Simmons University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

What to Expect from the Simmons University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: Simmons University uses a holistic review process and considers applicants’ professional, academic, and personal experiences. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must hold a current, unencumbered, and unrestricted U.S. registered nurse (RN) license.

Application requirements for all programs include an online application form, application fee, current resume, personal statement, official transcripts from all institutions attended, and letters of recommendation. If the applicant’s primary language is not English, an English language proficiency exam result is required. The GRE is not required, but applicants who feel GRE scores will strengthen their application may contact an admissions counselor. All programs offer three start dates per year, and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.

MSN–FNP and MSN–PMHNP: Applicants to the MSN programs must have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or a bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, with a preferred GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have successfully completed a three-credit course in statistics within the last seven years with a grade of C+ or better.

Applicants to the post-graduate certificates must have a master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, with a preferred GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have successfully completed advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment with a grade of B or better. For courses not completed at Simmons, a syllabus for each course must be uploaded.

Applicants to the BSN-to-DNP programs must have a BSN or a bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, with a preferred GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have successfully completed a three-credit course in statistics within the last seven years with a grade of C+ or better. There is no professional work experience requirement for the BSN-to-DNP pathway.

Applicants to the MSN-to-DNP programs must have an MSN degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, with a preferred GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have successfully completed a three-credit course in statistics with a grade of C+ or better. Applicants must have completed at least 500 clinical hours in their master’s program. A minimum of two years of professional RN experience is also required.

State Restrictions: While Simmons University accepts students from most states into its nursing programs, students from certain states are not accepted at this time (see the relevant table below for the full list). In addition, applicants outside of Massachusetts should check with their state’s Board of Nursing to understand the practicum requirements for their state.

Study Plan: Simmons University offers flexible full-time and part-time tracks for its online NP programs, with three start dates per year: January, May, and September. All programs are cohort-based and use 14-week terms. Clinical placements are completed in or near the student’s community with support from a dedicated clinical placement team.

The MSN-FNP requires 47 credits and a minimum of 756 clinical hours. Full-time students complete the program in 24 months, while part-time students complete the program in 32 months. The program includes one two- to four-day on-campus immersion.

The MSN-PMHNP requires 49 credits and a minimum of 756 clinical hours. Full-time students complete the program in 24 months while part-time students complete the program in as few as 32 months. The program includes one on-campus immersion.

The FNP post-graduate certificate requires 23 credits and 756 clinical hours. It is offered on a full-time track only and can be completed in as few as 16 months. The program includes a two- to four-day on-campus immersion.

The PMHNP post-graduate certificate requires 27 credits and 756 clinical hours. It is offered on full-time and part-time tracks and can be completed in as few as 16 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time). The program includes a two- to four-day on-campus immersion.

The BSN-to-DNP-FNP requires 83 total credits and includes multiple clinical courses. It can be completed in as few as 32 months full-time or 48 months part-time. The program includes one to two on-campus experiences.

The BSN-to-DNP-PMHNP requires 85 total credits and includes multiple clinical courses. It can be completed in as few as 32 months full-time or 48 months part-time. The program includes one to two on-campus experiences.

The MSN-to-DNP-FNP requires 65 total credits and includes two to three clinical courses. It can be completed in as few as 28 months full-time or 36 months part-time. The program includes one to two on-campus immersions.

The MSN-to-DNP-PMHNP requires 67 total credits and includes two to three clinical courses. It can be completed in as few as 28 months full-time or 36 months part-time. The program includes one to two on-campus immersions.

Curriculum: Simmons University’s NP programs share a common graduate nursing core, then add specialty-specific courses and clinical components. The DNP pathways build on the MSN curricula with additional leadership, research, and systems-improvement coursework. Post-graduate certificates focus on the specialty courses and clinicals required for certification.

MSN Curriculum: Common MSN core courses in all MSN concentrations include advanced pathophysiology; evidence-based practice: informatics; health promotion: a global perspective; role of the advanced practice nurse; advanced pharmacology across the life span; advanced health assessment across the life span; and health care systems and health policy.

