MEPN Frequently Asked Questions
Please utilize this page to answer your questions regarding the program, career professional issues, prerequisites, and the application process.
PROGRAM:
1. When will the next program start?
Fall 2009. We are in the process of updating our document due dates. Please check back shortly.
2. How long is the program?
This will depend upon what specialty area you select (e.g. Family Nurse Practitioner vs. Nursing Education vs Nursing Administration/MBA).
The first year, “pre-licensure year”, will be spent preparing you to take the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Once the NCLEX exam is completed and passed, you will immediately go on to the specialty of your choice and finish the remainder of the program. For more information on the various specialties being offered please visit our nursing website at http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/Academics.html
3. Will I be able to take the NCLEX-RN?
Nursing graduates are required to successfully pass a national licensing exam, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Exam (NCLEX-RN), in order to work as a Registered Nurse (RN). Additional national certification is required for specialization as an advanced practice nurse.
Currently, graduates from the baccalaureate nursing program at UH Mānoa are deemed eligible to take the NCLEX-RN as in accordance with the Hawai’i Administrative Rules Title 16, Chapter 89. The UH Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene has provisional approval by the Hawai’i State Board of Nursing to offer the MEPN. However, because the MEPN is a new graduate level program with a pre-licensure completion component the process is underway to update the Administrative Rules to ensure eligibility to take the exam.
4. Will I be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
No. This program is a Master’s Degree program and does not award an undergraduate baccalaureate degree. Applicants are required to have a baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. Students then study for one year in preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Upon successfully passing this examination, students are ready to move into the Master of Science specialty phase of their program.
5. Will I be able to work during the first year of the program?
No. The first year of study in the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing includes all the didactic and clinical nursing study usually distributed over several years and is, therefore, extremely intensive. It entails both clinical and class work per week in addition to study time. Students are advised to come prepared to be in clinical and/or class up to seven days per week. There may be some evening and holiday classes and/or clinicals. Consequently, it is impossible for students to be employed during this year.
6. Can I begin working once I have my RN license?
The MEPN program is viewed as a continuous three-year program. Students are expected to proceed without taking time out. This is primarily due to the fact that "specialty" clinical placements must be secured and guaranteed for each student at the time of admission and interruptions to normal progression make planning impossible.
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CAREER/PROFESSIONAL ISSUES: (Adapted from UCSF website)
7. What is the difference between a B.S. in Nursing vs. an M.S. in Nursing?
The purpose of the bachelor of science in nursing program is to prepare a generalist professional nurse to deliver care in a variety of health care settings, meet the state requirements for eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), and obtain a sound basis for graduate study in nursing.
An advanced practice nurse is a registered nurse with graduate academic preparation and advanced clinical skills which qualifies him/her as an expert in a specific area of knowledge and practice. Typically, advanced practice nurses belong to one of four categories – nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife or nurse anesthetist. The University of Hawai’i School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene offers two of those categories – the nurse practitioner and the clinical nurse specialist.
The advanced practice nurse’s role is very broad and is a combination of clinician, educator, consultant, researcher, and/or administrator. Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse administrators are all considered advanced nursing practice.
8. What is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Clinical Nurse Specialist? What do their jobs really entail?
The nurse practitioner is generally involved with the primary healthcare needs of the individuals and families as well as disease prevention, health promotion, and management of chronic illness. Nurse practitioners generally practice in settings such health clinics, community health centers, schools, nursing homes, business and industry.
Clinical nurse specialists, on the other hand, are experts in a specific, concentrated area of study (such as neurological nursing or oncology, etc.) and act as expert clinicians, educators, or researchers. Most clinical nurse specialists work in hospitals, ambulatory care settings, and home health.
These descriptions only touch on the functions of each role. If you are planning a career as an advanced practice nurse you should spend time in intensive research before you choose an area of specialization. You will find it helpful to speak with clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners about their experiences, the pros and cons of their fields, their views of their role. You can also find information in Nursing journals or websites about the field. You should be familiar enough with the specialty you choose to be able to show that you have thoroughly researched these roles and that you have a sound grasp of the complex issues facing the advanced practice nurse.
9. How do I decide which specialty to apply to?
On your application you will be asked to select a specialty area which will largely determine your future as an advanced practice nurse. This is a critical decision and should be made with great care as it will be almost impossible to change once you have been admitted to a given specialty. The first year of the MEPN program is not related to a specialty but rather prepares you for taking the examination for registered nurse licensure. However, the final two academic years prepare you in one of a number of areas of specialization. There are many different roles for the specialist education. It is critical that you research these different specialty areas thoroughly in advance, and that you reflect carefully on your personal interests, aptitude, strengths, and weaknesses so you can make the most informed decision possible.
