There are many benefits of the D.N.P. for the profession of nursing, for the public and for advanced practice nurses, including but not limited to:

• Parity with other health professions who have practice doctorates
• Improved nursing image
• Enhanced knowledge to improve practice
• Enhanced leadership skills to strengthen practice and health care delivery
• Increased numbers of nursing faculty
• Improved patient outcomes

The D.N.P. offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral degrees. It provides clinicians with knowledge and skills necessary in advanced practice. A Ph.D. in Nursing has typically prepared nurses for research careers .

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in agreement with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties has recommended that the D.N.P. replace the master's degree as the terminal degree needed for advanced practice nursing by 2015. However, this is not a policy directive and each state maintains its own licensure requirements via Boards of Registration in Nursing.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Simmons College is a post-master's entry program designed to prepare advanced practice nurses for clinical, educational, and leadership positions within the health care profession. The admission application is a reflection of the candidate's scholarly achievements and clinical expertise and must reflect the competencies and admission criteria outlined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Academic and employment background:

• graduation from a regionally accredited post-secondary U.S.institution
• master's degree in nursing or a related master's degree 
• a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average
• professional employment background
• board certification in an advanced practice specialty
• current nursing licensure
• two years of full-time clinical practice experience(for advanced standing status)
• completion of an undergraduate college level statistics course(semester in length; earned a grade of B or better) taken within five years prior to the application deadline at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Or, completion of Webstats (with a grade of "pass"), an online course designated for applicants to SHS programs.No other non-credit or audited course is acceptable.
  

If admitted you will need to possess or have access to a computer and the Internet with at least a 56K modem.  You should be comfortable with the use of email, word processing, and internet searches.  Self-motivation and working independently are key factors.  To determine if your learning style is compatible with on-line learning (this is a hybrid or blended learning program, combining on-line courses with on-site participation), please see our online learning tips.

The D.N.P. program will offer three minor tracks:  Clinical Leadership, Education Leadership, Management in Clinical Practice.  Each track will have three foci:  core/support courses (health policy, leadership, and technology) (20 credits); a concentrated-related practice component (variable number of credits depending on track); and a practice-based capstone project (7 credits).  Students accepted to the Advanced Standing Bridge program may waive speciality requirements and enroll in the DNP core courses and Capstone project.

Yes, the program is offered in a hybrid or blended learning format so you will be able to fulfill the course requirements as they fit into your schedule.  On site classes will be held during weekends in a condensed and intensive format with two visits to campus per semester.

The core curriculum (27 credits) is designed to be completed in two full calendar years of study. The program may be taken part-time.

No

2-3

No core courses will be offered during the summer.  Students adding a clinical specialty (i.e., FNP, Oncology NP) or practice (education, management) component to the core courses may have summer courses.

Individuals may apply for either September(fall) or January(spring)entry. The application deadline for September is June 1 and the application deadline is November 1 for January entry. These dates are not the post mark date;rather when all materials must be received.

No, students will complete a "capstone" project. This scholarly project will be practice focused and will be completed in collaboration with the student's practice site — clinical, educational, or management. The project should make a significant contribution to practice in the student's area of interest. The Capstone Project will be completed over four semesters. Each student will be assigned two faculty mentors who will advise, facilitate, and approve the project.   Students will complete a scholarly, publishable paper related to the project, as well as present and defend the project orally in a scholarly presentation.

Yes you may work with your faculty mentor to arrange this.

Suggestions for projects include program development (needs assessment, program plan and implementation); program evaluation; development of a patient-focused health improvement (e.g., tuberculosis prevention for immigrant populations) or education program (e.g., weight management, tobacco cessation); systems innovations/improvements; cost/benefit analyses of program models; epidemiological studies; or other scholarly project consistent with the student's interest.

You must take the Capstone project seminars in sequence, beginning in the fall semester.

You may apply anytime before the June 1 application deadline for September entry or before the November 1 deadline for January entry. Admission decisions are sent as a group after the deadline for each semester.

Go to the following url where you find the D.N.P. application. Download, complete and return it to the Office of Admission at the School of Health Sciences by designated deadline. Be sure to include all materials in one envelope. Allow sufficient time to obtain and submit the required materials.
http://www.simmons.edu/shs/academics/catalog/nursing/index.shtml

Only TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language) is required for individuals whose native language is not English. If an applicant earned a degree at the bachelor's and/or master's level at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or at a post-secondary  institution abroad which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country of English-speaking countries only, the TOEFL is waived. Allow sufficient time to register and take the TOEFL as it takes 4-6 weeks for the official scores to arrive. Student score reports or photocopies are not acceptable. No other English proficiency exam is accepted. Required scores: 570 paper-based version,
230 computer version and 88 internet version.

Applicants must hold a M.S. in Nursing or a related Master's degree (with an overall GPA of 3.0) from a regionally accredited U.S. post secondary institution. Additionally, applicants must have successfully completed (grade of B or better) a college-level statistics course within 5 years before the application deadline at a regionally accredited U.S. post secondary institution. Or, applicants must have earned a grade of "pass" in Webstats,an online statistics course offered by Simmons designated  for applicants to all SHS programs. Information about registering for this course may be obtained by contacting Yolanda Rainey at 617-521-2518. Evidence of a current nursing license and certification of advanced practice speciality are also required. Advanced Standing applicants must also have a minimum of two years full-time clinical experience. See the Application for Admission for further specifics.

All decision letters will be sent as a group after the application deadline. There is no rolling decision process.

 This program requires a U.S. nursing licensure and clinical experience . If you have or need an F-1 visa to study in the U.S., which requires full-time enrollment, you are not eligible to apply to this program.

You cannot waive any admission requirements, in particular, completion of a statistics course within five years before the application deadline. However, if you are an experienced clinician, educator, or manager you may be able to waive some courses by portfolio (Advanced Standing Application)

You may take a maximum of two D.N.P. courses as a non-degree student:  during the fall semester, you make take either or both:
NURS 620 Ethical and Legal Issues for Advanced Practice (3 credits) and NURS 630 Professional Leadership Practice Change
(3 credits).  During the spring semester, you may take only : NURS 670 Epidemiology (2 credits).

You can register for either of these courses by contacting the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605. This must be done no later than one week before the semester begins. The statistics course which is required for admission is not a D.N.P. course and must be completed before admission to the program, as it is a prerequisite for admission. Upon completion of either non-degree course, if you are still interested in the D.N.P. program, you must formally apply for admission to the School of Health Sciences by the designated application deadline dates: June 1 for September entry and November 1 for January entry.

Tuition can be found in the following url
http://www.simmons.edu/shs/admission/finaid/index.shtml

Dr. Susan Neary, Program Director and Associate Chair of the Graduate Programs at susan.neary@simmons.edu.