[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hawaii is a great place to become a nurse. Although it does not have a lot of different nursing schools, it does have great employment opportunities. Additionally, demand is incredibly high and likely to grow further. Let’s take a closer look at how you become a nurse in Hawaii.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Entry Level Practice Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 | Decide on a Program To Complete and Ensure You Meet All the Prerequisites[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It will generally take just one year to complete an LPN ([hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/lpn-lvn/”]Licensed Practical Nurse[/hen-ui-link]) program, and you usually won’t need to meet any prerequisites. However, if you want to become an RN (Registered Nurse), you will need to complete either a 2 year [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]ADN[/hen-ui-link] (Associate’s Degree) or 4 year BSN (Bachelor’s Degree). These will usually want you to complete some undergraduate courses first.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 | Learn About Patient Care and Other Essential Skills[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you have chosen an ADN or [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/rn-and-bsn-degree-differences//”]BSN degree[/hen-ui-link] program, you will then progress to more advanced courses. BSN students complete their two final years studying highly specific topics, as well as having to choose advanced elective specializations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 3 | After You Have Completed Your Degree Program, You Will Take an Nclex Examination[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The NCLEX-PN is the exam to pass for LPNs and the NCLEX-RN is for RNs. Almost 90% of graduates pass their NCLEX examination in Hawaii, which is above the national average.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Advanced Practice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse ([hen-ui-link href=”/careers/advanced-practice-nursing/”]APRN[/hen-ui-link]), you will need to complete the following steps.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 | Earn a Graduate Degree From an Accredited Program[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It must culminate in a nursing science or clinical nursing degree. The accreditation agency must be recognized by the [hen-ui-link href=”http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx?6d6f64653d31267264743d332f372f3230313220333a35383a343020504d”]United States Department of Education[/hen-ui-link]. Furthermore, the [hen-ui-link href=”http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/nursing/”]Hawaii Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link] must approve the curriculum. In order for it to be approved, the curriculum must include diagnosing, choosing, administering and prescribing therapeutic measures; advanced assessment; and advanced pharmacology.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]APRNs in Hawaii can apply for prescriptive authority. However, this means that their graduate program must have included additional advanced pharmotherapeutics courses. Additionally, continuous education (CE) courses must be taken in advanced pharmacotherapeutics and advanced pharmacology biannually.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 | Become Nationally Certified[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are four different types of APRNs recognized in Hawaii and you will not be recognized by the Board until you are nationally certified. This is done through independent national agencies, which have their own requirements in terms of allowing certification. The four types recognized in Hawaii are:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]NP – [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/”]Nurse Practitioner[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]NA – Nurse Anesthetist[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Board of Nursing recognizes national certification from the following agencies:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nursecredentialing.org/”]ANCC[/hen-ui-link] (American Nurses Credentialing Center), which recognizes Adult Nurse Practitioners, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner PNP) and the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aanpcert.org/ptistore/control/index”]AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nccwebsite.org/”]NCC (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index”]PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care and Primary Care.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.oncc.org/”]ONCC (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation), which recognizes the Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS).[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.amcbmidwife.org/”]AMCB (American Midwifery Certification Board)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the certified nurse midwife (CNM).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nbcrnacpc.com/Pages/default.aspx”]National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 3 | Become Recognized as an APRN in Hawaii[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This requires you to show your social security number. Additionally, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications/pvl_aprn.pdf”]Application for APRN Recognition[/hen-ui-link], including all necessary documentation.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can also become recognized as an APRN-RX, which is an advanced practice nurse with prescriptive authority. To achieve this, you must meet the educational prerequisites and complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications/pvl_aprnrx.pdf”]Application for APRN Prescriptive Authority (APRN-RX)[/hen-ui-link]. This does not allow you to prescribe controlled substances, however. For this, you will need to be licensed by the DEA, as well as complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications/pvl_aprn-rx_controlled_substances.pdf”]Application for APRN Prescriptive Authority for Controlled Substances[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 4 | Renew Your Recognition[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both your APRN license and your RN license expire every two years on the 30th of June in an odd numbered year. Both licenses must be renewed separately. You can check on the status of your application [hen-ui-link href=”http://pvl.ehawaii.gov/pvlsearch/app”]online[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are CE requirements for prescriptive authority as described previously. There are no CE requirements for APRNs without prescriptive authority. However, the national certification agency that you are registered with may have CE requirements that you must comply with these in order to keep your registration valid. You will receive a reminder from the Board when your license is up for renewal. You must then complete a [hen-ui-link href=”http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications/nursing-renewal-application-forms/nurses-active-status/RN_ACTIVE_RENEWAL_FORM.pdf”]Renewal Application[/hen-ui-link] for each of your licenses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://cca.hawaii.gov/”]State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs[/hen-ui-link]King Kalakaua Building aka United States Post Office Custom House and Court House335 Merchant StreetHonolulu, Hawaii 96813[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]DCCA has two of its divisions, RICO and OCP located in the:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building aka State Office Tower235 South Beretania StreetHonolulu, Hawaii 96813[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]DCCA also has 4 neighbor island offices located in Hilo, Kona, Maui, and Kauai.[/hen-ui-text]