Information About Nursing Schools in Hawaii

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing career paths in the United States, a trend that has hit Hawaii hard. Hawaii healthcare facilities are expected to meet the needs of their residents in addition to the care needs of the millions of tourists that come to the state every year.Becoming a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse practitioner may allow you to take advantage of growth in this industry. You may find that there are several Hawaii nursing schools that may help you get closer to licensure as a nursing professional. Read on for more information about your education and career options for nursing in Hawaii, or click on any of the programs featured below to request program information.

Featured Programs:

Nursing Education in Hawaii

Hawaii also makes nursing education a very high priority, so you may receive numerous funding opportunities and options as a student. The Hawaii State Center of Nursing recently received a $300,000 grant for nursing schools in Hawaii.

Consider starting your education now if you’re interested in specialty positions in nursing. A new program recently launched to provide specialty training to new nurses that want to expand their skill base.

Preparing for a career in nursing requires you to be well-versed in many areas of health care, communication, and the physical sciences.

Nursing programs in Hawaii, whether they are LPN programs, Associate’s-level RN programs, or Bachelor’s-level RN programs, address these needs with a variety of courses. Some of the courses you may take as a Hawaii nursing student include Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Professionalism in Nursing, Health and Illness, Global & Public Health, and Complex Nursing & Leadership.

Get familiar with hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes in your area, as you may spend quite a bit of time there as a nursing student and as a nurse in Hawaii. Most programs require several hundred clinical hours prior to graduation, and you may complete these hours in many different settings.

Once you have been accepted to a nursing program in Hawaii, let the financial aid search begin. Although student loans may be an option, you may wish to consider grants and scholarships before turning to student loans. If you are a native Hawaiian, consider applying for the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program. In the Maui area, you may also be able to apply for grants through the Maui Nurses Scholarship Foundation. The Hawaii State Center for Nursing offers several scholarships during every academic year.

Nursing Degree Programs in Hawaii

Do you already know which program is right for you? Or are you looking for some specifics to determine whether or not a program is the right one for you? Great! Either way, BestNursingDegree has your back. Use the list below to find more information on the degree programs that interest you.

Transition programs for nurses:

Graduate programs for nurses:

Entry level nursing programs:

Are you looking for more of a high-level overview of the nursing options that you can choose from? Read on!

Hawaii LPN Programs

Admissions requirements: Proof of residency, completion of a physical screening, and a high school diploma
Credit hour range: 30 to 45 credits
Online degree options: Unavailable, due to clinical experience requirements at this level
Licensing exams: NCLEX-PN

This type of degree is the shortest option on this list. At many Hawaii technical schools and community colleges, you can complete a licensed practical nursing program in roughly one year. Throughout the course of your training, you learn how to provide basic nursing care to patients and communicate effectively with healthcare professionals. Hands-on experience is crucial, so you should be ready to complete multiple clinical rotations in local hospitals and nursing homes.

BSN Programs in Hawaii

Admissions requirements: Proof of residency, completion of a physical screening, and a high school diploma
Credit hour range: 120 or more credits
Online degree options: Some schools allow you to complete theory and general education courses online
Licensing exams: NCLEX-RN

As you learn more about nursing in Hawaii, you may find that Bachelor’s programs are growing quickly throughout this state. A growing body of evidence suggests that patient outcomes are improved when facilities hire more baccalaureate nurses. You may finish your Bachelor’s degree in nursing in approximately four years, during which time you are exposed to different specialties and work environments.

Hawaii MSN Schools

Admissions requirements: A Hawaii nursing license from the Department of Professional and Vocational Licensing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: 30 to 70 credits
Online degree options: Some areas of study do have online study options
Licensing exams: Determined by each certifying board in each nursing specialty

After you complete your Bachelor’s degree at a Hawaii school of nursing, you may choose to take your education to the next level with a Master’s degree. Master’s-level nursing programs may significantly expand your leadership opportunities. Students interested in online nursing colleges in Hawaii may choose administrative nursing specialties like nursing informatics, nursing leadership, and nurse education.

DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Hawaii

Admissions requirements: A Hawaii nursing license and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: 80 to 90 credits
Online degree options: Offered in some areas of study, while others do require clinical experience
Licensing exams: Vary between different nursing specialties

There are several paths you may follow to earn a doctoral degree in nursing. If you have high grades and strong references, you may enter a DNP or PhD program after completing your Bachelor’s in nursing. Otherwise, you may finish your Master of Science in Nursing before moving on to a doctoral program.

While DNP programs tend to be clinical in nature and PhD programs tend to be research-based, both options offer training in each of these areas.

Nursing Colleges in Hawaii with Nursing Bridge Programs

If you have already gone through some postsecondary training, either in nursing or in another field, you may be able to save time on your nursing degree. Bridge programs aim to meet the needs of nontraditional students who have the credits needed to graduate in a shorter time frame.

Some Hawaii schools have accelerated nursing programs for students who have already completed their first Bachelor’s degree. These programs are time-efficient, since they do not require students to spend an additional four years on a BSN. Rather, they allow students to finish several years of nursing education in just 12 to 18 months.

Direct entry MSN programs are similar. They begin with entry-level nursing courses that permit students to get their RN license before beginning graduate coursework.

Other programs are designed for working licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.

In an LPN to RN program, you may qualify for RN licensure in 12 months or less. LPN to BSN programs can often be completed in about three years. RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs combine online study with clinical experience. If you have enough experience as a working nurse, you may be able to attend some RN to BSN Hawaii nursing programs online.

Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Hawaii

Now that you know which type of nursing degree may help you achieve your professional goals, you have to find a school that aligns with your learning style. Nursing programs are offered at both public and private schools, so consider both options. However, educational expenses tend to vary widely between these types of institutions. In addition to learning about tuition rates, explore financial aid options at each school. Depending on your financial history and your GPA, you may qualify for need-based aid, merit-based aid, or both.

One of the first factors you should look at while comparing Hawaii schools is accreditation. Accreditation is important in any area of study, but it is particularly crucial in nursing. Attending an accredited school may streamline the licensing process, permitting you to start working more quickly. The two largest accrediting agencies in the United States are the CCNE and the ACEN.

It’s clear that clinical work is an extremely important part of nursing education, so you want to attend a school that offers the right type and amount of clinical experience. If you want to work in a specialized area of nursing, it’s essential to complete relevant clinical rotations as a student. Furthermore, you may want to attend a school that goes beyond minimum clinical hour requirements. This may give you more time to become comfortable working with patients and healthcare providers.

2017 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions

Nursing is a unique field, considering that each level of study tends to lead to very specific career options. Graduate and doctoral programs are the exception, since these degrees may lead to a variety of clinical and administrative positions. Still, at these levels of study, you choose an area of focus that narrows your range of career options. As a result, you can more easily study and understand the local job market.

After attending one of Hawaii’s licensed practical nursing training programs, you may be ready to apply for positions at nursing homes and hospitals. Between 2014 and 2024, statewide demand for licensed practical nurses may increase 9% (O*Net, 2017). In Hawaii, the average salary for an LPN is $48,980 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

Graduates of baccalaureate registered nursing degree programs may put their skills to work in many types of facilities and specialized departments. The average annual income for a Hawaii registered nurse is $88,910 (BLS, 2017). Demand for registered nurses may increase 13% by the year 2024 (O*Net, 2017).

Many students who pursue graduate or doctoral study choose to attend nurse practitioner degree programs in Hawaii. Nurse practitioners may provide independent care to patients, so they are in high demand throughout Hawaii. A 26% boost in job openings is expected by the year 2024 (O*Net, 2017). Hawaii nurse practitioners bring in an average of $117,180 per year (BLS, 2017).

As you work toward your degree and start working in healthcare, you may find that you become part of a growing nursing community in Hawaii. As a result, you may enjoy the support from other nursing professionals and get access to the latest research in this field. Nurse researchers in Hawaii are currently studying a link between oral bacteria and preterm labor, which may lead to developments that help more babies be born at full term (UH-Manoa, 2017).