Delaware Nursing Colleges, Degrees & Licenses
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“Most people do not realize the vast range of specialties and career paths available within nursing… Nursing is a dynamic field that allows for continuous growth and adaptability to evolving healthcare needs.”
Lisa Drews, EdD, Professor, College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences, Wilmington University
Nursing has long been a respected and challenging profession. Nursing professionals have provided care to numerous patients during times of war and peace, amid social upheaval, and in many other circumstances. Several challenges beset the nursing profession. Some of these challenges include the demographic shift towards an older population occurring in many developed nations, including the United States, the multiple and enduring impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid technological change, a need for more nurse educators, and a healthcare delivery model frequently driven by profit that risks contributing to professional burnout, patient safety issues and other problems.
The state of Delaware, a small state located on the Atlantic Coast, has a nursing workforce that faces both significant challenges and opportunities. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023) noted Delaware has 11,810 registered nurses serving a state population of approximately one million people. This translates to about one nurse for every one hundred people.
Delaware’s nursing workforce faces several challenges. Prominent challenges include professional burnout, workforce attrition, the local cost of living, and retention of newly trained professionals. Professional burnout can result from many factors, including an excessive workload, institutional priorities that do not closely align with a nurse’s professional and personal values, massive and unexpected stressors like the Covid-19 pandemic, and concurrent demands in a nurse’s private life such as family and children that, when combined with work demands, prove too much to bear. Workforce attrition is also attributable to many factors. It can contribute to lower morale among nurses who remain, higher rates of patient safety issues, and increased difficulty in adequately mentoring recently hired nurses. The cost of living is an additional stressor for many nurses in Delaware. Making ends meet can necessitate nurses taking on another job, leaving them with little time for self-care.
The cost of living can also contribute to retention issues as newly trained nurses may seek employment in job markets where their money will stretch further. The challenges above also interact with one another, augmenting their negative impacts. Therefore, the state’s strategy to sustain its nursing workforce must be multi-pronged, adaptive, and tailored to local conditions.
Despite what is correctly understood as a very challenging situation, Delaware is proactively improving its nursing workforce. For example, in October 2022, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester organized a roundtable to promote the National Nursing Workforce Center Act. This bill would create a three-year pilot program to establish or support state-based nursing workforce centers in Delaware and throughout the country. Such workforce centers already exist in other states. The state also attempts to address its serious certified nursing assistant (CNA) shortage.
In December 2023, the state began offering a Tuition Incentive Program to attract more state employees to work as certified nursing assistants. The Bear Professional Institute, the Delaware Skills Center, and Sussex County Vocational Technical School District have partnered to provide CNA training. Partnerships and exchange of institutional capacity with the network of healthcare providers and related educational institutions in the Washington, DC metro area may also prove helpful in addressing Delaware’s nursing workforce needs.
Read on to discover Delaware’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers in this state, as well as an expert’s perspective.
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Meet the Expert: Lisa Drews, EdD
Dr. Lisa Drews is a professor and chair of the RN-to-BSN and MSN leadership program at the College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences at Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware. She is a highly experienced, doctorally prepared registered nurse with certifications as a nurse educator and clinical nurse educator from the National League for Nursing (NLN) and as a nurse manager and leader from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).
A skilled case manager and educator, Dr. Drews has extensive experience in patient care across the lifespan, complemented by expertise in Basic Life Support (BLS) and telemetry. Renowned for her dedication to education, she excels in course and curriculum development, competency-based education, and innovative teaching and learning strategies.
With strong clinical expertise and a focus on leadership and professional development, Dr. Drews brings valuable insights to clinical and higher education settings. A committed advocate for human trafficking awareness, she frequently presents on this critical issue. She serves as associate director for the Professional Development Committee of the Delaware Nurses Association and as a guest lecturer for Sellars Educate. She is an active member of several esteemed organizations, including the American Nurses Association (ANA), Delaware Nurses Association (DNA), NLN, Delaware Organization for Nurse Leaders (DONL), Sigma Theta Tau (Omicron Chapter), and AONL.
NursingColleges.com: What is something most people don’t know about the nursing profession?
Dr. Drews: Most people do not realize the vast range of specialties and career paths available within nursing. Beyond bedside care, nurses work in leadership, research, education, informatics, policy development, public health, and advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists. Nursing is a dynamic field that allows for continuous growth and adaptability to evolving healthcare needs.
NursingColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you’d give to a prospective nursing student?
Dr. Drews: Stay curious and open to learning, both in and out of the classroom. Utilize the professional development you accomplish in practice to be a springboard for future endeavors. Nursing requires a strong foundation in science, critical thinking, compassion, resilience, and adaptability. Build a support system early—connect with mentors, classmates, and faculty—and remember to prioritize self-care. Nursing school is rigorous, but your dedication and passion will pave the way for a rewarding career.
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Delaware
The University of Delaware (UD) School of Nursing offers a traditional, four-year, on-campus bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program. This program is suitable for both high school graduates and university students who change their majors to nursing. Students are directly admitted into the nursing program and can thus start nursing coursework in their freshman year. The degree program features courses that naturally build upon one another, access to UD’s Center for Simulation Innovation, Interdisciplinary Education and Entrepreneurship, and talented faculty. Students also benefit from service-learning opportunities, an active network of student organizations, study-abroad programming, and undergraduate research opportunities.
Highly motivated students and those seeking to pursue graduate nursing study may find the UD School of Nursing Honors Program particularly interesting. This program offers many advantages, including opportunities to probe course content, collaboration with faculty in their research endeavors, networking with other honors students, additional clinical training experience, exposure to public policy, access to study abroad programming, and more.
- Location: Newark, DE
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Delaware State University (DSU) Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences offers an undergraduate nursing degree program (BSN), emphasizing in-person learning between faculty and students. Students develop skills in smart classrooms, simulation labs, and their field work training requirements. Common fieldwork placements include hospitals, public clinics, schools, and assisted living facilities. Placements are available throughout the tri-state area of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Upon graduation, students are prepared to pass the NCLEX-RN examination to become a licensed RN.
The DSU BSN program is a traditional four-year program that requires completion of approximately 120 credits. Students first complete a two-year pre-professional phase consisting of 66 to 67 credits in general education, core, and science coursework. Students apply to their degree’s professional nursing training portion in their sophomore year. Upon completion of their pre-professional phase, students then complete 55 credits of professional nursing courses over an additional two-year period. Nursing coursework includes a writing intensive course and a senior capstone project.
- Location: Dover, DE
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The Beebe Medical Center Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing at Beebe offers a two-year diploma nursing program. The School of Nursing is noteworthy for its state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facilities open to students at all levels of study. In particular, the curriculum incorporates high-fidelity simulation labs and multi-bed skills labs. Through these lab settings, students gain extensive experience designed to prepare them to provide high-quality patient care that is evidence-based, multidisciplinary, collaborative, and high-quality. The curriculum emphasizes basic nursing concepts, advanced technology, and critical care nursing.
Admission requires satisfactory completion of prerequisite coursework in various subjects such as English composition, anatomy, sociology, psychology, and microbiology. Students may complete such courses at Delaware Technical and Community College or from another nearby college. Students must also have completed a nursing assistant course within two years before enrollment or have a current nursing assistant certification to be eligible for admission. To graduate, students complete a total of 48 credit hours of nursing coursework and 1,440 clinical training hours.
Students seeking nursing education in southern Delaware may find the joint education program offered by the University of Delaware and Rollins School of Nursing interesting. This educational partnership is a three-year program that offers students the chance to earn both an associate in arts degree from the University of Delaware and a professional nursing diploma from the Rollins School of Nursing.
Students who ultimately wish to complete a BSN can use their experience at Beebe Medical Center to enroll in the BSN completion program at Wilmington University. To be eligible for this BSN completion program, students must complete the aforementioned prerequisite coursework, the Rollins School nursing diploma coursework, and three additional courses. This BSN completion program ultimately requires another year of study.
- Location: Lewes, DE
- Duration: Two years; three years for those who complete a BSN at Wilmington University
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Wilmington University offers a 120-credit bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program featuring a curriculum emphasizing skills in clinical care, communication, problem-solving, and leadership. The program is offered via in-person, online, and hybrid learning delivery models and can be completed part-time or full-time. Required general education courses further enhance students’ preparation to enter the nursing profession successfully.
