Dr. Joyce Simmons is an Advanced Practice Nurse and Board-Certified Adult High-Risk Clinical Nurse Specialist with more than 38 years of clinical and nursing education experience. She earned her BSN and MSN from Harding University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Walden University.

Throughout her career, Dr. Simmons has held a variety of clinical and leadership roles, including OB/GYN practitioner and physician extender. She also developed the PrimeCare wellness program, supporting comprehensive approaches to patient health and wellness.

Since 2007, Dr. Simmons has been involved in higher education, teaching nursing and advanced practice courses at institutions including Walden University, Harding University, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her teaching experience includes in-person, televised, and online education.

Her areas of expertise include obstetrics, paediatrics, nursing leadership, healthcare policy, pharmacology, nursing informatics, medical-surgical nursing, and HIV care. She has also served as a Kaplan educator, NLN underwriter, NALS instructor, BLS instructor, and BDLS educator, and previously held certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Dr. Simmons currently maintains BLS certification and has completed a certificate in online course development through the ITTC. She also serves on the CAPCA Head Start Health Care Advisory Board. During her time at Central Arkansas Hospital, she served on the Executive Staff Committee, Ethics Committee, and Physician Committee, and completed a leadership certificate through the Executive Staff Program.

Dr. Simmons holds national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and continues to contribute her extensive clinical, educational, and leadership experience to the nursing profession.