The following websites will give you some helpful information on Nurse Practitioners:
- www.nonpf.org (Look under "Competencies")
- www.aanp.org/default.asp (Look under "What is a Nurse Practitioner")
- NAPNAP' s website www.napnap.org (Look under "about PNP's)
- CNP's website www.acnpweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid-l
In addition to the nurse practitioner programs already mentioned, the University of Hawai’i School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene also offers Graduate degrees in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Nursing Administration/MBA, and Public/Community Health.
Please visit our website to learn more about the curricula for the various programs offered http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/Academics.html and http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/ms-in-nursing.html
10. How long does it take to complete the preferred specialty track following the pre-licensure year?
Once the pre-licensure year is completed and you enter your preferred track, the completion time will be dependent upon the specific track you’ve chosen. For information on the various tracks, you can check the website at www.nursing.hawaii.edu and look under “Academics”.
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PREREQUISITES AND APPLICATION PROCESS:
11. What are the requirements for application to the MEPN program?
- Have a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing
- Have at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA or higher
- Complete the following pre-requisite courses (or their equivalent):
• 1 year of Anatomy and Physiology lectures and labs
(e.g. Phyl 141 & 141L & Phyl 142 & 141 L; Zool 141 141L & 142/L; Phyl 301/L & Phyl 302/L)*
• Microbiology (e.g. MICRO 130, lab is NOT required)
• Basic Statistics (e.g. Socs 225; NREM 310; EDEP 429; PH 655)
- Complete the GRE exam
- Submit a Curriculum Vita (CV) or resume
- Submit References
- Submit a goal statement
*Upper division (300 level courses) are recommended but not required.
The Anatomy and Physiology content is not covered in the MEPN program so it is in your best interest to enroll in the most rigorous courses possible. Program coursework assumes that students have a solid foundation of anatomy and physiology since they will be enrolled in a pathophysiology course and in a clinical experience with acutely ill hospitalized patients in the first semester of the MEPN program. Anatomy and Physiology courses which satisfy "pre-med" or health career programs are appropriate for the MEPN program as well.
12. Can I have an advisor review my course work/transcripts?
We are unable to review course descriptions or syllabi to determine acceptability. Applicants should therefore assess the thoroughness of the course content with the course instructor. Transcripts are reviewed by UH Graduate Division upon application.
13. Do I have to take the pre-requisite courses at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (UHM)?
No. You may take any of the pre-requisites at any accredited college or university as long as they transfer and are equivalent to the above courses.
14. How can I determine if the courses taken outside of UHM are equivalent to the required prerequisites?
To determine course equivalency please visit UHM’s Admissions and Records Transfer Credit Search website at www.hawaii.edu/admrec/transfer, enter your institution’s name and search by subject.
15. Will pre-requisite courses taken more than 5 years ago still be acceptable?
Yes. If you completed the pre-requisite courses during your previous degree(s) they will be accepted. However, if you took the required pre-requisite physiology courses more than 10 years ago AND you have not been working in a field which utilizes your science background, it might be to your advantage to retake lecture portion.
16. When is the deadline for the Fall 2009 admission?
The deadline for the Fall 2009 admission will be determined soon for the UHMSONDH. Prerequisite courses must be completed by the time of application.
We are in the process of updating our document due dates and should have those posted shortly.
17. Where can I find an application?
Applications will be available on our website during 2008. *The 2009 application is not available at this time.
18. What will I need to submit?
You will need to submit applications to both Graduate Division and the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, references, a Curriculum Vita, and a written goal statement. Official transcripts and GRE scores must be sent directly to the Graduate Division. The Nursing application will need to be forwarded to the Student Services Office at the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, CLICK HERE for more information.
19. What is a Curriculum Vita (CV)?
A Curriculum Vita (CV) is similar to a resume and includes both your academic and employment history.
20. Will volunteer experience give me a higher ranking in the application process?
Although volunteer or nurse aid experience is NOT factored into the initial ranking, it may benefit during the interview process.
21. Does the admissions process involve an interview?
Applicants will be evaluated and ranked based on the requirements mentioned previously. Those with the highest overall ranking will be contacted for an interview.
22. I have attended one year of nursing school. But I did not finish it. Will I qualify?
As long as you have a Baccalaureate degree in another field you can apply. If you had some nursing courses, it should not preclude your applying. However, if you have completed another nursing program (e.g. Associate degree in nursing) you would not be eligible for this program.
