Physician shortages across the country are projected to worsen in the coming years. While this is likely to affect states across the country, Delaware faces some unique challenges. One of them is that the state only has one medical school, making it challenging to attract and keep physicians in the First State. Of Delaware’s three counties, Kent and Sussex, the more rural of the three, have been designated as medically underserved areas.
In 2021, Delaware enacted a law giving nurse practitioners in the state full practice authority, meaning they can practice independently. This law gives nurses a unique opportunity to fill these healthcare gaps, particularly in the rural areas that are disproportionately affected.
Delaware may be a small state, but it offers many opportunities for nurse practitioners. There are two organizations, the Advanced Practice Nurse Council of the Delaware Nurses Association and the Delaware Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, where advanced practice nurses can network, and multiple hospital systems where they can work. These include Christiana Care Health System, Bayhealth, and St Francis Healthcare.
There are also plenty of ways to spend your free time in this state. Head to Rehoboth Beach and spend the day on the boardwalk, spend a day in historical Lewes, head to Cape Henlopen State Park to spot the wildlife, or go for a long bike ride on the trails at Cape Henlopen State Park.
In Delaware, there are three universities where interested nurses can pursue a nurse practitioner degree. These universities and their programs are detailed below.
Program Overview:
Delaware State University has two locations, one in the northern part of the state in Wilmington and the other about 50 miles south in downtown Dover. (The university acquired Wesley College in 2021 and renamed it DSU Downtown.) DSU has a long and unique history dating back to 1891 when it was established as the Delaware College for Colored Students. Today, it is one of the country’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities and serves a diverse population.
The Wesley College of Health & Behavioral Sciences at DSU offers an online BSN to FNP option that emphasizes holistic, evidence-based care and addresses healthcare disparities. This program consists of 47 credits and 765 in-person clinical hours over 16 courses, offered in eight- or sixteen-week blocks. Students have 24/7 access to online courses and can complete the program in two to 2.5 years.
Program Overview:
The University of Delaware is one of the oldest universities in the country, with roots dating back to 1743. It began as an institution for educating clergy, originally located in New London, Pennsylvania. By 1765, the college relocated to Newark, Delaware, and was renamed Delaware College in 1843. A women’s college opened in 1914, and in 1921, the two schools merged and became the University of Delaware.
The School of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences offers multiple NP pathways. The online BSN to FNP program is 48 credits with 816 clinical hours. UD also offers master’s-level NP options for those wishing to pursue a 42-credit BSN to AGNP Acute Care program with 816 clinical hours, a 45-credit BSN to AGNP Primary Care program with 748 clinical hours, and a 44-credit BSN to PNP option with 816 clinical hours. These programs are designed to be completed in three years, and nurses can complete them while working full-time.
UD also offers two doctorate programs for BSN-prepared nurses. Both the BSN to DNP FNP option and the BSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care require 81 credit hours and 1120 clinical hours. While the MSN programs offer programs 100% online, the DNP tracks offer some online courses combined with on-campus learning. Students may have to come to campus between two and eight days a semester.
Multiple post-graduate certificates are available at UD, too, including a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to FNP, a Post-Graduate certificate MSN to AGNP Acute Care, a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to AGNP Primary Care, and a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP. Specific requirements vary from one program to the next, but they can generally be completed in one or two years with part-time study, and most require 500 clinical hours. Students will be given a formal gap analysis of previously completed coursework to determine if they are eligible for a reduction in coursework.
Program Overview:
Established in 1968, Wilmington University is a private nonprofit that serves a wide range of students, including working adults and non-traditional students. The College of Health Professions & Natural Sciences offers several flexible options for those who wish to pursue an NP degree.
The BSN to FNP option is available in two formats, online and hybrid, with in-person classes held at the Dover and Brandywine campuses. This program is 55 credits with a minimum of 700 clinical hours and takes seven semesters to complete. The hybrid option consists of a combination of online learning and synchronous virtual classes with two in-person seminars twice a year during practicums.
Wilmington University also offers a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to FNP option for nurses who already hold an MSN in another discipline. This program requires 700 clinical hours and has 55 credits. Each student will undergo a gap analysis to determine what courses they must complete. Courses are offered online and in-person at the New Castle, Brandywine, and Dover campuses.
Nurses also have the option of a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to FNP and DNP, which is the only NP DNP option in the state. This dual degree program allows students to earn a post-master’s certificate and doctorate at the same time. The program is 75 credits total. The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate portion is 42 credits and 700 clinical hours and the DNP portion is 33 credits. Note that this program requires students to apply to both the Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program and the DNP program, and acceptance into one does not guarantee acceptance to the other. These programs are offered online and in a traditional classroom setting, and in-person classes are held on the New Castle campus.