Students learn as individuals as well as in group learning experiences. Students also develop skills and confidence within community learning experiences. While learning in a group setting is critical, every student’s program of study will be unique and adapted to that student’s unique circumstances, needs, and aspirations. Some factors that influence the form a student’s program of study takes include available transfer credits, pace of study, and additional learning and professional experiences that may ultimately reduce the time necessary to complete this program. Students who decide to pursue a graduate nursing degree at Wilmington University may be able to take advantage of the Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE program.
- Location: New Castle, DE
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Delaware
The Delaware State University Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences offers a number of degree programs in the helping professions. Those aspiring to further their nursing education can choose from one of three options for a master of science degree in nursing. The MSN options are psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), nursing education, and global leadership.
The PMHNP program is a 47 credit, eight-semester-long program that emphasizes holistic, evidence-based care for patients with mental illness throughout the human lifespan. The curriculum features training in primary prevention, health promotion, and interventions to both treat and manage a variety of forms of mental illness. The 33-credit nursing education option trains students in teaching strategy, curriculum development, and evidence-based pedagogy.
In addition, students gain additional insights from nursing science and participate in research to ultimately become effective practitioners in teaching, research, and civic engagement. The program can be completed in six semesters. The global leadership program is also a 33-credit program designed to be completed in six semesters. Students learn leadership techniques, organizational development, and brainstorm and develop solutions to healthcare challenges. The curriculum is designed to train future leaders and change agents who will empower individual nurses and nursing workforces to effectively respond to health challenges from the local to the global level.
- Location: Dover, DE
- Duration: Six to eight semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The University of Delaware College of Health Sciences serves as a center of multidisciplinary research, education, patient care, and public outreach. UD cultivates a student body of individuals aspiring to become clinicians, nurses, therapists, and scientists who are dedicated to improving patient health outcomes and the functioning of large and complex healthcare systems.
UD offers a large number of advanced practice MSN degree tracks. These are the adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialist (AGCNS), the adult/gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP), the family nurse practitioner (FNP), nursing education (NE), and pediatric primary care nurse practitioner (PNP), and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Tracks focused on training nurses to provide clinical care naturally require clinical hours of training as part of the curriculum.
UD has historically offered other popular programs such as the MSN neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), the MSN nursing of children clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and the RN-to-MSN with a concentration in health services administration. Regardless of the chosen track, students can expect a rigorous curriculum that effectively prepares them for careers in Delaware, the United States, or abroad. Prospective students should thoroughly research degree tracks of interest to verify future openness to new student enrollment.
- Location: Newark, DE
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Ranked as the most affordable private, non-profit university in its region, Wilmington University offers a diverse collection of degree and certificate programs designed to meet the needs of traditional students starting their formal education, non-traditional students, and working adults seeking to advance their careers through additional education. The Wilmington University College of Health Professions offers two master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program tracks. These are the MSN in nurse leadership and the MSN nurse practitioner (NP) tracks.
The MSN in nurse leadership program is a 36-credit program offered to registered nurses with current unencumbered licenses. The curriculum, which may be completed in a traditional classroom setting or online, is designed to prepare students for advanced practice positions in one of four roles, namely as executive, educator, legal nurse consultant or in the field of public health. Students interested in broadening their skills and employability may still wish to complete the dual MSN-MBA program.
This 51-credit program features a rigorous curriculum based on the skills necessary to succeed in leadership roles in numerous settings, including advanced nursing practice, nursing research, bioethics, managerial accounting, and financial management. This dual degree program is also available in person or online. Another dual degree option is the MSN paired with a master of science in management (MSM). Both dual-degree options feature a health care administration (HCA) focus.
The other MSN track is the MSN NP track. This track prepares nurses for advanced practice nursing roles as primary care providers for both individuals and families across the human lifespan. Such practitioners may work in acute or chronic healthcare settings. The NP program is only offered in traditional classrooms at the Wilson Graduate Center and Georgetown campuses. Students may choose between one of two concentrations within this track. These are the Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification exams or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
- Location: New Castle, DE
- Duration: Two to three years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Nursing School Accreditation
Accreditation is a process designed to provide appropriate recognition, operational continuity, and information vital to academic institutions, the larger regulatory bureaucracy in which educational institutions function, and current and prospective students. Accreditation is an attestation to the integrity and capacity of academic programs and the institutions of higher education in which they function to provide education of sufficient quality to reliably prepare students to become professionals capable of meaningfully offering their skills within the labor market.
