Graduate Entry Program in Nursing

For Students who have a Degree in a Field Other than Nursing and Do Not have an RN License

The Graduate Entry Program in Nursing (GEPN) offers post-baccalaureate entry to the Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. At the time of application to GEPN, the student selects a specialty area and graduate degree (i.e., MS, DNP). Once admitted to GEPN, a student may not change from the specialty track selected at the time of application. Transfer from one specialty area to another is not permitted. Transfer into or between the FNP or AGPCNP specialties is not permitted. Once enrolled in GEPN, a student may not apply as a new student to another graduate nursing degree program.

Program Description

GEPN is designed for adult learners:

• Who have not attended an RN educational program
• Who have a baccalaureate degree in field other than nursing
• Who are leadership bound and seeking a career in advanced nursing

The program consists of an intensive pre-licensure year of study that is delivered across three continuous semesters. Emphasis is placed on health promotion and disease prevention as well as the care of the acutely ill person. The AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008) provides the framework for the pre-licensure year curriculum for professional nurses. Planning is underway to transition the curriculum to address the 2021 AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education.

A substantial amount of the curriculum is clinical practicum in community and hospital/health care settings where students are actively engaged in nursing care under the supervision of faculty. Threaded throughout the curriculum are research, patient safety, community nursing health, and cultural diversity as well as the various contexts (i.e., historical & social) of nursing, nursing roles, and the core values of the profession.

Upon completion of the first year, the student is eligible and takes the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam. The student transitions immediately into their graduate nursing specialty degree track and begins courses for their advanced degree.

Fast Facts

• Two-step application process
• Enables qualified nurse professionals to enter the workforce in a shorter period of time increasing the pool of nurses prepared to assume leadership roles in practice, education and research.
• The first year of intensive study is offered in a tri-semester format of 16 -18 credits per semester. Due to the rigor and scheduling, students are advised not to be employed during this year and are highly encouraged to not take any other courses.
• Students should plan on being physically present on the island of Oahu during the entire month of August and for the remainder of the pre-licensure year course work. The New Student Orientation is typically conducted the first week of August.

Program Outcomes/Competencies

The AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice provides the framework for the pre-licensure year curriculum for professional nurses (AACN, 2008). Copies or versions in other languages are available at the AACN Essentials website. Planning is underway to transition the curriculum to address the 2021 AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education.

Outcomes/Competencies

A competent nurse:

• Demonstrates professional actions based on core nursing values, professional standards of practice, and the law.
• Develops insight through reflective practice, self-analysis, and self-care.
• Engages in ongoing self-directed learning and provides care based on evidence supported by research.
• Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care.
• Collaborates as part of a health care team.
• Practices within, utilizes, and contributes to the broader health care system.
• Practices client-centered care.
• Communicates and uses technology effectively.
• Demonstrates clinical judgment/critical thinking in the delivery of care of clients.

At the completion of their program, the student is awarded one of three degrees:

• Master of Science in Advanced Population Health Nursing degree that prepares graduates for practice roles including education, case management, clinical practice, consultation, community outreach, research and management/administration.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice degree that provides graduates with the skills and knowledge for advanced nursing practice and organizational leadership.
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The specific program outcomes/competencies for each degree are found on the degree overview pages.

Informational Sessions

Visit the school event page for upcoming GEPN virtual online informational session dates.

Fall 2023 Application Period

• UH Graduate Division application available: August 1 to November 1, 2022
• Nursing Centralized Application Service (NCAS) application available: September 1 to November 1, 2022
• Deadline: November 1, 2022

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Application Information

Effective on August 1, 2022, the Graduate Entry Program in Nursing (GEPN) will use a regular admission process. The review of all GEPN Program applications will commence after the closing date of November 1, 2022.

Applicants interested in the GEPN Program will need to submit their application and all transcripts by the deadline of November 1 to be considered for the fall term. Applicants must submit fully completed applications containing all requirements for both the UHM Graduate Division and the Department of Nursing (DON) to be reviewed for admission to the program. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and cannot be re-submitted. Applicants can apply only once per annual admission cycle, and must meet the requirements of both the UH Manoa Graduate Division and the DON for admission to the program.

Each applicant is evaluated on the merit of their individual application and placed into one of three categories: admit, alternate or deny. Notifications about decisions occur following review of the completed application and expect to be completed by early January.

Please check NursingCAS and the UHM Graduate Division for a full listing of admission requirements.

Two-Step Application Process

Application requirements are found on the websites listed below.

