Delaware MSN Programs

Delaware State University: RN to MSN Program Review
Delaware State University, 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901
Delaware State University (DSU) is a historically black public university. It has has two satellite campuses in Wilmington and Georgetown, both located in Delaware. DSU is the second largest university in the state and was founded in 1891. The University has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as Number 46 in the Top Public Regional Universities of the North category.

The University’s Master of Science degree in nursing program is currently under review and revision by the College of Education, Health, and Public Policy. New applicants are not currently being accepted at this time, and there is currently no masters degree in nursing program at DSU. Nurses who are interested in attending Delaware State University may want to check back with the nursing department to see if the masters program will be reinstated in the future.

University of Delaware: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Delaware

25 North College

Newark, Delaware 19716

The University of Delaware (UD) is located at 25 North College, Newark, Delaware 19716. It is the largest university in the state with the main campus located in Newark. Satellite campuses are also located in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. U.S. News and World Report ranks the University of Delaware as 75^th in the Best National Universities category. The magazine also rates it as 31^st in public colleges. It has had a substantial number of other positive ratings over the years. The Department of Nursing was established in 1962 in the College of Arts and Sciences. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered at UD.

The masters program requires from 34 to 46 credits, and all masters nursing students must select a research option of a thesis, a scholarly project, or a course in research utilization. Clinical practical courses are completed as part of the training for advanced specialty nursing roles. Students may choose from an online MSN program or a campus MSN program. Completely online programs include the following specialty areas of the masters degree in nursing program:

Adult Health-Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nursing of Children-Clinical Nurse Specialist

Health Services Administration Degree

The online programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis. Online applicants must meet the admission requirements of having satisfactory performance in their undergraduate academic work and in upper division nursing courses and they must have a bachelors degree in nursing. Three references, a short essay, and professional resume are also required. Applicants must have a Delaware license as a RN, or have a license in one of the compact states, or state where clinical experience will take place. A year of clinical experience is also required for the Clinical Nursing Specialist and Nurse Practitioner concentrations. Nurses who want to enter the Health Services Administration degree must have one year of management experience in a health-related field.

Hybrid Campus Programs include the following concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Adult Nurse Practitioner

To be considered for admission to these Nurse Practitioner masters programs in nursing, the student must have a bachelors degree in nursing and one year’s experience working full time as a RN. With the On-Campus Hybrid Format, students may take the six Core Graduate courses in an online format. Students must travel to campus for the nine clinical courses that meet on campus for three hours one day each week. Students are able to complete the program in 2.5 years on a full-time basis. Part-time students require 3.5 years to complete the program. There are 756 hours of clinical experience required for the Family Nurse Practitioner program and 672 clinical hours required for the Adult Nurse Practitioner program. Admission to the Nurse Practitioner program is competitive, and only one cohort of students is admitted each year. A graduate applicant interview is required before a student is admitted to the program.

Some advantages of the masters degree program at UD are that clinical placements are tailored to the student’s professional goals. Also, on-campus classes are scheduled after 3 pm for the convenience of working nurses. UD also offers an RN to MSN program for the Registered Nurse who wants to complete their masters degree in nursing. This program is offered completely online. Students complete 134 to 138 credits, including baccalaureate and masters level nursing courses. Thirty credits are awarded for the current RN license. There are also 60 transferable non-nursing credits required to complete the program.

Wesley College: RN to MSN Program Review

Wesley College

120 North State Street

Dover, Delaware 19901-3875

Wesley College is Delaware’s oldest private college and is located at 120 North State Street, Dover, Delaware 19901-3875. The college was established in 1873 and has been named as one of the Top 50 Grad Schools for Nursing by U.S. News and World Report. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered at the college. The program is open to the Registered Nurse (RN) who has a bachelors degree in nursing, as well as to Registered Nurses without a baccalaureate degree. The program is flexible, and a program designed for the RN with an associates degree, hospital diploma in nursing, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is designed for each student entering the program.

Admission requirements include a license as a Registered Nurse, a grade point average of 3.0, and the completion of the 1 credit modified college core for the non-BSN student. Features of the program are evening classes that meet once each week on the same day for the entire program, and the program emphasizes roles in practice, research, and education. Students may choose the thesis or non-thesis option. Students do not need to repeat courses that they have taken while earning their previous degree, and they are able to progress towards their academic goals.

Widener University: RN to MSN Program Review

Widener University

4601 Concord Pike

Wilmington, Delaware

Widener University has its main campus in Chester, Pennsylvania and two other Pennsylvania locations in Harrisburg and Exton. There is also a location of the University in Wilmington, Delaware. Widener was rated as Number 181 in the National Universities category by U.S. News and World Report. Widener was founded in 1821. The Wilmington, Delaware campus is located at 4601 Concord Pike. The School of Nursing offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.

A masters degree in nursing with an emphasis on Adult Health-Gerontology CNS, Adult Health-Gerontology CNS with Emergency/Critical Care Specialty, and Family Nurse Practitioner specialty focuses are offered at the University. Admission requirements to the School of Nursing are to complete a goal statement and to submit it with the complete application and two letters of recommendation. Transcripts must also be sent to the University. The GRE is not required, but an interview with the School of Nursing faculty is required.

The majority of graduate students at Widener receive some type of financial aid. Graduate nursing students may be eligible for federal student loans and for private scholarships, grants, and loans through a variety of hospitals, nursing organizations, and others.

Wilmington University: RN to MSN Program Review

Wilmington University

320 Dupont Highway

New Castle, Delaware 19720

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Wilmington University, located at 320 Dupont Highway, New Castle, Delaware 19720. It is a private institution that was founded in 1968. The College of Health Professions Programs is unique in the fact that they offer degree completion programs only for Registered Nurses and Allied Health professionals. Wilmington does not offer initial preparation to become a Registered Nurse (RN). A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered with the specialty area of Nursing Leadership. A dual degree with Business and Nursing Leadership is also offered.

The masters program, Nursing Leadership: Executive, Educator, or Legal Nurse Consultant is available online or in traditional classroom format for the RN who wants to complete training for an advanced nursing career in one of the Nursing Leadership roles. Nurses in the program must complete 36 credits and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students may request to have an individualized course of study designed to fit their particular professional goals. The program is usually completed in two to three years.

The College of Health Professions Programs also offers a MSN program for the RN interested in training for a career as a Nurse Practitioner: Family, Adult/Gerontology. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration takes 32 months to complete. There are 48 credits required, and students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. At least 600 clinical hours must be completed as well. The Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Concentration also takes 32 months to complete and consists of 48 credits and 600 clinical hours.

Admission requirements to the Nurse Practitioner masters program include having a bachelors degree in nursing, a statistics and health assessment course with grades of at least a C, and it is recommended that applicants have two years of experience working as a RN. Additional requirements include a professional resume, a written career goal statement, and an interview with faculty. The Nurse Practitioner masters program is held at the Wilmington campus at the Wilson Graduate Center.

Wilmington also offers a Dual degree MSN and a Master of Science in Management with the Health Care Administration concentration. The Master of Business Administration with the Health Care Administration is also offered. The program requires 51 credits, and more information is available from the graduate Nursing Leadership Program Chair.