Direct Entry MSN-PGC Tracks
Simmons University's Direct Entry nursing program, a full-time, campus-based program, is designed to prepare graduates to become nurse leaders who deliver high-quality, patient-centered, evidence-based care. With a focus on leadership and clinical excellence, the program equips students from non-nursing backgrounds to enter the profession ready to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. This program culminates in both an MSN to become an RN and a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Students are then eligible to sit for their NP certification exam.
Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Term 1
| NURS 401 | Nursing Theory & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 435 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 491 | Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills | 3 |
| NURS 491L | Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills Lab/Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 492 | Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 492L | Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab | 1 |
Term 2
| IPE 450 | Health Care System: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Medical Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult with Acute, Chronic & Complex Conditions | 6 |
| NURS 430L | Medical Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult Clinical | 2 |
| NURS 448 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 448L | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
Term 3
| NURS 436 | Community & Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 436L | Community & Population Health Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 447 | Maternal, Newborn, & Women's Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 447L | Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 449 | Pediatric Nursing: Care of Infants, Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| NURS 449L | Pediatric Nursing Clinical | 1 |
Term 4
Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX after Term 4.
Term 5
MSN RN conferred after completion of Term 5.
| NURS 402 | Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse | 1 |
| NURS 411 | Scholarly Inquiry | 4 |
| NURS 424 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 530 | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 530L | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab | 1 |
Term 6
| NURS 561 | FNP I: Adult Gerontology in Primary Care I | 2 |
| NURS 562 | FNP II: Women’s Health in Primary Care | 2 |
| NURS 563 | FNP III: Pediatrics in Primary Care | 2 |
| NURS 534 | Immersion & Clinical Qualification Course | 1 |
Term 7
| NURS 564 | FNP IV: Adult Gerontology in Primary Care II | 2 |
| NURS 565 | FNP V: Behavioral Health in Primary Care | 2 |
| NURS 510 | FNP Clinical Decision-Making I | 2 |
Term 8
| NURS 511 | FNP Clinical Decision-Making II | 5 |
Term 9
| NURS 512 | FNP Clinical Decision-Making III | 5 |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Track
Terms 1-5 are full-time; students may choose to follow a part-time plan of study after MSN conferral.
Term 1
| NURS 401 | Nursing Theory & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 435 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 491 | Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills | 3 |
| NURS 491L | Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills Lab/Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 492 | Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 492L | Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab | 1 |
Term 2
| IPE 450 | Health Care System: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Medical Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult with Acute, Chronic & Complex Conditions | 6 |
| NURS 430L | Medical Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult Clinical | 2 |
| NURS 448 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 448L | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
Term 3
| NURS 436 | Community & Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 436L | Community & Population Health Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 447 | Maternal, Newborn, & Women's Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 447L | Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
| NURS 449 | Pediatric Nursing: Care of Infants, Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| NURS 449L | Pediatric Nursing Clinical | 1 |
Term 4
Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX after Term 4.
Term 5
MSN conferred after completion of Term 5.
| NURS 411 | Scholarly Inquiry | 4 |
| NURS 424 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 402 | Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse | 1 |
| NURS 530 | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 530L | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab | 1 |
Full-Time PGC Sequence
Term 6
| NURP 426 | Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURP 540 | Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders | 2 |
| NURP 541 | PMHNP I: Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NURP 542 | PMHNP II: Diagnosis & Management | 2 |
Term 7
| NURP 543 | PMHNP III: Diagnosis & Management | 3 |
| NURP 544 | PMHNP IV: SMI & Addictions Medicine | 2 |
| NURP 534P | PMHNP Immersion & Clinical Qualification Course | 1 |
| NURP 520 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making I | 2 |
Term 8
| NURP 521 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making II | 5 |
Term 9
| NURP 522 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making III | 5 |
Part-Time PGC Sequence
Term 6
| NURP 426 | Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURP 540 | Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders | 2 |
Term 7
| NURP 541 | PMHNP I: Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NURP 542 | PMHNP II: Diagnosis & Management | 2 |
| NURP 543 | PMHNP III: Diagnosis & Management | 3 |
Term 8
| NURP 544 | PMHNP IV: SMI & Addictions Medicine | 2 |
| NURP 534P | PMHNP Immersion & Clinical Qualification Course | 1 |
| NURP 520 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making I | 2 |
Term 9
| NURP 521 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making II | 5 |
Term 10
| NURP 522 | PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making III | 5 |