Department of Nursing and Health Professions

Exceptional Pass Rates

• Graduates of Rivier’s BSN program who sat for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) from 2020-23 achieved an average pass rate of 93.81% for first-time test takers. During that same period, the national BSN average pass rate was 84.38%, putting Rivier students well above graduates of other colleges and universities.
• From 2020-23, the average first-time pass rate for ASN students was 85.40%, above the national ASN average of 84.38%.
• The Rivier University combined 2021, 2022 and 2023 ANCC pass rate for first-time candidates for Family Nurse Practitioner track was 95.83%, exceeding the overall ANCC first-time candidate pass rate of 85.66%.
• The Rivier University combined 2021, 2022 and 2023 ANCC pass rate for first-time candidates for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track was 97.06%, exceeding the overall ANCC first-time candidate pass rate of 89.82%.

View the Undergraduate Nursing Program Outcome Data,  Graduate Nursing Program Outcome Data, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Outcome Data.

View the Division of Nursing and Health Professions Competencies and Program Outcomes.

View the Undergraduate Health Science Program Outcomes, Undergraduate Public Health Program Outcomes, and the Master of Public Health Program Outcomes.

State-of-the-Art Nursing Education Facilities

Completely renovated in 2022, Rivier’s Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center provides state-of-the-art educational resources for nursing students. Center features include six simulation labs and assessment areas, two classrooms, a lecture hall, a suite of nursing administrative and faculty offices, and several areas for faculty-student collaboration. Simulation labs mirror the settings in which nurses most often provide care: medical/surgical and pediatric/neonatal hospital rooms, an obstetrics room, examination rooms, and telehealth offices. Designated labs accommodate undergraduate nursing, public health, and advanced nurse practitioner training.

The Center’s simulation resources and technology enhance student preparedness through a focus on hands-on learning. While all clinical nursing courses include simulation, students also have the opportunity to participate in supervised clinical experiences.

Simulated Experiences

Simulation is an educational strategy that re-creates real-life situations and allows the participant to develop or enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will prepare the student to deal with actual patient issues.

The simulation experience provides students with a safe environment that supports the development of reasoning, critical thinking, and judgment skills. All clinical nursing courses include simulation utilizing our family of high-fidelity mannequins from infant to adult. Our physical assessment and nursing skills simulation laboratories are equipped with a wide array of patient examination equipment, including SIM Man, SIM baby, SIM Kid, and Noelle, the birthing simulator. Labs offer interactive learning systems, where students can gain hands-on experience on campus.

Clinical Experiences

The hallmark of all of the University’s nursing programs is the faculty-supervised clinical experience in hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the greater Boston and central New England regions. These experiences combine instructor-directed and independent learning to develop procedural skills and enhance the clinical decision-making process throughout the students’ academic endeavors.

Guided by Industry Leaders

Our faculty consists of highly qualified and experienced nurse educators and practitioners who share their expertise and perspective with students and help them find their niche in nursing.

Rivier’s faculty have been recognized for excellence by a number of agencies and organizations. They also hold key leadership roles in regional and national organizations, such as the NH Nurse Practitioner Association, NH Nurses Association Government Affairs Commission, Association of Public Health Nurses, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.

Industry professionals serve on the Nursing and Public Health Advisory Councils providing guidance and insight into the development of academic programs that meet the needs of healthcare in the 21st-century workforce.

A Commitment to Quality

Rivier University’s ASN, BSN, MSN, Post Master’s Certificates, and DNP programs located in Nashua, NH are accredited by the 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 nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
• The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the baccalaureate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
• The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
• The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the post master’s certificates nursing programs is Continuing Accreditation.
• The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the doctoral nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

As part of ongoing efforts to make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents, the ACEN invites written and oral third-party comments on nursing programs being reviewed for initial or continuing accreditation. The ACEN welcomes comments from interested individuals from the nursing community, students, and graduates as well as the public. Contact the ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (acenursing.org).