University of Hawai'i at Manoa - School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

MEPN PROGRAM

1. How does the MEPN program work?

The entire program involves two separate parts:

A. The MEPN graduate entry coursework year:  The MEPN graduate entryyear prepares the student to be eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). The curriculum is delivered across a full 12-month calendar and uses an alternative schedule, which may include some holidays and UH Manoa breaks.  

B. Advanced nursing specialty coursework:  Upon successful completion of MEPNgraduate entry year coursework, the student begins their advanced specialty coursework. MEPN students are expected to take the NCLEX-RN by the end of the first semester after theMEPN coursework is completed, and may not enroll in any clinical masters coursework until passing the NCLEX-RN.

2. When will I be able to take the NCLEX-RN?

Upon successful completion of the MEPN graduate entryyear coursework, the student is eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX examination. It usually takes 4-6 weeks for the Hawaii Board of Nursing to process the paperwork for each student. 

3. Will I be awarded a Bachelor of Science after the first year?

No.  This program is a master’s degree program and does not award an undergraduate baccalaureate degree.  However, the graduate will demonstrate competency in basic undergraduate nursing as well as graduate level nursing in a chosen specialty area. 

MEPN ADMISSIONS

1. When do you accept applications?

October 1-January 2 (items must be received by this date)

This period applies to the School of Nursing MEPN application material AND the UH Graduate Division application material. 

APPLICATION OPENS: OCTOBER 1

The Graduate Division begins processing applications starting on October 1. Please do not submit applications before October 1. The MEPN office is not responsible for any application or documents submitted before October 1.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 2

All material submitted by either the applicant or any third partymust be received by the appropriate office on or before the deadline. Late materials submitted after January 2 will not be accepted.  

Each application period correlates to the following fall semester entry (i.e. your application submitted during the fall of 2009 is considered for entry into the fall 2010 cohort)

MEPN Admissions Cycle
Action	2012 cycle	2013 cycle
Application Cycle begins	Oct 3, 2011	Oct 1, 2012
Application Deadline	Jan 2, 2012	Jan 1, 2013
Application Screening	Jan 2012	Jan 2013
Decisions Notification	March 2012	March 2013
Registration/Health Clearance/Classes Begin	August 2012	August 2013

**The UH Graduate Division site may list other application dates that are later than January 2. This does not apply to the MEPN program.    

 2.  How do I apply for the MEPN program?

Visit the Admission Website and follow the guidelines. For items submitted to the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, please note “MEPN Program” on the envelope.

3. Do you require the GRE?

No, the GRE is not required

4.  Is there a specific type of bachelor degree required for admission?

Students with any type of bachelor's degree except nursing are eligible to apply to the program. A science degree (i.e. biology) can be helpful in understanding some of the program material; however, there are many students with non-science degrees in the program.

 5.  Does it help to have nursing-related work or volunteer experience?

Nurse related work or volunteer experience is not required. Applicants with volunteer work experience in the field may have more knowledge of the nursing field and specialty areas. This may help you when writing your personal statement and asking for letters of recommendation.

PREREQUISITES

1.  When do the pre-requisite courses need to be completed in order to apply to the MEPN program?

Pre-requisite courses may be taken while applying to the program.  Please submit proof of enrollment in any pre-requisite course when applying with your application materials.  All pre-requisites must be successfully completed by the end of the first UH summer school session (July 15^th) before the start of the program to be eligible for entry.

2.  May I take the prerequisites at a community college or on-line?

Yes, you may take any of the pre-requisites at any accredited college or university as long as they transfer and are equivalent to our required courses, which are listed at MEPN Prerequisites. Pre-requisites must be completed with a grade of at least a “C.”

3.  Can courses I have already completed count as prerequisite courses?

To determine course equivalency for classes taken at other universities, go to UH Manoa credit transfer search and enter your institution’s name and search by subject.

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.  In addition please utilize the following document to review your course compatibility. 

4.  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 would be to your advantage to retake the lecture portions of anatomy and physiology. 

FINANCIAL

1. How much does the program cost?

For tuition information, please visit http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/mepn-tuition-and-fees.html

Outreach College 2011 tuition rates on 51 credits:

in-state approximately $37,000 and out-of-state approximately $70,000

2.  Is financial aid available?

Yes, aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships are available.  To receive financial aid, fill out a FAFSA form at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. 

Additional scholarships can be found at the UH Foundation, the STAR Student Scholarships, and UH Manoa Financial Aid.

