“Professor Del Vecchio-Gilbert is an incredible teacher,” says student Brianna Rivas, 25, of Jacksonville, Fla. “She is preparing us for the final transition from nurses to nurse practitioners, which means we need to start looking at the big picture. She is making us think and apply our knowledge — not just memorize from a textbook.” Simmons faculty enjoy the live-streamed address from class speaker Tara Zamarron during the Virtual Commencement on February 11, 2016. Zamarron earned her Master of Science in Nursing and participated from her home in Mesa, Wash.
A 50-year-old female arrives at the hospital complaining of morning stiffness and joint pain. Professor of Practice and Core Curriculum Director Linda Del Vecchio-Gilbert wants to know what it could be. Psoriatic arthritis? Polymyalgia rheumatica? Lupus?
NURSING@SIMMONS In 2016, the online Master of Science in Nursing program was ranked by U.S.News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing programs in America, becoming one of only three programs in all of New England to earn a spot in the ranking. It was a quick rise to the top for Nursing@ Simmons, which launched its first online program, Family Nurse Practitioner Degree, in 2013. In 2014, Simmons added an online Master of Science in Nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) who do not hold a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (RN to MSN). After just three years, Nursing@Simmons now enrolls 1,200 students with 250 instructors. “Our programs not only prepare students to be highly skilled health professionals, our graduates enjoy long, fulfilling careers,” says Judy A. Beal, Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. “They are leaders in their field and are committed to life-long learning.” What’s next for the program? The Master of Business Administration in Health Care launched this spring, and the Master of Public Health is scheduled for launch in April 2017.
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“I want my students to be great practitioners so they can take care of someone’s daughter or husband or grandfather, because they’ll be doing it in such a short time from now,” says Professor Del Vecchio-Gilbert. “I want From their homes in Port St. Lucie, Florida; them to learn something and to apply it, and Gilbert, Ariz.; and Union, Ky.; Miriam I want them to do it in a team setting. No Owens, Adolfo Ortiz, and Elizabeth Boggs one should feel like they’re alone in these get to work on the subjectives, objectives, classes because that’s not what it’s like in assessments, differentials, and treatment the real world.” plan. Enrolled in the online course “Nursing 503, Primary Care Nursing,” they have been The online Nursing program at Simmons, grouped in a virtual breakout session and Nursing@Simmons, is unquestionably on have 20 minutes before they report back to the rise. Enrollments are up, and it was the entire class of 16. ranked by U.S.News & World Report as the second best online nursing program Sipping on a frozen coffee, Boggs immedi- in Massachusetts and third best in all of ately suggests rheumatoid arthritis, and the New England. others agree. Twenty minutes later, after the professor pings a two-minute warning, the “We have successfully translated our on-theteam is ready to present to the class their ground program, with its rigor and quality, treatment plan of sulfasalazine, hydroxy- to the virtual environment,” says Associchloroquine, and methotrexate — a triple ate Professor of Practice and Director of therapy they read about in a New England Nursing@Simmons Julie Vosit-Steller. Journal of Medicine study. “What was most important to us was to successfully prepare our graduates to go Following their presentation, Professor Del into communities ready to interact with Vecchio-Gilbert peppers the entire class patients, and we’re doing that.” with questions. “What if the patient was 74 instead of 50? What kind of work does When did Simmons start she do — if she is typing all day, will that doing courses online? have an effect? What are the side effects of the steroids and medications we’re giving Shortly after Nursing@Simmons launched her? Don’t forget the psychological impacts its first online program in 2013, a master’s degree in nursing for family nurse practiof our diagnoses,” she says.
“Our programs not only prepare students to be highly skilled health professionals, our graduates enjoy long, fulfilling careers. They are leaders in their field and are committed to life-long learning.” JUDY A. BEAL, Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences