Nursing@Simmons Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, PMHNP
A note from Simmons University: Registered Nurses, with tuition reduced by 14% and up to $15K in scholarships, you can prepare to become an FNP online with Simmons. Apply today to learn more and join our next cohort. With a 95.9% board pass rate, we aim to provide opportunities to all promising nurses.
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Simmons University offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specializations, with 100% online coursework, one campus immersion weekend, and practicums at approved facilities local to the student. The program is offered both part-time and full-time and is cohort-based, with live, face-to-face classes each week.
The Nursing@Simmons curriculum is designed to develop evidence-based nursing skills along with an emphasis on conducting research. Hands-on skills are fostered through clinical practicums where students live and work. Simmons University works with nursing students to secure clinical sites and preceptors.
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) can diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses, as well as address disease prevention, conduct routine check-ups and health assessments, and direct patient education. The MSN degree covers patients across the lifespan, from infants and children to adults and geriatric patients. FNP graduates may work in hospitals, primary care clinics, urgent care clinics, long-term care facilities, home healthcare situations, government facilities, and schools.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners work with children and adults in mental health settings, addressing mental health issues and disorders, conducting individual, family, and group therapy, prescribing psychotropic medications, and collaborating to create care plans to improve patient quality of life and outcomes. Work settings may include schools, government facilities, hospitals, correctional facilities, rehabilitation programs, and counseling centers.
Simmons University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Nursing@Simmons is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the FNP or PMHNP certification exams to become licensed nurse practitioners. Simmons University is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What to Expect from the Nursing@Simmons Online FNP and PMHNP Programs
Admission Requirements: Applicants to Nursing@Simmons must hold an unencumbered RN license in the United States. Students must have a BSN degree. Online applications must include a current resume, a 1-2 page personal statement, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Proof of English language proficiency is required for students whose first language is not English. No GRE or GMAT is required; however, students may submit test scores if they feel it will strengthen their application. Prerequisites include a 3-credit course in statistics and health assessment with a grade of 83% or higher.
State Restrictions: While Simmons University accepts students from most states into their MSN 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: Terms for the MSN last 12 to 14 weeks. Full-time Nursing@Simmons FNP students complete the program in five terms, or about 19 months, and part-time in seven terms, or about 27 months. An extended plan is also available on an eight-term schedule. PMHNP students can complete the program in 24 months on a full-time basis or 38 months part-time. Courses have about 17 students each, keeping class sizes small for better relationship building and learning. Start dates for the MSN – FNP are offered five times per year in January, March, May, September, and November, while PMHNP start dates land three times per year in January, May, and September. Students move through as cohorts.
MSN Curriculum: The online MSN – FNP program comprises a minimum of 48 credits, and the PMHNP specialization comprises 47 credits. MSN students complete at least 672 clinical hours. Courses include foundational, research, and clinical courses. Courses for both specializations include Advance Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology Across the Life Span I-II; The Health Care System: Interdisciplinary Perspectives; Health Promotion: A Global Perspective; Informatics; and Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span; Research Methods and Scholarly Inquiry I-II.
FNP specialty courses include Family Theory: Health and Illness; FNP I: Primary Care Nursing of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family; FNP II: Primary Care Nursing; FNP III-IV: Primary Care Nursing; Informatics; FNP Clinical Decision-Making I-II; and Immersion and Clinical Qualification course (campus visit). Students also complete a research project which may be a quality improvement proposal, a medical literature critique, or approved individual research.
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-II; and Immersion Weekend (campus visit).
Online Experience: Nursing@Simmons courses are delivered in a live, face-to-face format on a weekly basis. Multimedia assignments and assessments are designed to reinforce the learning at the weekly synchronous sessions and will also prepare students for the next live session. Assignments are interactive and foster student engagement. Should students miss a class or wish to review the lesson, all classes are recorded for 24/7 viewing. Class sizes are kept at a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio to foster more participation and build relationships. Students have access to faculty outside of the live sessions through office hours, email, chat, and phone. Online students have access to 24/7 technical support, academic advising, the online bookstore, online library, and career services.
On-Site Requirements: Simmons NP students are required to come to the Boston, MA, campus for an immersion weekend. During this immersion, students meet their cohort and faculty, which deepens relationships and a sense of community. Students also participate in workshops and seminars that cover several topics, including clinical experience requirements and expectations. FNP students practice suturing techniques and use the Typhon electronic tracking system to log clinical hours and record patient summaries. Students also receive their white coats at the immersion.
Paying for the Nursing@Simmons Online MSN Program
Simmons University charges $1,235 per credit plus fees for the online MSN – FNP and PMHNP programs. Prospective students should contact The School of Nursing and Health Professions through Simmons University for up-to-date tuition information, as tuition costs may rise moderately yearly.
Simmons University offers federal Stafford loans and Graduate PLUS Loans, according to the FAFSA. Students also have the option of an interest-free payment plan. Nursing students are encouraged to inquire with their employers to see if they qualify for a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discounts.
Nursing@Simmons students may also seek outside opportunities to fund their MSN degree. Some organizations to consider are the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation, the State Department of Health and Human Services, Nurses’ Educational Funds, Daughters of American Revolution, the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, Indian Health Service, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the American Association of University Women. Other outside scholarships and grants may be available through community and religious organizations.
The Simmons University MSN-FNP program offers five start dates and three entry points, plus no GRE requirement.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
300 Fenway Road
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
September, November, January, March, May
No
1
48
672
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
None
AL, AK, CA, GA, KS, LA, ME, OR, PR, TN, WA, WV, WY
Program Tuition
48
$1,235.00
$59,280.00
$1,235.00
$59,280.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
January, May, September
No
1
47
672
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
None
None
Program Tuition
47
$1,235.00
$58,045.00
$1,235.00
$58,045.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.