2024 - Best Nursing Schools in Delaware

2024 Best RN Programs in Delaware

ADN Programs in Delaware

One of the most expedient paths to becoming an RN is that of the college ADN program. Generally, the Associate’s Degree in Nursing is 2 years in length and focuses on skills such as understanding and applying healthcare principles and processes to provide evidence-based and empathetic services, including patient needs assessment while meeting ethical care standards. Delaware has a four or so ADN program offered throughout the state.

What to Look For in an ADN Program in Delaware

How should potential students evaluate whether an ADN program is going to help them meet their goals of becoming effective advocates of patient health and all that it entails, including acute and preventive health-care measures? Try using the following school criteria to help:

Accreditation

Offering great value to students and regulatory control to institutions, accrediting bodies create measures to which schools can evaluate themselves to ensure a standard of programming that creates excellent nurses. It is important for students to ensure that their school choices are accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Licensing

Completing your ADN through an accredited school should lead you to be able to take the NCLEX-RN exam for your state, right? This wasn’t always the case, so double check that your school program actually lists that you’re eligible for nursing licensure once you graduate and take the exam.

Program Outcomes

A school’s reputation for academics is an important consideration. Here are some indications that you’ve found a great ADN program:

• Number of graduates compared to non-graduates
• NCLEX-RN examination successes
• Graduate satisfaction survey data
• Post-diploma employment

Delaware Technical Community College offers the ADN program through three of its campuses in Dover, Georgetown, and Stanton. Soon-to-be nurses gain insight and experience learning about and working in acute care and long-term care facilities as well as in public health and private clinics.

ADN Program Admission Requirements in Delaware

Many students wonder what the admissions criteria are for each of their school choices, as the information can be difficult to find and less than straightforward. The following is an example of admissions criteria for the college-level program:

• Meet the ‘Abilities’ section of the screening criteria
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Have completed the NLN Pre-Admission Examination (NLN-PAX)
• Complete the online application
• Have completed a background inquiry and health history
• Provide documentation confirming updated vaccination schedule and CPR certification

Tuition and Costs of ADN Programs in Delaware

Figuring out the total cost of attendance for a particular ADN program can be key information that helps students choose to attend a particular institution. Rolled into the total cost of attendance are items like textbooks, equipment and housing – even uniforms – in addition to tuition costs. The estimated tuition cost for students attending Delaware Technical Community College ranges between $1,800 and $2,000 per semester, depending on how many credits a nursing student takes. Overloading courses incur additional fees, and students may wish to speak with an advisor to research housing and equipment costs for the program.

Advantages of ADN Programs

Each student has a unique set of experiences that make up their personality and drive their decisions, which means that some will see distinct advantages to ADN programs. The program covers adult health, maternal and newborn heath, and children’s health and focuses on hands-on experiences. ADN programs are also quite a bit less expensive than their BSN counterparts.

BSN Programs in Delaware

Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in Delaware are on par with other BSN degree programs across the nation. Generally, they operate on a 4-year timeline with all the components of the ADN programs, as well as additional time spent in class learning about nursing theory, management and informatics. BSN degree programs tend to prepare nurses equally well for patient care as well as professional advancement. Throughout the state, over 200 graduates take the NCLEX-RN each year, with a pass rate of about 85%. The state offers a few BSN degree programs at universities for students looking to earn their BSN.

What To Look For in a BSN Program in Delaware

Finding the right BSN program to fit your needs is an important first step in your professional path. Some of the factors that bear comparison between schools are whether the schools themselves have specialties – that is, are they ‘known’ for a particular aspect of nursing? Many students consider location as a factor – not only are in-state fees considerably lower than out of state tuition, but many students choose to lower their academic debt and commute to school from home if close enough.

Dover, Delaware is home to the renowned Delaware State University College of Education, Health, and Public Policy to which the Department of Nursing belongs. Nursing grads from the university are prepared to provide compassionate care to meet the needs of each patient they encounter.

