job-related chemistry, developmental courses in chemistry, or chemistry-related courses from military education. Geneva-Portage courses may also be taken to meet the admissions requirement – CHEM 103, CHEM 104, or CHEM 121 but these are NOT ELIGIBLE for financial aid.

The following courses must be completed prior to the program start date:
Anatomy and Physiology II with lab - 4 credits
English Composition II - 3 credits
Microbiology with lab - 4 credits
College Algebra - 3 credits
Developmental Psychology - 3 Credits

Pre or Co-Requisites General Education Course Requirements

The following courses may be completed prior to (or) during the program:

Social Sciences Elective - 3 credits
Speech and Communications Elective - 3 credits
Fine Arts and/or Humanities Elective - 6 credits

*Traditional track students may take ALL above listed, non-transferred general education courses online from RCHS through the college’s partnership with Geneva College / Portage Learning. View our Pre-Nursing page for more information.

 

Additional Requirements for AAS and BSN:

Pre-Admission Testing Requirements (AAS & BSN)

• ATI TEAS Suggested Score: 66.1% or higher
  
  
• Average Accepted ATI TEAS Score: 74.6%

Program Recommendations (AAS & BSN)

• Cumulative College-level GPA of 3.0 or better is recommended due to the competitive nature of admissions.
  
  
• Average Accepted GPA: 3.20

Visit the College Catalog for a full curriculum breakdown of the different Professional Nursing program tracks.

PROGRAM APPROVED BY:

• Virginia Board of Nursing Perimeter Center
  9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
  Henrico, VA 23233-1463
  804-367-4515

PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY:

Please note formal notification of the action taken by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in response to the Fall 2022 visit at its meeting in April 2023. The Board of Commissioners granted continuing accreditation to the associate program and scheduled the next evaluation visit for Fall 2030.

The Associate degree, Professional Nursing program at Riverside College of Health Sciences at 316 Main Street located in Newport News, Virginia, is accredited by the following:

• 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 degree, Professional Nursing program is Initial Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs.

LICENSURE:

• Program graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN© (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). Application to the Board is a student responsibility and includes additional fees. Additional information may be obtained from:

Virginia Board of Nursing Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
804-367-4515, http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Nursing
RCHC Licensure Disclosure Information

INSTITUTIONAL CERTIFICATION:

• Certified by the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) to operate in Virginia.
  SCHEV
  101 N. 14th Street James Monroe Building
  Richmond, VA 23219
  804-225-2600, www.schev.edu

INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION:

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
  6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 730
  North Bethesda, MD 20852
  703-917-9503, www.abhes.org

RIVERSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IS ACCREDITED BY:

• DNV GL - Healthcare
  400 Techne Center Drive Suite 100
  Milford, OH 45150
  www.dnvglhealthcare.com

Professional Nursing – AAS and BSN

Credit-hour based associate and bachelor’s degree program options:
Accelerated Transfer Track Tuition (Core only) information provided below – see College Catalog for Full Traditional Track Tuition information and program curriculum plans.

$300 per Portage / Geneva General Education credit
$350 per RCHS GEN General Education credit
$475 per NUR Nursing core credit
$300 per NSG Nursing core credit

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – 51 core credits

Total Tuition: $24,100
Total Fees (post enrollment): $4,200

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – 75 core credits

Total Tuition: $32,075
Total Fees (post enrollment): $5,250

Other associated costs:
• Application & Pre-Enrollment Fees
• External Service Provider Fees (i.e. CastleBranch, CPR)
• Book estimate $1,435
• Uniform & shoe estimate $150
• Supplies estimate $120
• Credentialing Exam estimate $430
• ATI Launch Program (if assigned) $250

See the College Catalog for a full description of all Fees & Expenses per program.