UHM Launches New Master's Entry Nursing Program
NEWS RELEASE - January 4, 2008
Thirty students from various careers will today start an exciting journey as nursing students in a new program at the UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. The Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) was designed for adult learners with no prior nursing experience/education and have a baccalaureate or higher degree in another field. The only such program offered in the State, UH Mānoa joins 60 leading national nursing programs in providing this fast track to a nursing career.
When UH Mānoa announced the new program in 2007, an overwhelming number of qualified and passionate applicants from Hawaii and across the country competed for student places. On January 4th, the first cohort of students begins the program with an intensive orientation and will spend the next 12 months engaged with faculty and community clinical sites in this fast track program.
Traditionally students pursuing a degree in advanced nursing practice must complete a minimum of seven years of school with tuition costs for the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Mary Boland, Nursing Dean at Mānoa, explains that, “The MEPN is an innovative program enabling adult learner students to complete the pre-licensure nursing coursework in 12 months and matriculate directly to the specialty practice courses. It is possible for MEPN students to obtain their registered nurse preparation and master’s degree in as few as three years, the time usually required to just complete the nursing bachelor’s degree at Mānoa”.
Dean Mary Boland said, “We have received extensive state support for this fast track effort to address the immediate State workforce need and access to our sought-after Manoa graduates. This is our first innovation for nursing education but not our last!”
When UH Mānoa announced the new program in 2007, an overwhelming number of qualified and passionate applicants from Hawaii and across the country competed for student places. On January 4, the first cohort of students begins the program with an intensive orientation and will spend the next 12 months engaged with faculty and community clinical sites in this fast track program.
Traditionally students pursuing a degree in advanced nursing practice must complete a minimum of seven years of school with tuition costs for the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mary Boland, Nursing Dean at Mānoa, explains that, “The MEPN is an innovative program enabling adult learner students to complete the pre-licensure nursing coursework in 12 months and matriculate directly to the specialty practice courses. It is possible for MEPN students to obtain their registered nurse preparation and master’s degree in as few as three years, the time usually required to just complete the nursing bachelor’s degree at Mānoa”.
Dean Mary Boland said, “We have received extensive state support for this fast track effort to address the immediate State workforce need and access to our sought-after Manoa graduates. This is our first innovation for nursing education but not our last!”