Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Massachusetts

UMass Lowell offers advanced nursing education through two specialized programs: the Family Health Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program and the Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Both programs focus on health problem management, research, leadership, and health promotion among diverse populations.

Family Health Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program:

• Students develop skills in communication, health assessment, teaching, interventions, and evaluation.
• Prepares students as nurse practitioners.
• Graduates are eligible for national family nurse practitioner certification exams.
• Includes Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) sessions with Standardized Patients (SPs), actors who simulate medical patients of various ages, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities. This interactive experience allows students to develop diagnoses or decide on next steps for care.

Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program:

• Focuses on communicating with adults and treating common health problems.
• Prepares students as nurse practitioners.
• Graduates are eligible for the national adult-gerontological primary care nurse practitioner certification exam.
• Also utilizes OSCE sessions with SPs, providing hands-on experience in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Both programs are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. UMass Lowell's innovative approach to education and training ensures that students are well-equipped to succeed in their chosen specialization within the nursing field.

Simmons University, with a legacy of educating nurses since 1902, offers online nursing programs tailored to meet the growing needs of the healthcare community. Here's an overview:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program:

• Focus: Prepares licensed registered nurses (RNs) to become Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs).
• Requirements: RNs with a BSN or a bachelor's degree majoring in Nursing.
• Accreditation: The baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Performance: 97.8% of graduates passed their ANCC boards in 2020.
• Features:
  • Predictable, standardized schedules for live courses.
  • A dedicated clinical placement team for rotations in or near students' communities.
  • Flexible course delivery with “flex scheduling” and recorded live sessions.

Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program:

• Focus: Prepares RNs to provide psychiatric mental health care and address the national mental health provider shortage.
• Duration: As few as 24 months.
• Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in nursing and unrestricted RN license.
• Admission: Rolling admissions with start dates in January, May, and September.
• Accreditation: CCNE-accredited, with plans to submit a substantive change report for this new program track within the prescribed window.
• Curriculum: Focuses on psychiatric mental health diagnosis, treatment, substance misuse, and a health equity and social justice approach. Skills include mental health assessments, diagnosis, therapy, psychopharmacological recommendations, and prescribing medications.

Simmons University's online programs are designed to accommodate the lives and schedules of working nurses, allowing them to continue providing care in their communities while pursuing their educational goals. Full-time, part-time, and extended program options ensure flexibility, while consistent support from faculty and staff creates a nurturing learning environment.

By providing an education that prioritizes the RN lifestyle, Simmons University ensures a supportive and comprehensive learning experience. Through these online programs, students can prepare to make significant contributions to mental health care, family care, and overall health equity in their communities.

Graduates of Endicott's Family Nurse Practitioner program will enter the healthcare field with preparation to care autonomously for individuals and families. The program emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and acute and chronic illness care within the primary setting.

Offered in a hybrid learning model, the 45-credit hour program allows for online and evening courses. Completion takes two years and requires no GRE. The program boasts a focus on evidence-based practice and offers faculty with real-world experience and strong support.

Students must complete a minimum of 600 faculty-supervised clinical hours. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for family nurse practitioner certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), with the option to apply for state licensure.

The curriculum includes courses in pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, professional seminars, primary care, and practicum experiences.

Learning outcomes are robust and comprehensive. Graduates will be able to integrate scientific findings, demonstrate leadership, apply research, utilize patient-care technologies, advocate for professional standards, communicate and collaborate with other health professionals, and influence healthcare outcomes through evidence-based practice.

Investing in this master's degree equips graduates to become leaders in the field of family nursing practice, advancing the quality of care across diverse settings.

UMass Dartmouth's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers pathways for aspiring advanced practice nurses with a focus on the highest level of clinical care. The program's details are as follows:

BS-DNP Plans:

• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Track:
  • 4-year plan available
  • 5-year plan available
  • Focuses on caring for patients ages 12 and older
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track:
  • 4-year plan available
  • 5-year plan available
  • Focuses on providing care to psychiatric patients across the lifespan

The BS-DNP pathways accommodate students with a bachelor's degree in nursing or a non-nursing bachelor's with an associate's in nursing. A transition (GAP) course is available for those with a non-nursing major. Completion requires 63-66 credits and over 1,000 hours of clinical practice. The program also includes a scholarly project to translate research into practice.

Curriculum Includes:

• Translation research methods
• Theory and health policy
• Population health and informatics
• Systems leadership and leadership residencies

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) Online:

• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP):
  • Preparation to diagnose and treat mental health conditions
  • Includes instruction on psychotherapy and medication prescription
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP):
  • Focuses on primary care for adult and gerontological populations
  • 24 total credit hours and 500 hours of faculty-supervised clinical hours

UMass Dartmouth provides these programs in a flexible online format that allows for personal attention from faculty, while accommodating work and home responsibilities.

Key UMassD Advantages:

• Value and affordability of a UMass education
• One-on-one personal advising
• Military-friendly environment
• Limited class sizes for individualized interactions with professors

Admissions Requirements:

• Eligible applicants have a master's degree or doctoral degree in nursing for CAGS programs.

