RN Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii RN Program Guide

An educated nurse is one of the biggest key players in the healthcare team. The nursing field is constantly evolving with healthcare reforms and medical technology. There are a few programs offered on the islands of Hilo and Honolulu. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of on-campus programs in the state so distance learning is becoming a more popular option for nursing students. According to the American Associate of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there are more than 390 RN to Baccalaureate programs offered online. All of the programs are intended to broaden the scope of nursing practice by building on the education you already received in your diploma or associate degree program.

In our Hawaii RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Hawaii RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of Hawaii offers 8 RN programs in 4 different cities. Public institutions offer 6 of the RN programs in the state while there are 1 private, for-profit and 1 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of Hawaii, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Hawaii RN Programs.

Accredited RN Programs in Hawaii

ADN  NCLEX

Kapiolani Community College – 89.15% / $4,704.00

BSN NCLEX

Kapiolani Community College

89.15%.

$4,704.00 a year.

ADN COSTS

LOWEST

Kapiolani Community College $4,704.00

89.15%.

HIGHEST

Hawaii Community College $8,623.00

80.89%.

BSN COSTS

LOWEST

University of Hawaii at Hilo $9,340.00

83.48%.

HIGHEST

Hawaii Pacific University $22,217.00

73.33%.

ADN Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii is a diversified state, meaning that its nursing programs focus on diversity as well – caring for a variety of different patient populations.  RN programs in Hawaii are offered at a variety of community colleges, with bridge programs available, allowing an LPN to become an RN.

NCLEX Passing Rates for Hawaii  ADN Programs

Kapiolani Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Hawaii of 89.15%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $4,704.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in Hawaii: 4
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 80.24%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 73.33% to 89.15%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Hawaii?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Hawaii so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in Hawaii is offered by Kapiolani Community College at about $4,704.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 89.15%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Hawaii Community College and it will cost about $8,623.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 80.89%.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inHawaii: $6,463.25
• Net-Price Range for Hawaii ADN Programs: $4,704.00 to $8,623.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Hawaii Schools: $6,689.00
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Hawaii: $4,500.00 to $9,589.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 4
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 0

BSN Programs in Hawaii

Bachelor’s programs are strong in the liberal arts and sciences, which are important to nurses who practice in Hawaii, a very multicultural state. It is important to remember important considerations such as: accreditation status, transfer of credits, student services, accessibility of instructors, tuition, and financial aid when selecting a BSN program. Some of the most common courses offered in a BSN program in Hawaii are:

• Multicultural Care and Health Promotion
• Adult Health Care II
• Mental Health Care
• Nursing Research
• Community Health Care
• Collaborative Health Care Leadership and Management
• Professional Nursing Issues & Trends
• Nursing Review with Practicum

NCLEX Passing Rates for Hawaii BSN Programs

Kapiolani Community College wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Hawaii with a score of 89.15%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $4,704.00 a year.

• BSN Programs Offered in Hawaii: 4
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 80.24%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 73.33% to 89.15%

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Hawaii?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Hawaii to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in Hawaii is offered by University of Hawaii at Hilo and will cost you about $9,340.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 83.48%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Hawaii Pacific University and will cost you about $22,217.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 73.33%.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Hawaii: $15,663.50
• Net-Price Range for Hawaii BSN Programs: $9,340.00 to $22,217.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Hawaii Schools: $16,765.50
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Hawaii: $12,500.00 to $19,124.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 2
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 1
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 1

MSN Programs in Hawaii

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Hawaii offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Hawaii RN Licensing Requirements

Hawaii State Board of Nursing
King Kalakaua Building
335 Merchant Street, Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-3000

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $40
License renewal (every two years), RN: $160

Continuing Education Requirements:
None

It is recommended that an RN candidate should enroll in a professional nursing program that is nationally accredited or state approved. There are five BSN programs within Hawaii: three in Honolulu, one in Hilo, and one in Kaneohe. Programs that have been completed in the armed forces are not usually found to be equivalent to RN programs.

RN Licensure by Exam

The state of Hawaii has strict guidelines for RNs to meet in order to gain licensure. In addition to completing the NCLEX exam (which costs $200 to take and cannot be completed until the candidate has received Authorization to Test), the candidate must also submit the following:

• Verification of educational requirements
• $40 for the application fee

It is worth noting that a candidate may retake an exam but it has to be done within two years of completing the application. The exam is the second to last step in the licensing process with the last step being paying the licensing fee.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

Candidates who completed a program in one of the other 50 states may be able to obtain licensure by endorsement. They will need to provide license verification through an official document

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

International candidates are required to have equivalency evaluated through the CGFNP. They are also responsible for the NCLEX, with the exception of some Canadian nurses who took the SBTPE.

RN Salaries in Hawaii

It is a fact that a highly educated nurse has the ability to provide safer and more effective patient care. Hawaii was chosen as a recipient of the Robert Wood Johns Foundation Academic Progression in nursing grant in 2012. It was a $300,000 grant that was used to create strategies that led to highly educated and diverse nursing population. There is a wide selection of jobs available in the nursing market of Hawaii that are based on your educational level. The Department of Health in Hawaii also has a variety of specialized nursing positions, which are perfect for a nurse with a Bachelor’s degree and they include:

• Public Health Nursing
• Genetics
• Immunizations
• Emergency Medical Services
• Early Intervention for at Risk Children and Families
• Rural Health

Hawaii Registered Nursing Salaries

Honolulu has both more nursing opportunities and higher wages than the non-metropolitan areas of Hawaii like Maui and Kauai. Yet, both areas offer very high salaries for RNs compared to the continental United States.