A Capstone Project submitted to the Nursing Department of Wesley College revealed that 14 percent of Delaware's RNs have their MSN, and advanced practice nurses make up six percent of practicing nurses in the state. Although the vacancy rate for all advanced practice nurses in Delaware hospitals has decreased from about 12 percent in 2000 to less than four percent as of 2009, there are still opportunities available, particularly for nurse practitioners, according to the Delaware Healthcare Association.
Healthcare reform has created a need for more primary care health providers, and NPs fit this role perfectly. A salary survey published by Advance for Nurse Practitioners showed that the mean annual salary for NPs in Delaware is about $78,000 and on the rise.
Other MSN opportunities include leadership and educator roles. Twelve percent of Delaware's RNs are in leadership roles, and since 2002 the Delaware Health Care Commission has been working to enhance these nursing roles. Like the rest of the nation, Delaware has an acute need for nurse educators. For more information, check out the Delaware Nurses Association, Delaware Board of Nursing and the Advanced Practice Nurse Council of Delaware.
Programs to consider:
University of Delaware (Newark, DE). UD offers online and hybrid campus-based MSNs in such concentrations as adult and pediatric CNS and nurse practitioner programs.
Wilmington University (New Castle, DE). WU offers several nursing leadership MSNs in such focus areas as executive nursing, legal nurse consulting, and nursing education.
