The Associate of Science Degree prepares graduates to move directly into beginning nursing positions in hospital acute-care facilities, extended-care facilities, and in other structured health care settings. Nursing education includes extensive hands-on experience in the clinical area. Clinical nursing courses may include a week or weekend day clinical, simulation, in addition to two evening theory classes each week. Students may be assigned to clinical agencies within a 60-mile radius of the University.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Associate of Science Degree Program in Nursing are prepared to function as beginning practitioners in structured health care agencies using established protocols. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and are prepared to:
- Provide patient-centered, priority-based nursing care with sensitivity and respect for the diversity of the human experience through application of the nursing process;
- Demonstrate effective use of technology and standardized practices that support safe practice;
- Base individualized care based on best current evidence, patient values, and clinical experience;
- Apply technology and information management tools to support patient care and to evaluate impacts on patient outcomes;
- Function as a member of the health care team, utilizing moral, ethical, and humanistic principles;
- Recognize that nursing and other health professions are part of systems of care and care processes that affect outcomes for patients and their families.
TRANSFER POLICY
In the absence of a transfer articulation agreement with the transferring institution, students must complete at least half of their nursing courses at Rivier University. Nursing specialty courses taken at another institution must be reviewed in detail by the Program Director or Division Dean for equivalency before transfer credit can be granted. Students should be prepared to provide a course syllabus for nursing courses they wish to transfer.
PROGRESSION/RETENTION REQUIREMENTS
- Receive a minimum grade of 2.67 (B-) in any nursing course;
- Receive a passing clinical evaluation in each nursing course with a clinical laboratory component. A notation of failure in the clinical laboratory component of a nursing course will result in a grade of F for the course;
- Receive a minimum grade of 2.67 (B-) in science courses;
- Receive a passing grade in each of the required general education courses;
- Attain a 2.67 grade-point average at the completion of each semester;
Any student who fails to meet the Division of Nursing requirements in any required course must repeat that course. Students are not allowed to take any challenge or CLEP examinations for a course for which they did not meet the minimum required grade.
Please see the Nursing Student Handbook for more detailed information.