HPU JOINS STATEWIDE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK

HPU nursing faculty and students joined colleagues across the state in November to celebrate National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week and highlight the vital role NPs play in expanding access to care in Hawaiʻi and nationwide.

National Nurse Practitioner Week is observed annually during the second week of November to honor NPs’ contributions, and to remind policymakers of the importance of allowing them to practice to the full extent of their education and training (aanp.org). This year, NP Week was celebrated November 9–15, under the theme: “NPs: Trusted Voices, Proven Care,” a nod to the trusted, patient-centered care NPs provide in communities across the country.

This year, Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green welcomed 16 nursing leaders from across the islands to the Capitol to sign a proclamation officially recognizing National Nurse Practitioner Week in Hawaiʻi (Maui Now).

Representing HPU at the proclamation ceremony was HPU School of Nursing Dean Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Ed.D., APRN, who joined colleagues from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH), and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in honoring nurse practitioners and their impact across the state.

“Standing with Gov. Green and colleagues from universities across Hawaiʻi was a powerful reminder of how deeply our communities rely on nurse practitioners,” said Dean Magpantay-Monroe. “In every setting, from community health centers to hospital clinics, NPs are helping families receive timely, compassionate care close to home.”

Gov. Green’s proclamation highlighted that access to quality health care remains a challenge in Hawaiʻi, especially for residents covered by Medicare and Medicaid who struggle to find providers accepting their insurance. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 74% of NPs nationwide treat Medicare patients and 80% see Medicaid patients, making them a key part of the solution to provider shortages. In Hawaiʻi, 1,340 nurse practitioners are currently serving patients statewide, providing preventive care, checkups, and management of acute and chronic conditions (Maui Now).

The celebration continued on November 14 at “Champions of Care: NP Week in Hawaiʻi,” an evening event hosted at CUH, recognizing nurse practitioners, nurse leaders, and future NPs. The gathering featured live music, food, and time for NPs, students, faculty, and community partners to reconnect and build new professional networks.

HPU hosted an information table at the CUH event, staffed by Dean Magpantay-Monroe and Dr. Christine Nguyen, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Track Coordinator, who met with current HPU NP students, adjunct faculty, and clinical partners and answered questions from prospective students.

For Dean Magpantay-Monroe, the evening doubled as a reunion and a glimpse of the profession’s future.

“It was inspiring to see such a strong presence of NPs, students, and partners from every island gathered in one room,” she said. “HPU is honored to stand alongside Chaminade, UH Mānoa, UH Hilo, and our community clinics in supporting nurse practitioners. Together, we are preparing the next generation of NPs who will advance health equity, especially for those who have historically had the hardest time accessing care.”