MSN-FNP Specialty Curriculum: FNP specialty courses include FNP I: adult gerontology in primary care I; FNP II: women’s health in primary care; FNP III: pediatrics in primary care; family theory: health and illness; FNP IV: adult gerontology in primary care II; FNP V: behavioral health in primary care; research methods; FNP clinical decision making I-III; scholarly inquiry; and clinical placement. The program also includes an immersion and clinical qualification course.

MSN-PMHNP Specialty Curriculum: PMHNP specialty courses include clinical psychopharmacology across the lifespan; neurobiology and differential diagnosis of mental disorders; PMHNP I: psychotherapy across the lifespan; PMHNP II: diagnosis and management; PMHNP III: diagnosis and management; PMHNP IV: SMI and addictions medicine; PMHNP clinical decision making I-III (including psychotherapy); research methods; scholarly inquiry; and clinical placement. The program also includes a PMHNP immersion and clinical qualification course.

DNP Curriculum: Common DNP core courses in all DNP pathways include advanced pathophysiology; epidemiology; health care systems and health policy; health care finance and economics (or health care economics and finance); quality improvement in health care; biostatistics; role of the advanced practice nurse; introduction to nursing leadership; nursing leadership and management (or leadership and change); advanced research methods; advanced nursing leadership concepts; scholarly writing; DNP project seminar I-III; and DNP symposium (FNP or PMHNP). Leadership clinical course I-III (or advanced leadership clinical course III) are included in the BSN-to-DNP pathway.

DNP-FNP Specialty Curriculum: DNP-FNP specialty courses include advanced health assessment across the lifespan; evidence-based practice: informatics; family theory: health and illness; FNP I: adult gerontology in primary care I; FNP II: women’s health in primary care; FNP III: pediatrics in primary care; FNP IV: adult gerontology in primary care II; FNP V: behavioral health in primary care; advanced pharmacology; FNP clinical decision-making I-III; immersion and clinical qualification course; and DNP symposium-FNP.

DNP-PMHNP Specialty Curriculum: DNP-PMHNP specialty courses include advanced health assessment across the life span; evidence-based practice: informatics; clinical psychopharmacology across the lifespan; neurobiology and differential diagnosis of mental disorders; PMHNP I: psychotherapy across the lifespan; PMHNP II: diagnosis and management; PMHNP III: diagnosis and management; PMHNP IV: SMI and addictions medicine; PMHNP clinical decision-making I-III; immersion and clinical qualification course; and DNP symposium-PMHNP.

Post-Graduate Certificate-FNP: The FNP certificate includes FNP I: adult gerontology in primary care I; FNP II: women’s health in primary care; FNP III: pediatrics in primary care; FNP IV: adult gerontology in primary care II; FNP V: behavioral health in primary care; clinical decision-making I-III; clinical placement; and immersion.

Post-Graduate Certificate-PMHNP: The PMHNP certificate includes clinical psychopharmacology across the lifespan; neurobiology and differential diagnosis of mental disorders; PMHNP I: psychotherapy across the lifespan; PMHNP II: diagnosis and management; PMHNP III: diagnosis and management; PMHNP IV: SMI and addictions medicine; PMHNP clinical decision making: psychotherapy; PMHNP clinical decision making II-III; clinical Placement; and immersion.

Online Experience: Nursing@Simmons courses are delivered in a live, face-to-face format on a weekly basis. Multimedia assignments and assessments reinforce learning from the weekly synchronous sessions and prepare students for the next live class. All classes are recorded for 24/7 viewing, so students can review lessons or catch up if they miss a session. Class sizes are kept small at approximately 20 or fewer students per class to encourage participation and relationship-building. Students have access to faculty outside of live sessions through office hours, email, chat, and phone. Online students also have access to 24/7 technical support, academic advising, the online bookstore, online library, and career services, and can access coursework 24/7 at home or on the go through an integrated mobile app.

On-Site Requirements: All Simmons NP students are required to attend at least one two- to four-day on-campus immersion weekend in Boston, Massachusetts. During immersion, students meet their cohort and faculty, deepening relationships and a sense of community. Students participate in workshops and seminars covering topics such as clinical experience requirements and expectations. DNP students also complete a two- to four-day on-campus DNP symposium as part of the curriculum, where they present their scholarly project to faculty, peers, and stakeholders.