RN to MSN Programs in Hawaii

View more online MSN programs currently taking applications.

Find Online Master of Nursing Programs in Hawaii

There are 5 Master of Science in Nursing Programs in Hawaii in our online directory, with 3 programs being CCNE accredited, and zero programs being ACEN accredited. 60% of the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are CCNE accredited.

Typical Curriculum for a Master's in Nursing Degree

Typical curriculum for MSN programs vary based on the specialization and track selected. Many programs prepare students for certification as a Nurse Practitioner. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NP programs should provide theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge that prepare students for national certification in their anticipated area of population-focused practice.

Some programs prepare students to be Nurse Educators. Typical courses include curriculum development, theoretical foundations and instructional strategies, experiential learning, and strategies for assessment and evaluation. Graduates of Nursing Education MSN programs are prepared to be faculty or clinical instructors in schools of nursing or employment in staff development positions in health care institutions.

A third common path is to seek an MSN that prepares students for administrative or clinical leadership roles. Programs focused on administrative leadership may include courses in the management of financial resources, health care information systems, creating a professional working environment, and role development for nursing management. These programs may prepare students for certification as a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.

View more online MSN programs currently taking applications.

Licensure in Hawaii

Students who graduate from a program that prepares Nurse Practitioners are licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) by the Board of Nursing. Hawaii APRNs must seek licensure to practice and licensure for prescriptive authority. Requirements for initial licensure include: current Hawaii RN licensure, an unencumbered license in all other states in which the applicant is licensed as an RN or APRN, completion of an accredited graduate-level program, and national certification. Applicants who would like prescriptive authority must submit evidence of completing 30 contact hours in advanced pharmacology education as part of an educational program or from a Board of Nursing approved continuing education provider within the previous three years.

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NPs licensed in Hawaii have full practice authority. This means that NPs are able to practice to the full extent of their education and training without any requirements for a formal supervisory or collaborative relationship with a physician as a condition for providing direct patient care. This form of regulation adheres to nationally recommended models.

Nurse educators and nurse leaders may be licensed as either an APRN or RN, depending on their individual training and educational background. The Board of Nursing licenses RNs by examination and endorsement.

All Accredited Schools with MSN Degrees in Hawaii

MSN and FNP Salaries

According to data published in May 2018 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner in Hawaii was $120,570. This is considerably higher than the average RN salary of $98,080.

According to a 2019 report by the Hawaii Center for Nursing, the majority of APRNs are employed in an ambulatory care setting. The top three specialties are Adult-Gerontology, Family Health, and Pediatrics. Nearly 40% of the existing nursing workforce is age 50 or older, which will create workforce vacancies as these nurses choose to retire. Hawaii as a state continues to struggle with underserved populations and numerous primary care provider shortage areas.