Hawaii Nurse Practitioner Programs
Though Hawaii is one of the smallest states in the country, its population is sizable. Many of the islands have very large populations, and that doesn’t even take the amount of tourists into account. As a result, prompt, accessible, and affordable health care is extremely important in this state. Nurse practitioners are one way that local health care centers can make health care more accessible to Hawaiians. If you are considering a career in advanced nursing, you may wish to find out more about becoming a nurse practitioner in Hawaii.
Hawaii’s primary care practitioner shortage is significant, leading the state to try to recruit more Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). The state loan repayment program offers up to $40,000 in loan repayment to advanced practice nurses that work in a Health Profession Shortage Area in Hawaii. The Honolulu Civil Beat notes that the practitioner shortage may become less prominent in Hawaii if facilities use nurse practitioners for their routine procedures and appointments.
As an advanced practice nurse, your increased education may help make health care safer for residents and professionals. West Hawaii Today notes that Hawaii facilities have made great strides in reducing hospital-borne infection, an effort that may continue for several more years.
One benefit of starting your career in Hawaii is the fact that Hawaii nurse practitioners have full freedom of practice. Learn more about becoming a nurse practitioner now by requesting information from the schools that offer NP programs in Hawaii today.
Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Hawaii
If you know that you eventually want to become a nurse practitioner, you can begin preparing for this career path as early as your undergraduate degree. While earning your Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you should have a GPA of at least 3.0 if you want to be considered for an NP program. In addition, you may wish to start earning relevant experience as soon as you graduate. At minimum, Hawaii schools require one year of nursing experience, and some schools may require up to three years.
After you get accepted to a Hawaii NP program, you can begin the process of applying for financial aid. Most schools have their own financial aid programs, but there are also outside funding sources to consider. If you are native to Hawaii, you may wish to try applying for the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program. The Gromet Foundation also offers scholarships to Hawaiian students. Those who live in the Maui area may wish to apply for the Maui Nurses Scholarship.
The curriculum for your nurse practitioner program may include roughly 30 credits of coursework. You may start with courses like Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice, Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice, and Leadership in Health Care Organizations. Later courses in your curriculum may include Child Health: Promotion and Maintenance, Principles of Evidence-Based Care in Advanced Nursing, Chronic Illness Management, and Advanced Practice Clinical Experience. In total, these courses can comprise about 600 hours of clinical experience.
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Hawaii
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in Hawaii oversees the licensing of nurse practitioners. They may examine your transcript and your clinical experience to verify that you meet their requirements for advanced practice licensure. Once you have an advanced practice license, you can officially begin your career in this field.
O*Net reports an expected 24 percent increase in nurse practitioner jobs from 2012 to 2022. Their estimates show that nurse practitioners in Hawaii bring in an average income of $103,000 per year (O*Net, 2013).
Becoming a nurse practitioner may be a great way to take your career to the next level. Our Hawaii NP school listings can help you begin. Simply contact the schools you are interested in learn more.