Nursing (BSN)
Build your future in patient care
Prepare to care for others and save lives through a rewarding career as a nurse.
Simmons University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) combines hands-on clinical experiences with a strong academic foundation to help you grow into a skilled, confident nurse. You’ll learn in labs and classrooms and gain experience at world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities in Boston.
With your degree, you’ll be prepared to take the registered nurse licensure (NCLEX) exam, pursue graduate study, and serve in entry-level roles in offices, homes, hospitals, and schools. You can work anywhere in the country or around the world. No matter where you go, no two days will be the same. The changes and challenges of healthcare will be demanding but also incredibly rewarding.
Why choose Nursing at Simmons?
As one of the nation’s first university-based nursing programs, Simmons is recognized for its clinical excellence and for building compassionate, evidence-based healthcare leaders. You’ll learn from expert faculty, train in top Boston hospitals, and become part of a close-knit community that supports your growth.
Choose from degrees matches your experience and goals:
- Traditional BSN program
- BSN for Transfer Students
- 4+1 BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- 4+2 BSN, MSN, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Master of Science in Nursing (BSN to MSN)
Unsure of which Nursing program you should follow? Compare them all and discover which program is right for you.
What will you learn in our BSN Nursing Program?
As a BSN student, you’ll:
- Learn from Active Practitioner-Mentors: Engage in classes with professors who balance active practice with a commitment to mentorship.
- Train in State-of-the-Art Facilities: Master skillful, compassionate care in our 11,000-square-foot Nursing Simulation Center
- Access Elite Clinical Rotations: Gain experience at institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
- Connect with Industry Leaders: Build your professional network through research opportunities, expert-led talks, and employment at research facilities.
Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program
Simmons offers many programs and leadership opportunities, including the Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program. The program serves students from diverse backgrounds through mentorship, tutoring, leadership training, volunteerism, and career counseling.
What can you do with a BSN degree?
You will always be in high demand as a nurse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for most occupations.
As a Simmons graduate, you’ll be known for your clinical skill, compassion, and ability to provide personalized, patient-centered care, and health promotion. You’ll be prepared for graduate study to become a nurse practitioner or pursue other graduate nursing roles. You may serve in roles in hospitals, community health centers, private practices, schools, and home care.
Career paths include:
- Hospital Nurse
- Public Health Nurse
- Clinical Research Nurse
- Case Management Nurse
- Nurse Manager
- School Nurse
BSN for Transfer Students
Transfer students can complete the BSN through a two-year sequence, depending on space availability. Programs begin in the fall, with the option to start in spring or summer to complete prerequisites. See deadlines and learn more about the nursing program for transfer students.
You are considered a transfer student if:
- You have earned more than 17 college credits after graduating from high school.
- You do not already have a bachelor's degree in another field.
- You will be under 24 years old when you start at Simmons.
Apply to Simmons as a Transfer Student
If you have 17 or fewer credits and are under 24, you should apply as a first-year student. If you are over 24 and pursuing a BSN, apply as a Dorothea Lynde Dix Scholar.
Hands-On Learning Highlights
850+
Clinical Training Sites
Boston-based students have access to more than 850 clinical training sites, including world-class hospitals like Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women’s, Boston Children’s, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Nursing Simulation Center
Our 11,000 square foot Nursing Simulation Center will help you gain real-world experience in a controlled clinical setting, allowing you the opportunity to get comfortable with your nursing skills before being expected to perform them off-site.
Spotlight on Nursing Students and Alums
Bringing Cancer Education to Underserved Communities
Nursing student Claire Tuquero ’26 reflects on her involvement with the Passionate Leaders Project and the clinical training she was able to achieve at several Boston hospitals.
Meaningful Mentorship, Received and Given
Nursing major Lisa Aboagye-Kodjoe ’26 reflects on her time at Simmons and her involvement with the Dotson Bridge and Mentorship program, the Honors Program, and Girls, Inc.
SON Alumna Makes Impact in Pediatric Neurology
Beverly Byron ’75, is currently the co-chair of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Fatality Review Team. She is a longtime nurse educator and legal nurse consultant who double majored in nursing and sociology at Simmons.
Meet Our 2025–26 Bonner Community Leaders
The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. This academic year, Simmons announced a new cohort of Bonner Leaders including Ammy A. Cardenes Santana ’29, Gulsah Cayan ’29, Lily-Rose O’Brien ’29, and Mackenzie Oprea ’29.
Nursing Students Enjoy Immersive Learning
Simmons School of Nursing students in our online programs came to campus over the summer for an Immersion experience. For insight into what this entailed, we spoke to Tina Delouchry, Professor of Practice and Director of FNP Clinical Education, and Laura Behm, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of PMHNP Clinical Education.
Congratulations to the 2025 SURPASs Scholars
Eight undergraduate scholars from disciplines across Simmons have been selected to join the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs). SURPASs students receive the necessary funding and mentorship to execute an independent research project of their own design.
The Samuels Family: A Simmons School of Nursing Tradition
Siblings Nathan Samuels ’05MSN 11DNP; Ashley Samuels Shields ’10; Eryn Samuels Yong ’12; and Brittany Samuels Czerw ’14 all studied nursing at Simmons University. We caught up with them about how this trend began, how they support each other in their careers, and what they most value about their nursing careers.
Thriving through Diversity: A Nursing Success Story
The Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program pairs first-generation and other underrepresented nursing student mentees — called Scholars — with experienced Mentors (typically School of Nursing alumnae/i). Sasha DuBois ’08BSN has served as a mentor since the program began in 2009. LaDonna Christian ’16PhD became director of the program in 2010.
Our Faculty
LaDonna Christian
Associate Professor of Practice and Director of the Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program
Gloria Cater
Dotson Mentor
Marianne Williams
Adjunct Faculty