Rivier University nursing students are shown in the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center. Courtesy photo/Rivier University

NASHUA – After an extensive review process, the nursing school at Rivier University has been rated as the top nursing program in New Hampshire by the Nursing Schools Almanac.

During the review, 3,000 schools were assessed using three criteria: academic prestige and perceived value, breadth and depth of nursing programs as well as student success.

Looking at student success, an average of 93 percent of Rivier’s nursing students pass the NCLEX licensure examination the first time. This figure is 13 percent higher than the national average.

“Our nursing faculty have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in nursing education that is reflected in these rankings,” said university President Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM. “Rivier students receive a transformational educational experience at Rivier that equips them to make a profound impact in their communities.”

Rivier’s nursing school was also ranked 10th in New England and 47th in the country. The program offers courses for students pursuing Associate’s Degrees through Doctoral Degrees.

Since 2022, the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center has helped propel students through the program. The state-of-the-art skills lab provides students with the latest technology and training in clinical assessment, community nursing and telehealth services.

“Our state-of-the-art facilities allow our students to develop their clinical skills under the direction of our talented faculty,” said Dr. Paula Williams, dean of the Division of Nursing and Health Professions. “The rankings are a reflection of our ability to prepare nurses to enter the workforce, addressing the existing shortage of healthcare workers in the United States.”

Williams also spoke about the career paths that nursing students take after they complete the program at Rivier.

“Our graduates, at all levels of nursing education, are employed in every New England state and beyond,” she said. “In keeping with the mission of Rivier University, our graduates care for populations in many urban, rural and medically underserved areas throughout the country. Our graduate and doctoral students attend classes online and upon graduation are employed in many prestigious hospitals, clinics, practices and healthcare organizations throughout the country.”