BSN Program Length in Delaware

A regular-length BSN program is 4 years, or 8 semesters, with summers off. There are accelerated options available that make use of the full calendar year to condense the program offerings into about 2.5 years. Students should think carefully about how best to use their off time and what pace of programming would suit them best.

BSN Program Admission Requirements in Delaware

• GPA must be 3.0 or greater
• Any pre-requisite courses must be completed by the spring of the application year
• All science courses must have been taken within the prior 5 years
• NLN-PAX must be successfully passed
• Must be a student in good standing with the university
• Provide evidence of a completed background inquiry and health history
• Provide evidence of updated vaccinations

Tuition and Costs of BSN Programs in Delaware

BSN tuition is a major consideration for many students and is subject to change from year to year. Students who are taking a regular course load will have a tuition cost of about $7,500 per two semesters, which includes all mandatory university fees. These costs do not include nursing uniforms, texts, or housing and living expenses. Students are advised to research carefully to ensure they can sustain their budget over the 4 years of the program and to apply for financial aid each year.

Advantages of BSN Programs

With looming healthcare shortages, more and more students are seeing the value in choosing a BSN degree. Over the next decade, there will be gaps left in the structure of many hospitals and clinics as nurses retire, and BSN graduates are well able to move into those roles. Another key advantage to a BSN degree is the professional network between many universities and their hospitals, ensuring a positive relationship for clinical rotations.

MSN Programs in Delaware

Increasingly, students are differentiating themselves in the workforce by getting an advanced degree, in this case, the Master of Science in Nursing or MSN. Students who graduate successfully from one of Delaware’s BSN programs can apply to a variety of universities’ online campuses to complete their MSN curriculum.

MSN Program Length in Delaware

Typically, an MSN program may be as short as 2 years, or more than double that length when taken on a part-time basis. While distance education does make for more flexible scheduling, students should be cautioned about taking on too many work or volunteer commitments during their MSN coursework.

MSN Admission Requirements in Delaware

Every nursing program has standards that students must meet to gain acceptance to the program. Each program is a little different, but here are some of the core requirements:

• A BSN from an accredited institution
• A GPA of 3.0 or greater
• Competitive GRE scores dated within the last 5 years
• DE RN license in good standing

Tuition and Costs of MSN Programs in Delaware

More costly than undergraduate and college programs, master’s level studies range in their cost. Often offered as separate expenses, programs do not include additional fees, books, housing, uniforms or equipment, therefore we encourage graduate students to speak with a financial advisor to make sure that they have an understanding of the total cost of attendance.

For NP programs visit:

• Delaware DNP Programs
• Delaware FNP Programs
• Delaware Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Delaware Post-Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs

Getting a Delaware Nursing License

Delaware state regulations for nursing licensure or by endorsement are as follows:

Application completed with appropriate fees paid, also include the following documentation:

• Completed 'Authorization for release of information' for background check
• Copy of driver's license or ID from the DMV- if no driver's license, submit voter's registration card, federal tax return, military form 2058, or W-2 form
• Transcript sent from the institution directly to the board
• 'Nursing Reference Form' completed by yourself and the institution- sent directly from the school to the board
• Registration for NCLEX-RN examination

Apply for endorsement of licensure can be done by providing the above information, as well as:

• Photocopy of current license
• Verification of successful completion of NCLEX-RN

Accelerated Nursing Programs in Delaware

You may already be on the career path of becoming a nurse, but have you looked beyond graduation? There are options to accelerate your degree or bridge your existing degree with that of a higher degree. The accelerated program is offered as a full-time, on campus, 17-month degree program, and does not recommend working while taking the program, as it is quite intensive and has clinical hours running concurrently. Admission eligibility and tuition are all dependent on meeting the requirements for entrance, as some of the requirements are additional courses that will also affect tuition costs. Tuition is dependent on a variety of factors which can also include housing costs.

• Delaware Accelerated BSN Programs
• Delaware Accelerated MSN Programs

Latest Delaware NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Statistics

• Total Number of State Approved Schools: 6
• Total Number of Test Takers in 2022: 581
• 2022 Average Statewide Delaware NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 81.2%

Continued List of All RN Programs in Delaware

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