Aloha from the Dean!
Interim Dean Dr. Tricia Catalino
Dean, School of Nursing
Aloha and welcome to the School of Nursing at Hawai’i Pacific University.
We became a School of Nursing in January 2022, and we are making deliberate changes to improve the student experience in the programs we offer and a collaborative partnership with the communities we serve. Each year, we admit students from diverse backgrounds who are future promising nurse leaders. Our faculty are experts in their own right and excel in teaching, scholarships, and service.
We offer both undergraduate and graduate nursing education. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) will qualify you to take the national licensing exam to become a registered nurse (RN). There are numerous RN positions open all over the country and Hawai‘i is in great need of RNs for the future who can lead and adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare field.
We also offer graduate education in nursing, leading to a master’s degree that allows you to sit for exams to be licensed as a family nurse practitioner (FNP), an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), or a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).
Finally, we offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree online. With your graduate nursing education, you will be positioned to impact society’s health, in Hawai‘i, throughout the United States, and globally.
At Hawai‘i Pacific University our commitment to educating future nurses is founded on the values of kuleana (responsibility), pono (integrity) and aloha (kindness and humility). We want students to be safe nurses who understand holistic care and evidence-based practice. Our students have access to opportunities for their enrichment, such as student support services, Student Nurses Association (SNA) and much more.
Please read our website and do not hesitate to ask questions.
School of Nursing
Creating Future Leaders in Nursing and Public Health
HPU’s School of Nursing is committed to preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders through innovative, hands-on education in both nursing and public health. We offer undergraduate programs that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to become Registered Nurses and promote health and prevent disease at the community and population levels. Our graduate programs prepare students to further their nursing careers in a specialized area or with a doctorate degree, or address public health challenges at local and global levels. By joining us at Hawai‘i Pacific University, you’re taking a meaningful first step to make an impact in your career and your community.
Nursing and Public Health alumni around the world.
Official Membership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), National League for Nursing (NLN), Society for Simulation Healthcare (SSH), American Public Health Association (APHA).
Dynamic, multicultural setting, where industry-leading instructors seamlessly blend classroom teachings with hands-on experiences.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Graduate Programs
- MSN-Adult Gero Acute Care NP
- MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN-Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
POST MASTER CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certificates
- Graduate Certificate: Post Master in Adult Gero Nurse Practitioner
- Graduate Certificate: Post Master in Family Nurse Practitioner
- Graduate Certificate: Post Master in Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
WHY School of Nursing?
The faculty, staff, and students of the School of Nursing join the rest of the Hawaiʻi Pacific University community in embracing the following values as representative of the spiritual, ethical, and philosophical principles that support our community, as well as of the aspirational ideals to which we collectively aspire. Alumni of the School of Nursing give back to their communities and exemplify HPUʻs standards of excellence.
- PONO - meaning righteous, honest and moral, and an energy of necessity.
- KULEANA - meaning responsibility and rights, and concern for all interests, property, and people.
- ALOHA - meaning hello, goodbye, love, kindness and grace, unity, humility, patience and waiting for the right moment.
Mission
Hawai‘i Pacific University School of Nursing is committed to educating competent and caring professionals in the practice of health promotion and healthcare. Graduates are life-long learners and leaders dedicated to delivering holistic care in the spirit of aloha for a global community.
Vision
The School of Nursing will be ranked in the top nursing and health science programs delivering a distinct transcultural healthcare educational experience.
Accreditation Status
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post graduate APRN certificate programs at Hawaii Pacific University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)
The Public Health programs at HPU are currently on probationary status with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). We respect CEPH’s decision and are fully engaged in ongoing efforts toward full compliance with accreditation standards.
CCNE Accreditation Site Visit and Opportunity for Third-Party Comments
The Hawaiʻi Pacific University School of Nursing will host an on-site accreditation evaluation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs on November 9–11, 2026.
As part of the CCNE accreditation process, faculty, students, alumni, employers, clinical partners, and other interested parties are invited to submit written third-party comments concerning the programs under review.
Third-party comments must:
- Be submitted in English.
- Be received by October 19, 2026.
- Be sent directly to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.
Third-party comments are reviewed by the CCNE evaluation team as part of the accreditation process and are considered only in relation to the CCNE accreditation standards.
We appreciate the continued support of our students, alumni, faculty, clinical partners, and community as we prepare for our upcoming accreditation review.