Shaping the Next Generation of Nurses in Hawaii
Like all new chapters in life, entering nursing school for the first time can feel like stepping into a different world. It can feel fast-paced and demanding, and it comes with high stakes. At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, faculty are working with students to soften that landing, building connection and confidence before classes even begin.
At the center of this effort is a novel approach, the Nursing Bridging Program, a two-day experience typically held the week before the semester starts. Designed by faculty at UH Manoa School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene and UH West Oahu’s Pre-Nursing Pathway, the program targets nursing students entering their first clinical semester, pairing incoming students with upperclassmen mentors, with cohorts from both campuses.
It functions like an orientation, but with a sharper focus: community, preparation and practical skills. Students are introduced to test-taking strategies, expectations for clinical coursework and, perhaps most importantly, to one another.
The geographic reality of Oahu makes this connection especially meaningful. While students may be enrolled at UH Manoa or UH West Oahu, many are based on the west side, where a growing number of nursing courses are held. The Nursing Bridging Program helps students build relationships across campuses and within the communities where they will actually be learning.
“This program is intentionally designed to be more than a short workshop or orientation. It reflects a philosophy that nursing education should begin with connection, purpose and belonging,” says Undergraduate Program Director William Siegman. “By the end of the program, students have built strong relationships and greater confidence. They have gained practical strategies and a clearer sense of how to approach their nursing journey.”
The emphasis on early connection continues with the Direct Entry to Nursing (DEN) mentoring program, which supports students entering the BSN pathway directly from high school. Unlike many of their peers, DEN students are adjusting not only to nursing school, but to college itself.
That transition can be steep. Faculty observed that first-year science courses, which are already challenging, became even more difficult for students navigating new academic expectations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Assistant Professor Katie Azama and her colleagues developed a targeted approach: a pre-semester Bridge Day grounded in pilina, or relationship-building.
DEN students participate in facilitated circles and small-group activities, creating space to share their goals, connect with peers and begin forming support systems. The work doesn’t stop there. Throughout the semester, group mentoring sessions reinforce study strategies, time management and overall well-being.
What stands out is not just the structure of these programs, but their impact.
“Many DEN students come from our local communities, making their success especially meaningful for Hawaii’s future health care workforce,” Azama says. “By supporting them as they navigate the challenges of nursing education, we are not only helping them achieve their goals of becoming nurses, but also strengthening the pipeline of compassionate, well-prepared professionals who will provide much-needed care to the people of Hawaii.”
Students report feeling more connected early on. They often form study groups with one another within days. Faculty have also seen improved pass rates in first-semester science courses, a key predictor of long-term success in nursing school.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shift in how to approach nursing education. Preparation is no longer limited to coursework. Instead, it begins with community. In a profession that depends on teamwork and collaboration, that foundation may be just as critical as anything learned in the classroom.