University of Hawaii at Hilo Catalog 2011-2012

Program Options

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Students have two program options to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Option 1 is for the basic student. Option 2 is for the returning R.N. who wishes to acquire the bachelor’s degree.

Option 1: Students may enter the Basic B.S.N. program, whereby two years are spent fulfilling UH Hilo General Education and pre-nursing or pre-core requirements. Nursing courses are introduced in the third year after formal admission into the Nursing program on a competitive basis (See B.S.N. admissions criteria.)

Option 2: The R.N. to B.S.N. program provides the candidate the opportunity for educational and professional advancement. Students may enter the R.N. to B.S.N. program only if they have a current Hawaiʻi R.N. license and have been formally admitted into the upper-division nursing program (see B.S.N. admission criteria). Students may elect to complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis. NURS 410 and 410L are offered on alternating years with NURS 361, NURS 362, and NURS 457 AND NURS 457L. Part-time students are expected to take all non-clinical courses prior to taking courses that include practica. Regular advisement with faculty is critical for successful completion of requirements for graduation.

  • Fall Semester (14 semester hours)
    • NURS 347–347L Health Assessment with Practicum (4)
    • NURS 350 Trans-cultural Care and Health Promotion (3)
    • NURS 358 Nursing Research (3)
    • NURS 362 Nurse Professional Writing (1)
    • NURS Elective (3)
  • Spring Semester (16 semester hours)
    • NURS 361 BSN Nursing Preview (3)
    • NURS 375 Applied Human Nutrition (3)
    • NURS 410–410L Community Health Care with Practicum (5)
    • NURS 457–457L Collaborative Health Care, Leadership and Management with Practicum (5)

Note: RN/BSN students must meet the UH Hilo residence requirement of 30 credits from UH Hilo and complete a minimum of 24 credits of UH Hilo nursing courses from the list above, which must include: NURS 350, NURS 410, NURS 410L, NURS 457, NURS 457L, and NURS 469.

R.N. to B.S.N. Distributed Learning (DL) Program

A Distributed Learning program is being implemented to help R.N. students in distant sites to access the B.S.N. program. This DL program will be expanded according to student needs and resource support. Contact the School of Nursing for more information.

NLN ACE II Test Requirement for RN’s without an Associate Degree

Diploma and foreign nursing degree candidates are required to take the National League for Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam II prior to entering the program. Consult with the Nursing advisor for help in arranging for proctored testing.