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DSU nursing program earns accreditation renewal

Milton Pratt
/
Delaware Public Media

Changes made over the last three years are paying off for the nursing program at Delaware State University. 

The program remains in good standing after receiving renewed accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Program Chair Agnes Richardson said the accreditation is good for the next eight years.  

“They want to ensure the product we are putting out is competent, qualified, and safe.  So, programs do have issues at some point.  Some of them do. Ours did as well,” Richardson said.  “Therefore, we had to make changes.  And, we did make changes.  Significant changes.” 

The program’s accreditation was renewed after making what the school calls “significant” improvements to its admissions policy, curriculum, and faculty.

Richardson said the university has a strong interest in the program and expects it to grow. 

“Nurses are considered first responders.  And, the demand will increase,” Richardson said.  “We were seeing that before.  But now, with the everchanging world we’re living in and the healthcare needs of the people of the United States, nurses are in high demand.”        

The Delaware Nursing Board placed the DSU nursing program on probation in 2017 for below average board exam scores.  

Today’s students must have a 3.0 GPA in pre-nursing courses and pass an exam before admission to the nursing program.  There are 55 students currently enrolled in the program.