MEPN Frequently Asked Questions
Please utilize this page to answer your questions regarding the program, career professional issues, prerequisites, and the application process.
MEPN PROGRAM:
1. When do you accept applications?
October 1-January 2
This period applies to the School of Nursing MEPN application material and the UH Graduate Division application material. 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)
2. How does the MEPN program work?
The entire program involves two separate parts:
A. The MEPN year: One full calendar “pre-license" year to prepare you for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and gaining the skills of an RN. This year includes both didactic classes and clinical rounds. This year is off schedule from the regular UH academic calendar, and will have class sessions during holidays. This MEPN calendar year starts and ends in August.
B. The Graduate Specialty track: You will immediately transition into the specialty track upon passing the MEPN year. Specialty tracks may be taken full time (usually taking about 2 years), taken part time allowing the student to hold employment while attending school. The graduate specialty program follows the regular UH academic calendar. The various specialties are listed here: http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/Academics.html
Note: students must pass the NCLEX-RN to take graduate track clinical and clinical oriented courses. These courses begin during the second semester of the graduate specialty.
3. What does the first MEPN year look like?
Dates correlate to the 2009 MEPN calendar. Dates are subject to change.
--Orientation (August 27-28)
--Semester 1: focus on medical surgical nursing (August 31-December 18)
--Semester 2: focus on advanced medical surgical nursing and community/public health nursing (January 4-April 23)
--Semester 3: focus on pediatrics, OBGYN, and psychiatric nursing (May 3-August 20)
4. When will I be able to take the NCLEX-RN?
Upon successful completion of the "pre-license" year. It will take roughly one month for the paperwork to clear with the Board of Nursing to grant you clearance to take boards.
It is HIGHLY recommended that students complete the NCLEX within two months of finishing the MEPN year.
The Hawai’i State Administrative Rules were revised to allow students from the MEPN program to take the exam in the Spring of 2008.
5. Will I be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after the first year?
No. This program is a master’s degree program and does not award an undergraduate baccalaureate degree. The first year simply prepares you to take boards and enter your specialty track. Applicants are required to have a baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline to apply for the MEPN program. Upon completing the MEPN year and specialty track, the student is awarded a master’s in nursing.
6. Can I hold employment during the first MEPN year?
No. The first “pre-licensure year of study includes all the didactic and clinical nursing study usually distributed over several years and is, therefore, extremely intensive. There may be some evening and holiday classes and/or clinicals, as well as periodic weekend obligations.
7. Can I begin working as a nurse once I have my RN license?
Yes. Holding an RN license will allow you to practice as a nurse, and many employers will offer you a nursing job with a license and active pursuit of your master’s nursing degree.
8. How do I apply for the MEPN program?
Visit http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/mepn-admission-requirements.html and follow the guidelines on what to submit and where to submit it. Links to the appropriate forms and applications are supplied at this site.
For items coming to the school of nursing, please note “MEPN Program” on the envelope.
9. What kind of previous degree do I need to have?
Any non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Those with BSN degrees are not eligible for the MEPN program, but may apply for the regular nursing graduate program. A science degree (i.e. biology) can be helpful in understanding some of the program material; however, we have had many students with non-science degrees in the program.
10. When do the pre-requisite classes need to be done to apply?
You may take the pre-requisite classes while applying for the program. Please submit proof of enrollment while applying. All pre-requisites must be successfully completed by the end of the first UH summer school session before the start of the program to be eligible for entry.
11. Must I take the pre-requisite courses at UH?
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 http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/mepn-prerequisites.html
Pre-requisites must be completed with a grade of at least a “C.”
12. Can courses I have already completed count as prerequisite courses?
To determine course equivalency for classes taken at other universities, go to www.hawaii.edu/admrec/transfer 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.
13. 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.
14. Do all applicants get interviewed?
Applicants will be evaluated and ranked based on the requirements mentioned previously. Not all applicants will be interviewed. Those with the highest overall ranking will be contacted for an interview.
15. Does it help to have nursing-related work or volunteer experience?
Although volunteer or nurse aid experience is NOT factored into the initial ranking, it may benefit during the interview process as it offers you more background experience to discuss.
16. 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.
17. Are courses taken after the bachelor's degree calculated as part of a cumulative GPA?
No. The GPA is based on your bachelor’s degree record. In addition, pre-requisite ourses completed after the bachelor's degree that are taken in isolation will not be calculated as part of the GPA.
18. 31. Can out-of-state students be admitted?
Yes, we accept in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants.
19. What if I have a learning disability?
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/
20. How much does the program cost?
For tuition information, please visit http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/mepn-tuition-and-fees.html
21. Is financial aid available?
Yes, aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships is available. To receive financial aid, fill out a FAFSA form at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ as soon as possible. This form must be submitted by the deadline to receive aid for the academic year. More information about how this works can be found here http://www.island.hawaii.edu/finaid/stepone.html
The UH Financial Aid Office can be reached at (808) 956-7251 between 9:00am and 3:00pm Mon-Fri. The priority deadline is March 1st of every year. Even though the MEPN admission will not be completed by that deadline, the department will hold the applications until they receive notification of your admission.
22. 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. Some NPs take patients on an outpatient basis in acute care settings much like a general outpatient physician.
Clinical nurse specialists, on the other hand, are experts in a specific, concentrated area of study (such as neurological nursing, diabetes 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.
23. Where do I find more information on the specialty tracks?
The following websites will give you some helpful information on Nurse Practitioners:
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
24. What is the difference between a B.S. in Nursing and a 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 an outpatient or inpatient clinician, educator, consultant, researcher, and/or administrator. Nurse practitioners may also gain various levels prescriptive authority.
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Updated as of 11/18/09