U.S. News & World Report Ranks Nursing@Simmons Among Nation's Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs

BOSTON, Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time, Nursing@Simmons – an online Master of Science in Nursing program in the Simmons College School of Nursing and Health Sciences – has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation in 2016.

The Simmons online nursing program was one of only two Massachusetts schools ranked; it is one of only three New England schools ranked.

The program is offered through a partnership with 2U Inc., a leading provider of software-as-a-service technology and technology-enabled solutions.

"We are extremely proud that our Nursing@Simmons program – which matches the rigor and excellence of our distinguished on-campus program – has received national recognition," said Judy Beal, MSN, DNSc, Dean of the Simmons School of Nursing and Health Science. "As we continue to respond to the nation's shortage in nurses and nurse practitioners, it is vital to prepare nursing professionals with comprehensive knowledge and robust clinical care experience to meet the growing needs of the national healthcare system."

U.S. News rankings factors student engagement; faculty credentials and training; peer reputation; student services and technology; and admissions selectivity among others. A program's score for each category is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey. For more information on the methodology, visit www.usnews.com/online.

The Simmons online Master of Science in Nursing program provides a dynamic learning experience through a combination of live face-to-face instruction, self-paced media-rich course work, small classes, and a top-notch clinical field program that provides working health care professionals with a carefully selected clinical placement in or near their own communities.

Additional facts about the Nursing@Simmons program:

• Graduates of the Simmons Master of Science in Nursing program consistently achieve a 100 percent pass rate on the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam, well above the national average.
• First commencement with inaugural online nursing graduates took place in 2015 via a virtual ceremony.
• Simmons Nurse Practitioner Program is the Third oldest in the nation (1978).
• Nurse Practitioner is a career that currently ranks among the best in America (According to "Best Jobs 2015" by U.S. News).

Simmons College offers an online Master of Science in Nursing program for aspiring family nurse practitioners (FNP) and an online Master of Science in Nursing program for experienced registered nurses who do not currently hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (RN to MSN).

Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston with a history of visionary thinking and a focus on leadership and social responsibility. Simmons is the only undergraduate women's college in Boston, and offers five coeducational graduate programs. Graduates of the Simmons Master of Science in Nursing program consistently achieve a 100 percent pass rate on the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam. The national average is 89 percent, according to the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsNursing and @SimmonsCollege.

SOURCE Simmons College

Related Links

http://simmons.edu