Delta State University Nursing School Review

Delta State University (DSU) is located in an ethnically rich and culturally diverse region of the Mississippi Delta Valley. In the small town of Cleveland sits the main campus of the university which started off as small normal school for teachers training in 1925. After introduction of a number of baccalaureate and masters program, the school changed the name from Delta State Teachers college to Delta State University. From then, the university started offering terminal degrees starting with a doctor of education.

Nursing at Delta State University

Robert E Smith School of nursing is one of the largest academic divisions at Delta State University alongside Education and Business schools. It has three approved nursing programs; two leading to a bachelor’s degree and one master program carrying a number of tracks under it. The undergraduate and graduate programs have received accreditation by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and also the States’ Board of Institutions of Higher Learning. Delta State University has greatly excelled in delivering most of the nursing curriculum in an online format. Details of all the nursing programs are given below:

Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Two programs are offered under the undergraduate category as follows:

  • BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Degree

This program is designed for candidates who are not yet nurses and prepares them to write the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses. The program can be completed in  part and full time and selected courses in both schedules can be completed in a web enhanced mode. 68 nursing major credits must be completed for students to graduate. The part time option carries five semesters of junior years and students must switch back to full time schedule for 2 semesters of the senior year. Full time students take a maximum of five semesters to complete all the nursing courses

  • RN – BSN Online Completion Program

This program is meant for candidates who are prepared with an associate degree of diploma. Requirement for completion are similar to those of the BSN but students receive credits for their earlier nursing experience. It is an exclusive online program and students meet only twice or thrice at the start of each semester. Nursing courses can be completed in 12 months but part time classes may be scheduled upon request and availability of a quorum.

Master of Science in Nursing (Online)

The masters programs at Delta state University are offered completely online. There are five tracks from which BSN prepared candidates can choose as their advanced practice nursing specialty namely:

  • Nurse Administrator
  • Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Adult or Family Focus
  • FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
  • GNP – Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator.

 It is mandatory for the candidates to have at least one year of professional nursing practice and three years for the Nurses Practitioner options. The Gerontology and Mental health tracks are offered through Mississippi Education Consortium for Specialized Advanced Practice Nursing. All the Masters of Science in nursing tracks at Delta State University have post-masters certificate program options.

Students require to make a few occasional trips to the university for the two years they will be undertaking study. Students can however apply for part time classes and the period of study is extended.

Contact:
Delta State University
Highway 8 West, Cleveland,
MS 38733