SPECIALTY AREAS

1. How do I decide which master’s specialty area to apply to?

At the time of 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 changes in specialty areas are made on a case-by-case basis. Please be aware that both specialty area directors need to give permission for the change. The MEPN graduate entry year is not related to specialty but rather prepare you for taking the examination for registered nurse licensure and your specialty years. As you can imagine, there is a tremendous difference in the specialty education of an advanced public health nurse vs. that of a pediatric nurse practitioner. It is essential that you research these different specialty areas thoroughly in advance, that you reflect carefully on your personal interests, strengths, weaknesses, talents, and inclinations so as to make the most informed decision possible.

2.  Where do I find more information on the specialty tracks?

Please visit our web site to learn more about the curricula for the various programs offered.

NP & ACNS Tracks

•         NP: focus is diagnosing and treating 

•         NP, ACNS, or NP/Public Health combo track includes didactic (in-class & online) and clinical hours

•         Must be in Hawaii (outer island is ok)

 Public Health Tracks

•         Advanced Public Health Nursing without an NP component is online

•         Student may be out-of-state

•         Didactic and projects include online live seminars

•         No graduate clinical hours in APHN track

Admin and Business Tracks

•         Nursing Admin or combo Admin/MBA tracks include on-campus didactic and online courses

•         MBA classes are taken through the UH School of Business

•         NA/MBA students receive 2 master’s degrees in the end

Graduate Track Timeline

•         Any NP, ACNS, or Public Health/NP track:

–        2.5 years full time, up to 7 years part time

•         Advanced Public Health Nursing:

–        2 years full time, up to 7 years part time

•         Nurse Administration or NA/MBA:

–        2 years full time, up to 5 years part time

GPA

1.  How strict is the requirement that the undergraduate grade point average be a minimum of 3.0?

Due to the extremely high number of applicants to this program and the very competitive nature of the applicant pool, applications with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 will be reviewed by the decision of the admissions committee when necessary. Persons with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 should consider other options for reaching their goal of becoming a registered nurse. These include considering other Master's entry programs, baccalaureate programs, and community college programs in nursing. After obtaining a degree and licensure in nursing, and some working experience as an RN, you should be eligible to apply for our standard Master's program.

 

2.  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

Courses completed after the bachelor's degree that are taken in isolation (e.g., Anatomy, Physiology, or Statistics prerequisites) will not be calculated as part of the GPA, but your achievement in these courses will be reviewed to help determine your readiness for graduate education.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

1. Can I hold employment during the first year of the MEPN program?

This is highly discouraged. The MEPN graduate entryyear of study is intensive and most students find it difficult to work while attending class and clinical. MEPN may require attendance at class during evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

2. Can I begin working as a professional nurse once I have my RN license?
Yes.  Passing the NCLEX and obtaining an RN license will allow you to practice as a nurse. However, keep in mind you will not have a BSN or MSN at this point. MEPN is preparing you for your Master’s degree.

3.  Can out-of-state students be admitted?

Yes, in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants are welcome to apply. There is no preference given to residency. There is a difference in tuition between the in-state (2011 rates ~$37,000) and out-of-state (2011 rates ~$70,000) residency.

4.  What if I have a learning disability?

In the UH Mānoa general application process, disability status is not requested or considered in determining admission.  The UH Manoa's KOKUA office is a resource to provide assistance to students with learning disabilities

5.  How competitive is the admission process to the MEPN program?

Applicants for the MEPN program are screened simultaneously for general admissibility to graduate study and for specific admissibility to a chosen specialty. Each year, the applicant pool varies and the number of spaces available for a given specialty varies. As a general rule, all specialty tracks are competitive: the clinical nurse specialist tracks are moderately competitive, while the nurse practitioner tracks are highly competitive.

6.  How long does the admission process take and is it "rolling" admissions?

The deadline is January 2, and accepted applicants will be notified by mail by the end of March.

7.  How Do I Improve My Chances?

UH School of Nursing would highly encourage anyone who is seriously considering a career as an advanced practice nurse to begin the planning process early, perhaps as much as a year ahead of the application deadline. In terms of specific steps one can take to strengthen the application, the following are recommended:

•         Research the nursing profession and health care

•         Research the specialty areas

•         Write a compelling personal statement- why you chose your specialty area

•         Chose you reference writers carefully

•         Give some thought to past leadership activities, volunteer work, or other activities that are consistent with your decision to pursue a career as an advanced practical nurse