Accreditation:

• The bachelor's, master's, and DNP programs at UMass Dartmouth are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

UMass Dartmouth's DNP program offers a transformative education that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, population-focused interventions, and the future leadership of nursing practices. The program is designed to work with diverse populations, complex healthcare systems, and provide a foundation for healthcare improvements within Massachusetts and beyond.

Application deadlines are rolling for Fall and restricted to Fall only for Spring. Summer admissions are not applicable. 

UMass Amherst Graduate School offers specialized concentrations for Post-Baccalaureate students in the field of nursing, with different plans of study and application requirements.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): This online Doctor of Nursing Practice concentration prepares clinical experts in primary care across the lifespan. Students may pursue either a four-year or five-year plan. Applications are reviewed until seats are filled, with start dates available in various terms. The school cannot accept students from AL, MN, NY, OR, or WA.

Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP): The AGPCNP concentration prepares students to care for adolescent, adult, and older populations, making them eligible for AGPCNP board certification through the ANCC or AANP. This program includes advanced coursework in leadership, health policy, research translation, and clinical skills. An individually tailored plan is created after admission, with priority admission by October 15.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): This DNP concentration focuses on psychiatric-mental health care, assessing and treating individuals and families with psychiatric disorders. The PMHNP certificate courses are entirely online, and experiential learning is gained through clinical practica. The plan of study can be completed in 4 or 5 years. Clinical hours required are 728 for non-APRNs and 560 for APRNs. A baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing is required, along with an active RN license. Preference is given to those with psychiatric mental health nursing experience.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Master's Online Certificate: A 30-credit program designed for nurses with a master's degree who want to expand their practice to psychiatric and mental health care. This online certificate focuses on treatment for mental health and substance disorders, with clinical practice in various behavioral settings. Preference is given to nurses with experience in psychiatric mental health nursing.

Application deadlines, clinical hours, and specific course requirements vary between concentrations. More detailed information about each concentration can be found in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook or by contacting Karen Ayotte. Online applications can be made through the UMass Amherst Graduate School.

UMass Boston offers a comprehensive range of nursing programs tailored to meet the needs of various career stages and specializations. Here's an overview of the opportunities:

Nursing MS Program:

• Focus: Prepares Registered Nurses (RNs) for advanced nursing practice (APN) in family nursing or adult-gerontological nursing.
• Requirements: Open to RNs with a bachelor's degree, including working nurses.
• Features: Rigorous academics, rich clinical experiences with on-site instruction.
• Ranking: No. 63 on U.S. News & World Report's 2022 Best Nursing Schools: Master's list.

Nursing Doctoral Program:

• Focus: Enhances nursing practice and clinical leadership for highly trained advanced practice nurses.
• Requirements: Nurses with a master's degree in nursing; family, gerontological, or adult nurse practitioners; nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists.
• Skills: Development in leadership, health systems leadership, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Nursing Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) Programs:

• Focus: Prepares master's-prepared RNs for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in primary care.
• Requirements: Open to RNs with MS degrees in nursing and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) seeking FNP certification.
• Features: Interactive online learning and clinical coursework.
• Options:
  • 12-credit option: For RNs with MS degrees in nursing and certification as family, adult, and pediatric nurse practitioners. Consideration of others based on prior master's level didactic and clinical coursework.
  • 21-credit option: For RNs, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including Certified Nurse-midwives (CNMs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs), and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) with a Nursing MS degree.

UMass Boston's nursing programs are distinguished by their academic rigor, coupled with a commitment to promoting best practices and providing extensive clinical experiences. Students are offered a robust education, whether they are seeking to enhance their clinical skills, attain a master's or doctoral degree, or expand their certifications as nurse practitioners.

These offerings enable nurses to improve the quality of care, expand their practices to include broader populations, and address emerging healthcare system needs. By aligning with nationally recognized researchers, educators, and practitioners, students at UMass Boston are poised to become leaders in the field, contributing to healthcare access and quality for diverse communities.

Elms College offers specialized programs for practicing registered nurses (RNs) seeking advanced education and certifications. Here's an overview of the opportunities available:

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP):

• Focuses on care in acute settings for adults across age spectrum.
• Supported by clinical placement and includes a faculty-mentored quality improvement project.
• Educates students for ANCC board certification.
• Emphasizes treatment of chronic, acute, and critical conditions.
• Strongly recommended by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) for entry into nurse practitioner roles by 2025.

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP):

• Designed for comprehensive care across the lifespan.
• Supported by clinical placement and includes a faculty-mentored quality improvement project.
• Prepares students for ANCC or AANP board certification.
• Focuses on family-centered care including health assessment, follow-up care, health promotion, and disease management.
• Demand for FNPs is expected to grow by 31% by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Programs:

• Offers additional population focus for certified advanced practice nurse practitioners.
• Eligible individuals must have national nurse practitioner certification and APRN licensure.
• Available in two specialty tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).
• Student outcomes include integration of advanced knowledge, demonstration of competence in advanced nursing roles, scientific inquiry, contribution to the nursing profession, and life-long professional learning skills.

Elms College's DNP and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs are designed to equip practicing RNs with specialized skills, providing unique pathways in nursing, and preparing them for employment in various acute care, family practice, and specialty settings. The programs align with the NONPF's guidelines and respond to increasing demands in healthcare, especially in underserved urban and rural communities.