Providence College and MGH Institute of Health Professions Launch Direct Nursing Pathway

Providence College School of Nursing and Health Sciences (PCSNHS) and the MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) have announced a new partnership that creates a seamless route for nursing students to advance their careers. The Direct Admission Agreement will allow graduates of Providence College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to enroll in the MGH IHP’s Master of Science in Nursing program, preparing them to become nurse practitioners.

Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P., PC’s president, signed the agreement this morning, along with MGH IHP president Paula Milone-Nuzzo, PhD, RN, FHHC, FAAN.

“By joining forces with MGH IHP, we are creating a bridge between education and advanced practice nursing, further propelling our students from aspiration into action,” Father Sicard said. “We are offering our students a chance to grow in knowledge and wisdom while serving in some of the most respected healthcare settings in the country. We are also reaffirming our belief that excellence in care begins with excellence in education.”

The program will be based at the MGH IHP’s Boston campus and will offer clinical placements throughout the Mass General Brigham system and its affiliates, including acute care, community health, and long-term care settings with further expansion into the Greater Providence region. The first cohort of PC nursing student graduates is set to matriculate in the pathway program in the fall of 2027.

“Providence College’s nursing program is based on some of the very foundations as the MGH Institute’s – health equity, inter-professionalism, and evidence-based practice, and that’s one of the reasons this partnership will be successful,” Dr. Milone-Nuzzo said. “We’re looking forward to providing exceptional graduate nursing education, a hallmark of the Institute, to a new community of motivated and accomplished students from Providence College.”

Students will be able to choose between part-time and full-time study, with most Providence College graduates expected to enroll part-time while working within the Mass General Brigham system. The agreement, which was finalized this summer, includes substantial financial support, including a tuition discount for nurses employed at Mass General Brigham facilities and an additional annual tuition benefit for qualifying students.

“Our nursing students are called to lead and to serve, and this partnership supports them in answering that call,” said Kyle McInnis, Sc.D., founding dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Through advanced study at MGH Institute of Health Professions, they will be on a clear pathway to becoming nurse practitioners, gaining the clinical skills and experience needed to make a meaningful impact on patients and the healthcare workforce. As the first agreement of its kind between Providence College and MGH IHP, it strengthens both institutions while setting a new standard for preparing the next generation of nursing leaders.”

About MGH Institute of Health Professions: MGH Institute of Health Professions educates the next generation of healthcare leaders with a tested and proven approach— grounded in a commitment to health equity, defined by collaboration, and backed by Mass General Brigham. As the only degree-granting member of this world-class health system, the Institute provides students with access to clinical sites, research opportunities, and mentorship. Founded in 1977 by Massachusetts General Hospital, the MGH Institute counts more than 11,000 alumni who are making an impact in hospitals, clinical sites, and schools all over the country. From day one, students train the way they’ll practice: interprofessionally, in service of better care and better outcomes.