Step 1 – Apply to UH Manoa Graduate Division

• https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/how-to-apply/
• Fee: $100
  • For the Master of Science Online Advanced Population Health Nursing track, select “MS-Nursing” for the planned course of study
  • For the Doctor of Nursing Practice program track, select “DNP in Nursing Practice” for the planned course of study

Step 2 – Apply to Nursing’s Centralized Application Service

Application deadlines for NCAS are set to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will close at midnight EST the date of the deadline.

• http://www.nursingcas.org
• Fee: $75 (fee increase effective August 11, 2022)
  • For the Master of Science Online Advanced Population Health Nursing track, select “GEPN – MS-APHN” for the planned course of study
  • For the Doctor of Nursing Practice – FNP program track, select “GEPN – DNP-FNP” for the planned course of study
  • For the Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGPCNP program track, select “GEPN – DNP-AGPCNP” for the planned course of study

Admission Requirements

Education

Non-nursing baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university earned by July 15, 2023.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Cumulative undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Prerequisite Requirements

Courses

The GEPN program requires the completion of the six (6) prerequisite courses listed below within 7 years of enrollment in the program. (These prerequisite courses are in semester credit hours.) For the cohort entering in August 2023, the prerequisites must be taken between August 1, 2016 and August 1, 2023 at a regionally accredited college or university.

Prerequisite to Apply

Of the six (6) required prerequisite courses, 2 of the 3 science prerequisites listed below must be completed by the time of program application (November 1).

• Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
• Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
• General Microbiology lecture

Prerequisite to Enroll

The offer of admission is conditional on the applicant completing all of the six (6) required prerequisites listed below (in semester credit hours) by the start of the program orientation on August 1, 2023.

• Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
• Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
• General Microbiology lecture (3 credits)
• Human Growth and Development course (3 credits)
• Applied Human Nutrition course (3 credits)
• Introduction to Research course (3 credits)

Grades

All prerequisite courses (lecture and lab) must be completed with a grade of B- or better.

Transfer Equivalencies

Prerequisites taken at other universities must match the credit hour totals in the table below. A course completed in a quarter system is transferred as 66% of one semester credit hour. To verify course equivalencies from institutions outside of the UH system, please visit UHM’s Admissions and Records Transfer Credit Search website.

Courses offered at UH Manoa or within the UH System that fulfill the prerequisite requirement include:

Prerequisite Credits	Course Examples	Campuses Offering Courses
Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (Lectures are 3 credits and the lab is 1 credit) 8 credits	PHYL 141/141L PHYL 142/142L	Hawaii CC Honolulu CC Kauai CC Kapiolani CC Leeward CC UH Manoa UH Maui College UH West Oahu Windward CC
	BIO 243/243L BIO 244/244L	UH Hilo
General Microbiology lecture (No lab required) 3 credits	MICRO 130	Hawaii CC Honolulu CC Kauai CC Kapiolani CC Leeward CC UH Manoa UH Maui College UH West Oahu Windward CC
	BIO 275	UH Hilo
Introduction to Research Course *(see description below) 3 credits	PSY 212	Honolulu CC Kapiolani CC Leeward CC UH Manoa UH Maui College UH West Oahu Windward CC
	PSY 214	UH Hilo Hawaii CC
	NURS 363	UH Manoa UH Maui College
	HDSF 380	UH Manoa
	PUBA 310	UH West Oahu
Human Growth and Development 3 credits	HDFS 230	UH Manoa UH Maui College
	PSY 240	Honolulu CC Kauai CC Kapiolani CC Leeward CC UH Manoa UH Maui College UH West Oahu Windward CC
	PSY 320	UH Hilo
Applied Human Nutrition 3 credits	FSHN 185	Honolulu CC Leeward CC UH Manoa UH Maui College UH West Oahu Windward CC

* The Introduction to Research Course must focus on human subjects research and include the following content: Developing a Problem Statement, Research Question, Hypothesis, Research Ethics, Literature Review, Sampling, Research Design, Institutional Review Board, Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, Data Collection, Reliability, Validity, and Data Analysis. Courses that fulfill this prerequisite are offered in the health sciences and social sciences departments at many 4-year colleges. The title of the course usually includes the words “Research Methods.” Introduction to Statistics or Epidemiology does not fulfill this requirement.

English Language Proficiency

If an applicant’s native language is not English or has not obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English speaking college, then the applicant must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores with a minimum score of 600/100 (paper/internet) and subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking or Grad International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score of 7.00.

International Students

Please visit the UH Manoa Office of International Student Services page, email them at issmanoa@hawaii.edu, or call them at (808) 956-8613.

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