About the department
University of Delaware School of Nursing, a member of the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
Our mission is to advance healthcare through education, scholarship, practice and service by promoting excellence, creativity, inclusivity, and engagement.
VISION
Outstanding leadership in nursing education, scholarly inquiry, and healthcare innovation to improve regional, national, and global health and healthcare delivery.
VALUES
Excellence: Guided by our commitment to excellence, we exhibit integrity and caring and strive for outcomes that make a positive impact on the health of individuals, families, and communities.
Inclusivity: Guided by our commitment to social justice and respect, we strive to engage in research, learner-centered education, and nursing practice that supports diversity.
Engagement: Guided by our commitment to engagement and collaboration, our work is interdisciplinary and supports local communities, and regional, national and global partners.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Delaware are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
WHY UD NURSING?
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing/Master’s degree program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Delaware are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)
In some other nursing programs nursing course capacity is limited, causing students to be delayed by a semester or even a year while waiting to enter a particular sequential nursing course. At the University of Delaware, the School Director expands or contracts course capacity to accommodate all nursing majors to ensure timely completion of the program.
In other BSN programs nursing courses typically do not begin until the junior year. At the University of Delaware students begin with an introductory nursing course in fall semester of the freshman year and begin basic nursing skill development in the spring semester of the freshman year.
As part of the curriculum, students must take two nursing elective courses, although they may take more. We currently offer about 12 different elective courses ranging from traditional areas such as pediatric and maternity nursing to topics such as emergency room nursing, critical care, oncology, health care for the homeless, and transcultural nursing. Some students enjoy taking a nursing elective during one of the winter sessions offering study abroad.
For the past several years, graduates of the College of Health Sciences have had the highest or second highest starting salary of any graduate of the university, following the College of Engineering . Starting salaries average $45,000 to $50,000 a year. The current job market is excellent for nurses as evidenced by a variety of promotional offers for new hires including expanded benefits and sign-on bonuses.
In many other programs students apply to a pre-nursing program, generally the first two years of a four-year program. As they near completion of that phase, they then apply to enter nursing. At the University of Delaware , students who are admitted to nursing as freshman are guaranteed a place in the nursing program, provided they meet all program requirements.
During the first two years of the program, nursing students take courses with other majors at the university.
During clinical experiences students rotate through many different types of health care agencies. The University of Delaware holds contractual agreements with all major hospitals in New Castle County and the surrounding areas as well as a wide variety of community-based settings. Students may have clinical experiences locally in Newark and Wilmington or more regionally in southern Delaware, Elkton, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in southern New Jersey.
Students graduate as generalists in nursing having had clinical experiences in pediatric, maternity, psychiatric-mental health, medical-surgical, and community nursing. In the senior year students are given the opportunity to select a precepted clinical experience in a variety of specialty areas depending on their interests and clinical site availability.
Upon entering the nursing program all students are encouraged to participate in the Student Nurses Organization, part of the National Student Nurses’ Organization. Minority students are also invited to participate in the Multicultural Student Nurses Organization. Members of the two student nurses organizations have been involved in a variety of community activities including blood pressure screenings, cholesterol screenings, flu shot administration, participating in an annual heart walk, and adopting a family at Christmas. Professional leadership opportunities are available to students participating in these organizations.
Students graduating with the BSN from the University of Delaware are adequately prepared for and encouraged to consider graduate nursing studies. The University of Delaware offers a variety of graduate nursing specialties for nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and health services administration.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Connect
Tower at STAR: 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE 19713<br> Health Sciences Complex: 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 chs-info@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-1060