DSU received a financial boost, plans to expand its nursing program

DOVER, Del. – In a post pandemic reality, hospitals are feeling the effects of a nursing shortage.

“COVID ravaged our units of our nurses. Also, nurses were getting ill, and the amount of stress that were put on them,” said Delaware State University nursing school chair, Dr. Agnes Richardson.

To combat the issue, Delaware State University is using over $1 million, donated through the Longwood Foundation, to expand their nursing program.

Dr. Richardson said the money will help mold the students of today into the nurses of the future.

“We are looking at growing our program, which will help further infuse the professional nurses within the field,” Dr. Richardson said. “We’re trying to make sure that students that want to be nurses, they understand what it is.”

An undergrad going through her first phases of nursing school, Italia Simpson, said she wants to tackle some of the industry’s toughest issues, and the programs expansion will help her do just that.

“Just having diversity in the field and being able to speak up and recognize the wrong that are occurring, is important to developing a better future,” Simpson said.

As the university prepares to divvy out the funds, Simpson is hopeful she and her peers will be able to use the boost to be change makers in their field.

“We’re the future. Nursing students are the future, so we can strive and make sure we’re achieving our optimal level of education,” Simpson said.