Accreditation provides prospective students peace of mind. Accredited academic programs and their corresponding higher education institutions give applicants confidence that their decision to pursue additional education will be a worthwhile investment. Academic nursing programs are typically accredited by one of two accrediting organizations. These are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
In Delaware, nursing professionals seek and renew their licenses through the Delaware Board of Nursing Division of Professional Regulation. Licensure requirements typically vary according to state and the type of nursing an individual practices.
Delaware is among most states that are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). In other words, a multi-state license allows a nurse to practice in both a home state (state of residency) and all NLC member states. The NLC allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold a multi-state Delaware license to care for patients in other NLC states without being required to obtain a permit in these other states. While keeping a multi-state license in an NLC member state has certain very real advantages, it is essential to remember that the NLC requires nurses to abide by the nursing practice laws and rules of the states in which they practice. Nurses must always be licensed in the states where they provide nursing services at the time such services are rendered.
Continuing education is generally required to maintain and renew a nursing license. If a nurse decides to move out of state or pursue work in a different specialization, the nurse may need to fulfill additional education or other requirements to practice elsewhere.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Delaware?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of January 2025.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 630,250 | 1,780 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,790 | $63,490 |
| 10th percentile | $45,670 | $53,080 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,730 | $63,190 |
| 90th percentile | $77,870 | $72,460 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,175,390 | 11,810 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $94,480 | $94,670 |
| 10th percentile | $63,720 | $73,800 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,070 | $93,200 |
| 90th percentile | $132,680 | $122,670 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 47,810 | 80 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $214,200 | $207,030 |
| 10th percentile | $139,980 | $119,260 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $212,650 | $227,960 |
| 90th percentile | >$239,200 | >$239,200 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 6,960 | 30 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $131,570 | $121,690 |
| 10th percentile | $87,320 | $84,290 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,650 | $124,840 |
| 90th percentile | $177,530 | $161,000 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 280,140 | 1,140 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $128,490 | $131,110 |
| 10th percentile | $94,530 | $106,420 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,260 | $130,260 |
| 90th percentile | $168,030 | $164,600 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Division of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing |
LPN license applicants in Delaware must:
|
LPN licenses in Delaware are renewed every two years. To renew, LPNs must do the following:
Licenses expire on February 28 of even years. |
Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Division of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing | RN license applicants in Delaware must:
|
Every two years RN license holders in Delaware nurse must do the following to renew their license:
Licenses expire on February 28, May 31, or September 30 of odd years. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Delaware, CNSs are licensed as APRNs, and an individual must meet the following requirements:
|
APRN licenses will expire the same date as Delaware RN licenses. RN licenses must be renewed before renewing an APRN license. During renewal, the applicant must verify they have completed one of the following requirements for the focus area in which they are licensed:
The renewal of the RN license requires 30 contact hours of continuing education. |
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Delaware, CNMs are licensed as APRNs, and an individual must meet the following requirements:
|
APRN licenses in Delaware expire the same date as Delaware RN licenses. RN licenses must be renewed before renewing an APRN license. During renewal, the applicant must verify they have completed one of the following requirements for the focus area in which they are licensed:
The renewal of the RN license requires 30 contact hours of continuing education. |
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Nurse practitioners in Delaware are licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and must meet the following requirements:
|
A renewal license will be sent via email a few months before the expiration date. APRN licenses will expire the same date as Delaware RN licenses. RN licenses must be renewed before renewing an APRN license. During renewal, the applicant must verify they have completed one of the following requirements for the focus area in which they are licensed:
The renewal of the RN license requires 30 contact hours of continuing education. |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) Licensure in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware licenses CRNAs who meet the following requirements:
|
CRNA licenses expire the same date as Delaware RN licenses. RN licenses must be renewed before renewing an APRN license. During renewal, the applicant must verify they have completed one of the following requirements for the focus area in which they are licensed:
The renewal of the RN license requires 30 contact hours of continuing education. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterAt NursingColleges.com, Rachel Drummond has applied her extensive experience in education and mindfulness to elucidate the importance of self-care for nursing students since 2022. Through her writings, she underscores the role of mental and physical well-being in fostering resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.