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Pre-Nursing

This program leads to the Associate in Arts Degree which is equivalent to the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program. It meets the core general education requirements of UH-Manoa. Within the core requirements one can take the nursing prerequisite course requirements for both Kapiolani Community College’s Associate Degree in Nursing, the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s Bachelors Degree in Nursing and equivalent courses for the Hawaii Pacific University Nursing program.

Nursing classes must be taken from the respective schools. Students will have to apply and be accepted to start these classes. Having your nursing general education classes completed will improve your chances of acceptance at the school of your choice.

Nature of Work

Registered nurses care for the sick and injured and help people stay well. They are typically concerned with the "whole person", providing for the physical, mental, and emotional needs of their patients. They observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. While State laws govern the tasks R.N.’s may perform, it is usually the work setting which determines day-to-day job duties.

Working Conditions

Most nurses work in well lighted, comfortable medical facilities. Public health nurses travel to patients’ homes and to schools, community centers, and other sites. Nurses may spend considerable time walking and standing. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. Because patients in hospitals and nursing homes require 24-hour care, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. Office, occupational health, and public health nurses are more likely to work regular business hours. Nursing has its hazards where one may care for individuals with infectious diseases, they are vulnerable to back injury from moving patients, shocks from electrical equipment, and hazards posed by compressed gases.

Employment *

Registered nurses held about 2.1 million jobs in 1998. About 3 out of 5 jobs were in hospitals. Others were in offices and clinics of physicians, nursing homes, health care agencies, schools, and government agencies. About 1 out of 4 R.N.s worked part time. A large number of new nurses will be employed in home health, long-term, and ambulatory care. Employment in home health care is expected to grow rapidly.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

To obtain a nursing license, all States require graduation from an accredited nursing school and passing a national licensing examination. Nurses may be licensed in more than one state, either by exam or endorsement of a license issued by another state. Licenses must be periodically renewed, and continuing education is a requirement for renewal in some states.

Job Outlook and Earnings *

Job prospects in nursing are good. Although employers in some parts of the country reported shortages of R.N.’s in the past, large wage increases have attracted more people to nursing and dampened demand. Recruitment has long been a problem in rural areas, in some big city hospitals, and in specialty areas. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. Median annual earnings of full-time salaried registered nurses was $40,690 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,430 and $49,070. The lowest ten percent earned less than $29,480; the top ten percent earned more than $69,300.

* Information comes from the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-01 Edition

REQUIRED GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSES
FOR KCC, UH-MANOA AND HPU-HAWAII LOA AND THE HCC EQUIVALENT COURSES
***These courses alone DO NOT satisfy the AA degree requirements.
Additional courses are required***

Honolulu Community College Courses Hawaii Pacific University Equivalent Courses University of Hawaii at Manoa Equivalent Courses Kapiolani Community College Equivalent Courses
ENG 100 WRI 1100 ENG 100 ENG 100
ENG 250-257 LITER 2000 Counts as Humanities Optional/Humanities
HIST 151 HIST 2001 HIST 151 Optional/Humanities
HIST 152 HIST 2002 HIST 152 Optional/Humanities
ICS 100 CSCI 1011   Recommended
ZOOL 141/141L BIOL 2030/2031 PHYL 141/141L ZOOL 141/141L
ZOOL 142/142L BIOL 2032/2033 PHYL 142/142L ZOOL 142/142L
CHEM 151/151L CHEM 1000
(Lab Not Required)		 CHEM 151 Any Chemistry Courses
CHEM 152/152L CHEM 2030
(Lab Not Required)		 CHEM 152  
MICRO 130 BIOL 3040 MICRO 130 MICRO 130
MICRO 140 BIOL 3041 MICRO 140 MICRO 140
PHARM 203 NUR 2300 PHARM 203 PHARM 203
ANTH 200 ANTH 2000 Counts as Social Science ANTH 200
ECON 130 ECON 2010 Counts as Social Science  
FAMR 130 NUR 2200 Counts as Social Science FAMR 230
PSY 100 PSY 2000 Counts as Social Sci PSY 100
MATH 115 MATH 3323 Statistics and Math MATH 100 or higher
MATH 135 MATH 2130 or 2115   MATH 100 or higher

It is recommended that you attend the information sessions offered by each university. Please contact each school directly for dates and times.

COURSE EQUIVALENCIES VERIFIED WITH EACH COLLEGE 6/02