2 Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Delaware – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Once they’ve practiced under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician for two years and put in a minimum of 4,000 hours, nurse practitioners in Delaware can practice independently. The number of nurse practitioners in The Diamond State is projected to go up by nearly 55 percent in the next ten years as NPs become an increasingly important part of the state’s primary healthcare delivery system. Once you graduate from one of the accredited nurse practitioner schools in Delaware and gain your certification, you’ll make approximately $120,570 a year. Information about the best nurse practitioner programs in Delaware for 2024 can be found below.

WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN DELAWARE (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 2 Best NP programs in Delaware for the year 2024.)

1) University Of Delaware - Newark

Programs Offered: MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate

Nurse practitioner programs in Delaware that offer you a wide range of program options are barely a few. The University of Delaware is one of the nursing schools that offers aspiring NPs a range of options, in terms of programs and specializations. Whether you already have a graduate degree in nursing or are just a BSN-prepared registered nurse, here through career-focused, evidence-based NP tracks you can gain clinical excellence. The college emphasizes population-focused healthcare and equips you with relevant tools to develop enhanced skills in clinical reasoning and critical thinking. Its faculty actively engages in path-breaking research, for which the college receives generous funding from the NIH and other external sources. As an NP student, you can get onto this path of discovery & innovation and gather valuable learning lessons in several specialty areas. To become a nurse practitioner in Delaware, here, you can enroll either in the MSN, BSN to DNP, or post-master’s certificate and choose a specialty area based on your interests.

MSN Concentrations: Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

This MSN program is open to BSN-prepared registered nurses who are keen on entering the field of advanced practice nursing. The program is offered with specialization options in family health, adult-gerontology health, and psychiatric mental health. Regardless of the track you enroll in, you will take three years to graduate with an MSN-NP degree. To graduate, you must complete 46 credits and 728 hours of clinical practice. All three tracks start with core courses in pharmacology, population health, pathophysiology, health assessment, evidence-based practices, followed by the specialty-specific courses related to your chosen population focus.

BSN to DNP Concentrations: Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

If you aspire to become an expert in advanced practice nursing, then this program can seamlessly take your BSN to the doctoral level. This nurse practitioner program in Delaware prepares you for this impactful role through three NP paths, family health, adult-gerontology care, and psychiatric mental health. You can enroll either in the part-time or full-time schedule. This BSN to DNP curriculum comprises 81 credits and 1120 hours of clinical practice. Apart from the graduate core and specialty-focus courses, you will require completing a DNP project and clinical immersion.

Post-Master’s Certificate Concentrations: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Whether you want to become an AGNP, FNP, or PMHNP, at this university, you can build on your master’s knowledge and gain specialized skills in your chosen area of focus. To qualify for this program, the college requires you to have an MSN and an active RN license in Delaware. Requirements for graduation, regardless of the specialization you choose are based on a gap analysis.

2) Wilmington University - New Castle

Programs Offered: MSN to DNP, Post MSN NP Graduate Certificate, and DNP with Post-Master's Certificate

Wilmington University offers one of the most comprehensive nurse practitioner programs in Delaware. Here, depending on your previous degree, you can choose from three paths, MSN to DNP, post-master’s certificate, or a combined DNP with a post-master’s certificate. The college is known for its career-focused training and its faculty who are practitioners, bring in their years of real-world experience to the classroom. To accommodate the scheduling needs of busy students, the college offers flexible schedules, with new cohorts starting twice a year. Furthermore, the hybrid format, requires you to attend on-campus classes, only once a week in the evening while completing a major portion of the coursework through online classes.

MSN to DNP Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner

This is a unique nurse practitioner program in Delaware wherein during your MSN-NP coursework you complete two courses of the DNP curriculum. This way after you graduate with an MSN-NP degree, you can complete your DNP in an accelerated format, requiring earning 21 credits as against the usual 33 credits. The two DNP courses include bioethics for advanced nursing practice and healthcare informatics. Through this program, you first complete the MSN-NP coursework and then advance to the DNP curriculum. So, with this program, you will not only earn an MSN and DNP but also the eligibility to take the FNP certification exam.

Post-MSN NP Certificate Concentrations: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

This program is meant for MSN-prepared RNs who are aspiring to specialize in an area of advanced practice nursing. With five specializations, this is a great option if you are looking at increasing your earning potential and rising the professional hierarchy. You can choose to complete the coursework either in the online or on-campus format, depending on your preference. The program requires you to complete around 30 credits in specialization-specific courses. Also, the coursework includes 500 hours of clinical practice in your chosen area of specialization.

DNP with Post-Master's Certificate Concentrations: Combined Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate & DNP and Combined Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate & DNP

Through this program, you can earn a DNP concurrently while pursuing a post-master’s certificate in family health or psychiatric mental health. To be eligible for this program, you must have a master’s degree in nursing and a valid RN license. Regardless of the specialization you choose, you require earning a total of 63 combined credits, comprising 30 in NP certificate and 33 in doctoral courses. Also, a total of 1000 hours of clinical practice is required to graduate from this combined degree. Additionally, you are required to complete a DNP project towards the end of the program.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the Total Number of Accredited NP Programs in Delaware?

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners reports that currently there are Six accredited nurse practitioner programs in Delaware.




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