23. Are courses taken after the bachelor's degree calculated as part of a cumulative GPA?
No. However, courses taken after an initial bachelor's degree will contribute to our assessment, if:
- You have earned a second Bachelor's Degree (in which case, the higher of the GPAs will probably be considered as most contributory to your review), or
- You have earned a Master's Degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or
- You have completed 10 units or more of coursework as part of a graduate degree program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
24. I need to have someone at UH review my transcripts to ensure that the basic required classes have been satisfied or can be waived. I'm wondering if it would be possible to schedule an appointment with an advisor?
For incoming graduate student applicants, all previous transcripts will be evaluated by the Graduate Division at the time of application.
25. What does the Cumulative GPA include?
UHM’s Graduate Division evaluates each applicant’s transcripts and calculates your Cumulative GPA which includes any and all courses taken within your college career including your previous bachelors and post baccalaureate study.
26. What if my Cumulative GPA is below the required 3.0?
Because this is a highly competitive program with many applicants and limited specialty openings we will not review transcripts with less than a 3.0 GPA. Persons with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 should consider other options for reaching their goal of becoming a registered nurse, such as a community college program in nursing. After obtaining a degree and licensure in nursing, you may be eligible to apply for our general Master's program.
27. Is there is a specific score on the GRE that we would need? If I have taken the GRE twice, will you take the higher scores of the two (verbal, math, and written)?
It is to your advantage to have the highest score possible; however the test, alone, will not be the deciding factor. If you have taken it twice, the higher score will be used. While there is no minimum score that is required, the most competitive applicants in the majority of direct entry programs have achieved verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores in the range of 500-700 on the 200-800 point scale.
28. Should I take the general test or the GRE subjects test?
You would take the general test.
29. How long is the GRE good for?
We will accept GRE test scores no more than 5 years old.
30. I'm interested in the MS/MBA specialty area, is the GMAT required?
Yes, the GMAT is required. Please check with the College of Business Administration regarding this and their application which is required for admission to the graduate MS/MBA program.
31. Does it help to have a science background? What kind of an undergraduate degree are you looking for?
We are looking for diversity in our program. Nurses are expected to handle complex care of a diverse population as well as offering unique and creative solutions to problems. A basic principle of the program is to value varied academic and life experiences as a basis for entering nursing. Nurses face multiple challenges in meeting the complex health care needs of the public. Having a variety of backgrounds within a cohort allows for unique alternatives when problem solving. Similarly nurses must be able to provide culturally-competent care to diverse populations of people. No one specific background is the best.
We expect that the baccalaureate degree will allow for knowledge representing a general comprehensive undergraduate program. There will be some specialized bachelor’s degrees (such as a B.F.A.) which do not demonstrate breadth in the curriculum. Important undergraduate subject areas include physical and biological science, mathematics, english/communications and critical thinking, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities/arts. Education in each of these areas is a necessary prerequisite to successful graduate studies.
32. I will receive my BS in Psychology with a minor in Biology. Should I apply directly to a MSN program or do I need to apply to a BSN program first?
A baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field is required for admission. Those with a nursing degree would apply to the regular Master’s program.
33. Will UH offer a MEPN program in 2009 and 2010?
Yes. We anticipate annual fall admission for the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing.
34. Can out of state students be admitted?
Yes. While the majority of University of Hawai’i students are residents, we do admit non-residents.
35. How do I qualify for residency?
To qualify for resident tuition, you must have been a bona fide resident of Hawaii for at least 365 days/one (1) calendar year prior to the semester that you want resident tuition status.
Students who do not qualify as bona fide residents of the State of Hawai‘i, according to the University of Hawai‘i rules and regulations in effect at the time they register, must pay the nonresident tuition. An official determination of residency status will be made prior to enrollment. Prospective students may be required to provide documents to verify residency status. Once classified as a nonresident, a student continues to be so classified during his/her term at the University until he/she can present clear and convincing evidence to the residency officer that proves otherwise.
36. Is financial aid available?• http://www.hawaii.edu/admrec/res.html
• http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/download/forms/admission/residency2008_09.pdf
We strongly recommend that you contact the University of Hawai’i Financial Aid Department as soon as possible to determine if you are eligible for any type of financial aid or whether you will have to consider private funding, such as a bank loan. We do not recommend waiting until after you have received your acceptance letter. The contact information for the department is: (808) 956-7251 between 9:00am and 3:00pm
37. I have a learning disability. Will I still be able to apply?
In the UH Mānoa general application process, disability status is not requested or considered in determining admission. Once you have been accepted and decide to attend the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, please call to schedule an appointment with Director Ann Ito. This initial appointment is an opportunity to learn more about KOKUA and the services that they provide. To learn more about KOKUA, please go to the website for detailed information: http://www.hawaii.edu/kokua/
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Updated as of 4/3/08