Nursing (MSN): Direct Entry for BA/BS Holders
Faculty
Patricia Rissmiller- Associate Professor and Graduate Chair
Charlene Berube- Associate Professor of Practice and Chair of Undergrad Nursing
Jean Christoffersen- Associate Professor of Practice
Margaret Costello- Assistant Professor
Sarah Desmond- Associate Professor of Practice
Susan Duty- Associate Professor
Donna Glynn- Assistant Professor
Rebecca Koeniger-Donohue- Professor of Practice
Karen Telley- Professor of Practice and Director of RN to BSN Program
Sarah Volkman- Professor
Patricia White- Professor of Practice and Director of DNP program
Description
Our program is designed for students from all academic backgrounds. Whether your degree is in psychology, chemical engineering or English, once you've completed the prerequisite courses for admission, you'll be on your way to an MS in Nursing.
Students complete the pre-licensure nursing curriculum for the first four semesters of the program. You’ll learn from industry leaders and be prepared for the registered nurse (NCLEX) exam. Upon passing, you’ll move into the graduate portion of the program, which consists of three components – foundational courses, primary care and research. We prepare students to deliver primary health care to diverse populations across the lifespan.
We have close relationships with the world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities that surround the Simmons campus like Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our students expand their knowledge by completing clinical practicums, attending lectures and taking advantage of research opportunities.
Graduates of this program are prepared to take the family nurse practitioner (FNP) certification exam. Our students find success in positions in primary health care and community care settings, private practice, and in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs.
Learning Outcomes
Outcome Objectives for the Master’s in Nursing Curriculum
- Critique, evaluate, synthesize and utilize theoretical, scientific and clinical knowledge as applied to the assessment and management of both primary and acute health and illness states.
- Demonstrate a personal, collegial, and collaborative approach as an advanced practice Nurse while emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention and identification of environmental factors that impact health status across the lifespan.
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of human diversity as an advanced practice professional to assure the delivery of appropriate and individualized health care across the curriculum.
- Demonstrate sound critical thinking and clinical decision making reflected in effective written and verbal communications skills, utilized by the advanced practice Nurse in a complex delivery system.
- Demonstrate personal qualities and professional behaviors which are assertive and engage in advanced practice activities that advocate for on-going change and leadership within Nursing and in the health care system.
- Apply critical thinking skills within a multidisciplinary approach to care which fosters strategies and assembles multifaceted resources to empower patients, families and communities to attain and maintain maximal functional wellness.
- Demonstrate Nursing judgments and interventions which provide culturally sensitive care for diverse populations.
- Demonstrate Nursing practices which address human differences.
- Design and implement evidence-based primary health care practices in varied health care systems
- Assume a leadership role in the management of patients, communities and larger systems.
- Initiate changes in patient care and in the health care system through negotiations with other health care professionals.
- Evaluate the efficacy of health promotion, health protection, disease prevention, and treatment interventions through the application of knowledge of health care systems, economics, policy, ethics and polities.
- Conduct clinical Nursing research designed to advance the science of Nursing.
- Advance professional growth through continued acquisition of theoretical knowledge and clinical experience, and through participation and/or leadership in professional and community
Requirements for entry into program
- Statistics: One semester (half year) of statistics (can be taken in a math, psychology or science department; course content must include principles of probability, binomial and normal distributions, sample statistics, estimation and testing of hypotheses and linear regression and correlation).
- Developmental Psychology: One semester (half year) of developmental psychology (course content must span birth to death; general psychology does not meet this requirement, but a series of appropriate courses in combination could, such as prenatal to adolescence, young-middle adulthood, aging and dying).
- Developmental Psychology: A Lifespan Perspective is offered for accepted applicants. This course is offered online by SNHS in the summer before the DE program begins. This is a good option for applicants who have not taken this course but wish to wait until they learn of their admission status before registering for the course elsewhere. For information about this course (information available in mid-March), contact Annette Coscia at annette.coscia@simmons.eduor 617-521-2141.
- Microbiology: One semester (half year) of microbiology with a lab
- Human Anatomy and Physiology: Two semesters(one full academic year) of human anatomy and physiology with lab. Animal physiologywill not meet this requirement.
- Inorganic Chemistry: One semester (half year) of inorganic chemistry with lab
- Organic Chemistry : One semester (half year) of organic chemistry with lab
Costs
Including financing and fellowships / assistantships
$1,315 per credit hour
Activity Fee- $105
Delivery Mode or Modes Available (full-time, part-time, locations, technologies, etc.)
The Family Nurse Practitioner MSN degree is offered at Simmons Boston campus in the following pathways: BN to MSN, RN to MSN, and Direct Entry for BA/BS holders. The Nursing@Simmons online Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program is designed for RNs who have earned a bachelor’s degree.
Degree requirements
Pre-licensure curriculum
NURS 404 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
NURS 426 | Variances in Health Patterns of Adults_and Elders I | 2 |
NURS 435 | Integ Pharmac Pathophys | 4 |
NURS 438 | Var. Hlth Patt Adul/Elders II | 8 |
NURS 447 | Vari Hlth Patt Chldbering Fam | 4 |
NURS 448 | Variance Hlth Pattern Psy/Ill | 4 |
NURS 449 | Vari Hlth Patt Chldbering Fam | 4 |
NURS 487 | Nurs Care Indiv,Family,Commun | 4 |
NURS 454GR | Leader & Mgmt in Clinical | 4 |
NURS 455GR | Clinical Decision Making | 4 |
NURS 494 | Nursing Fundamentails & Health_Assessment | 4 |
NURS 495 | Contemporary Issues & Role Development_For Advanced Practice Nursing | 4 |
NCLEX – All students are required to take the Simmons-sponsored NCLEX review course following pre-licensure curriculum.
Capstone, placement, internship, practicum, etc.
RN Clinical Preparation
- Students will be in clinical for approximately 600 hours by the end of the program.
- You’ll have six group clinical rotations with a student to faculty ratio of 6:1.
- Clinical rotations include medical/surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, and community health.
- Students participate in a final-semester Senior Clinical Capstone Experience. You will spend 2-3 shifts per week with an RN in a clinical setting to prepare you for independent, professional practice and develop the role of collaborating healthcare team member upon licensure.
Advanced Practice Clinical Preparation
- Over four semesters you’ll complete 770 clinical hours.
- Before starting the first clinical experience in the community, students will have a chance to complete a full semester performing physicals and health assessment on paid patients. This experience takes place on campus, in nursing labs. Students are supervised by Nurse Practitioner faculty.
- Clinical focuses on the primacy care setting across the lifespan, including pediatrics, women’s health, adult and geriatric care.
- We provide students with personalized placements based on their professional goals and learning needs.
Concentrations, specializations, etc.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Licensure, certification, etc.
All students are required to take the Simmons-sponsored NCLEX review course following the pre-licensure curriculum. Upon completion of the FNP program, you will be eligible to sit for the national board-certifying exam.
Dual (and other) degree options (With what other degree programs may this program be combined?)
Other program information
Please consult the Nursing Student Handbook for additional information about Health Clearance, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Mandatory Clinical Orientation, Agency-Specific Requirements, Criminal Offender Record Inquiry, and other related policies.