Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU) is a private, non-profit
university in Hawai'i with a total of 8,200 students. Students
are provided a rigorous and contemporary education with
undergraduate degrees available in more than 50 acclaimed
programs and graduate degrees available in 12 distinguished pus
in Kane'ohe. Classes are offered on a variety of days during the
week programs. Truly a global university, students at Hawai'i
Pacific University hail from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100
countries around the world. The experienced faculty challenge
students with an exciting integration of theory and practical
application. Hawai'i Pacific University's goal is to provide
students the knowledge and resources they need to become
distinguished and productive leaders in their field of study, the
local community, and throughout the world.
Hawai'i Pacific University is accredited by the Accrediting
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The College of
Nursing and Health Sciences (BSN and MSN degrees) is approved by
the Hawai'i Board of Nursing and accredited by the National
League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The College of
Nursing and Health Sciences is a member of the American
Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for
Nursing, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner
Faculties.
Hawai'i Pacific University combines the excitement of an urban
downtown campus with the serenity of a traditional campus set in
the green foothills of O'ahus's Ko'olau Mountains. The main
campus is located in downtown Honolulu, the business and
financial center of the Pacific. Eight miles away, situated on
135 acres in Kaneohe is the Hawai'i Loa campus. HPU is also
affiliated with the Oceanic Institute, a 56 acre aquaculture
research facility at Makapu'u Point.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Hawai'i Pacific
University is the largest Nursing Program in the state of
Hawai'i, with more than 1,500 students in the baccalaureate and
master's programs. HPU prides itself on maintaining small class
sizes and providing individual attention to students. At HPU,
students enjoy all of the technological and academic resources
expected at a large university, delivered within the atmosphere
of a small school.
HPU's Nursing Programs are built upon a strong foundation of
liberal arts to prepare students to practice as professional
nurses. HPU's liberally-educated baccalaureate nurse has the
ability to analyze, think critically, and yet express the
compassion needed in today's ever-changing health care
environment. HPU's Nursing Programs focus on developing cultural
competency so nurses are ready to serve in the multicultural
environment of our global community.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences' challenging
curriculum and competent, caring faculty guide students in
learning the skills and knowledge necessary to care for
individuals of all ages, their families and their communities.
HPU partners with facilities all over the island of O'ahu so that
students have many different options for gaining hands-on
clinical experiences. Students have the opportunity to apply
classroom and laboratory concepts, theories and skills in a wide
range of clinical settings.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
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Hawai'i Pacific University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Program offers hands on learning and one-on-one instruction in
both classroom and clinical settings. Students learn in
classrooms with an average of 30 students and in clinical groups
of eight to ten students.
Most Nursing lecture classes and laboratories are conveniently
held on the Hawai'i Loa camand/or weekends, with both day and
evening courses available. Health care facilities all over the
island of O'ahu are utilized for clinical experience. The Nursing
Program accepts students from varied backgrounds; from those just
out of high school to returning students, as well as those
seeking a second degree. The nursing student body is ethnically
and internationally diverse, spans the ages of 19 to 80 and
includes both full and part-time students.
Students are accepted directly into the College of Nursing and
Health Sciences when they apply to the University. Nursing
students must first complete General Common Core courses and
Nursing prerequisites with a minimum 2.75 GPA before progressing
into entry-level Nnursing courses. Once these prerequisite
courses are completed, the student's portfolio is reviewed again
and students are admitted into entry-level nursing courses based
on cumulative GPA, Science GPA, TEAS scores, and completed HPU
credits. HPU's Nursing program offers 140 new seats in
entry-level nursing courses each fall and each spring (280 seats
per year). Certificates in transcultural nursing, managing our
morality, forensics, and nurse education are available as well.
RN to BSN Pathway
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Students who have been admitted to HPU, who are currently
licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Hawai'i are
eligible to take the RN to BSN Pathway.
LPN to BSN Pathway
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Students who have been admitted to HPU, who have graduated from a
Practical (Vocational) Nursing Program and who are currently
licensed as a Practical (Vocational) Nurse in Hawai'i may be
admitted into the LPN/BSN Pathway. Upon acceptance into the
LPN/BSN Pathway, students may be evaluated for validation of
previous knowledge.
International Nurse Pathway
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International nurses who have been admitted to HPU may be
eligible to enroll in the International Nurse Pathway.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
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Hawai'i Pacific University's Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
program is designed to prepare students for enhanced roles in
community-based care as advanced practice nurses. The Master of
Science in Nursing offers three concentrations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Community Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Community Clinical Nurse Specialist Educator
In the Master of Science in Nursing program, students learn
contemporary approaches to delivering cost effective, quality
health care, especially to chronically under-serviced populations
such as the poor, the elderly, and those in multi-ethnic
communities. The program focuses on those skills needed by nurses
to succeed in the changing health care environment:
- Enhanced critical thinking
- Assessment
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
Opportunities exist within the graduate Nursing Program to obtain
a stand alone Nurse Educator Certificate as well as a
Post-Master's Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. It is
also possible to seek a joint degree of a MSN/MBA at HPU.
RN to MSN Pathway
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The RN to MSN Pathway allows Registered Nurses without
baccalaureate degrees in nursing to transition into the MSN
program. This pathway requires that the student have a license as
a Registered Nurse in Hawai'i for admission. Students entering
the RN to MSN Pathway are granted provisional admission status
until all prerequisites have been completed. Students who
successfully complete the program receive an MSN degree.