School of Nursing
Preparing Leaders in Health Care
Since 1902, the School of Nursing has been preparing nurses to deliver compassionate and evidence-based care, advocate for patients and communities, lead interprofessional teams, and advance research.
“The Simmons School of Nursing has a reputation for being rigorous and challenging. And when you leave here, people recognize that a Simmons degree has weight and that Simmons alumnae/i know their stuff.”
Samantha Normilus ’19BSN, ’26MSN
Meet Samantha
Meet the Dean
Dr. Heather Shlosser has more than 25 years of nursing expertise, with a rich background spanning clinical, leadership, and academic domains.
Embrace Our Mission
Our transformative education prepares you to serve as a compassionate clinician. We embrace the values of respect, social justice, integrity, collaboration, and excellence to advance global health and the common good.
Take the Next Step
Our holistic approach to the admission process means that we consider personal, professional, and academic experiences when evaluating your potential for success.
Tap into Your Potential
At Simmons University School of Nursing, you’ll rise to new heights. Whether you pursue a career as a registered nurse, nurse leader, or nurse practitioner, our programs provide the skills and confidence to make a real impact. Embrace the challenge, unlock your potential, and embark on a transformative journey. Become the health care professional you aspire to be.
Get Involved, Get Inspired
We offer world-class clinical experiences that prepare you to become registered nurses, nurse leaders, and advanced practice nurses. With over 850 clinical sites in Boston and 17,000 sites across the US, you’ll gain hands-on experience in diverse health care settings.
Our curriculum empowers you to become an innovative and influential health care professional. With mentorship from experienced faculty, you’ll lead teams, advocate for patient-centered care, and drive positive change in health care systems.
Our collaborative and inclusive community encourages personal and professional growth through mentorship, peer support, and engaging activities. With our commitment to social justice, teamwork, and compassion, you'll feel valued and empowered.
What Makes Us Different?
Simmons' School of Nursing offers exceptional clinical experiences, a leadership-focused curriculum, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Our facilities include a nursing simulation center, five high-fidelity simulation suites, a home health and hospice/palliative care suite, an advanced health assessment lab, two fundamentals labs, a 3D virtual reality cadaver lab, and UbiSim’s immersive virtual reality simulation.
“You should take advantage of research opportunities. This is the time to grow. At Simmons, you will have faculty members who will help you realize your goals.”
Rachael Puszczynski '21
“I am proud to be a Simmons alum, and the education I received there helped me to be a nurse leader in the work I do today.”
Dr. Deborah Mattheus ’90
MSN
“In the Northeast, Simmons' name carries very far, and location-wise, I got so many amazing clinical opportunities. When I tell people from elsewhere that I did clinical rotations at Boston hospitals, they are immediately wowed and impressed!”
Kayla Canty '18
BSN
Nursing Simulation Center
Level up your nursing skills at Simmons University's incredible 11,000-square-foot Nursing Simulation Center. Our state-of-the-art facility provides a supportive environment to gain valuable hands-on experience and confidently practice your skills.
Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program
The Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program at Simmons University School of Nursing empowers students through mentorship, leadership training, volunteerism, and career counseling. For over a decade, we've invested in the success of nursing students, addressing social and academic barriers and preparing them for the workplace. Our priority is to create a robust support network for Dotson scholars throughout their careers, building a skilled health care workforce that reflects the growing diversity of the US population.
Spotlight on Nursing Students and Alums
School of Nursing Highlights
Our strengths include nationally acclaimed faculty and alumnae/i who are recognized leaders in their fields, and an ideal Boston location in the Longwood Medical Area.
90%
Simmons Graduates have a NCLEX Pass Rate Above 90%
A 90% pass rate is well above the national average for RN candidates, which is in the low 80% range.
95%
DE FNP National Board Pass Rate
Simmons University graduates have a DE FNP National Board Pass Rate of 95%. The national average is 74%.
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.
>17K
Affiliated Placement Sites
Simmons has over 17,000 affiliated post-licensure clinical placement sites in 48 states.
700+
Clinical Hours for Pre-Licensure
As a Simmons student, you will receive over 700 hours of clinical for pre-licensure — encompassing both in-person clinical experiences and high-fidelity simulation activities. For post-licensure the number of clinical hours is 756.
School of Nursing in the News
Scholars Emphasize that Women’s Health is Public Health
Shortly before the sixth annual Ifill Forum, an esteemed panel of Simmons scholars from diverse disciplines co-presented “Women’s Health is Public Health.” Dr. Ammina Kothari, Dean of The Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences, served as the event’s moderator.
The Simmons Six: Meet the Deans
Meet the new deans of Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science; School of Sciences and Health Professions; Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences; School of Social Work; School of Management; and School of Nursing.
What is HoloAnatomy Augmented Reality?
HoloAnatomy uses augmented reality, or holograms, to help nursing students explore the human body in 3D. With this technology, you can visualize and interact with anatomical structures from various angles, making complex concepts easier to understand.
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.
Dr. Adrianna Nava Champions Leadership in Nursing
Dr. Adrianna Nava “fights to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard in health care policy,” said Delmy Piano, Assistant Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Simmons’ Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program, when introducing the Dotson’s 2025 hybrid Lectureship Event...
The Gift of Scholarship
Simmons University Trustee Denise Coll ’95MBA credits her School of Management education with making a real difference in the success she had professionally in the hospitality industry. “And for that, I really wanted to give back. I hope other people...
Honoring the National Day of Racial Healing
January 21, 2025 — the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day — is the ninth annual National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH). Created by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NDORH "is an opportunity to engage in collective action to create a more just and equitable world."
Nursing Dean Discusses Tech Advances in The Boston Globe
Nursing schools are turning to virtual reality-based training tools, including UbiSim, to address the nursing and nursing educator shortages. Dean Heather Shlosser is quoted in a Boston Globe article.
Upcoming Events
Virtual Event: Exploring Pathways into Nursing for Adult and Transfer Students
- Mar 26, 2025
- 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Virtual
Film Screening & Fireside Chat
- Apr 24, 2025
- 6:40 pm to 8:15 pm
- A-152 (1st floor, Main College Building)
Contact Us
School of Nursing
Simmons’ School of Nursing is home to one of the country’s first university-based nursing programs and we are proud to remain among the best programs in the field, recognized for clinical excellence, and preparing future leaders in health care through undergraduate and graduate nursing degree programs, including the online Nursing@Simmons programs.