Frequently Asked Questions
Should I consider nursing as a career?
Where can I find more information about nursing as a career?
What degrees and certificates do you offer?
How can I obtain advising information about the KCC nursing programs?
When can I apply to enter the Practical Nursing (PRCN) program at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC)?
What’s the difference between the prerequisite courses and the co-requisite (support) courses for the KCC PRCN program?
How long it will it take to complete the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program?
Is there a time limit on the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program?
Am I able to re-take any prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program and obtain a better grade in order to enhance my application to the KCC PRCN program?
Do I need to maintain a certain grade and achieve a certain grade point ratio for the prerequisite and co-requisite (support) courses?
Does my KCC cumulative grade point ratio (GPR) count, when my application is reviewed by the KCC Nursing Department?
How do I prepare for the ATI-TEAS exam?
Is there a time limit on my ATI-TEAS exam score?
Am I able to re-take the ATI-TEAS exam, if I am not satisfied with my initial exam score?
Are letters of reference needed as part of my application?
How are students selected for the nursing program?
Is there a wait list for the nursing program?
I’ve completed all of the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program and was wondering if there are other courses that can be completed during the semester before I actually start the PRCN program?
What is a nursing student schedule like and am I able to work full-time or part-time while enrolled in the KCC PRCN program?
Is financial aid available for the KCC nursing programs?
Will KCC offer its nursing program at other sites throughout O‘ahu?
Is certification available?
Should I consider nursing as a career?
Yes, if you enjoy working with and caring for people; able to accept, give and use constructive feedback; have good manual dexterity and coordination; able to speak and write well; able to work independently and within a team; and have a strong background in math, science and English. Back to top.
Where can I find more information about nursing as a career?
Visit the Maida Kamber Center (MKC) for Career and Transfer Services in `Ilima 104 or its website (see the Related Links section). The MKC provides career counseling, resources, and information. Back to top.
What degrees and certificates do you offer?
The certificate of achievement (CA) in nursing to pursue licensure as a practical nurse. The associate in science (AS) degree in nursing to pursue licensure as a registered nurse. Back to top.
How can I obtain advising information about the KCC nursing programs?
Attend a Nursing Information Session. For a current schedule, click on Nursing Information Session. Back to top.
When can I apply to enter the Practical Nursing (PRCN) program at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC)?
You must first complete the PRCN prerequisite courses, the ATI-TEAS exam, a state-approved nurse aide course and (15-hour) medical terminology course, after which you can complete an application to the PRCN program. The prerequisite courses can be completed at Kapi‘olani Community College or other campuses within the University of Hawai‘i (UH) System. Courses completed at institutions outside of the UH System may also be used to fulfill the PRCN prerequisite courses. To complete the prerequisite courses at a campus within the UH System, please complete the UH System Application Form and identify your preferred campus and indicate your major as liberal arts or unclassified. For more information, click on PRCN Admissions Procedure. Back to top.
What’s the difference between the prerequisite courses and the co-requisite (support) courses for the KCC PRCN program?
The PRCN prerequisite courses must be completed before the application deadline, while the PRCN co-requisite (support) courses can be completed before the application deadline or while in the PRCN program. Time and funding permitting, you are encouraged to complete the co-requisite courses before applying to the PRCN program in order to obtain extra consideration on your application as well as concentrate solely on the nursing courses while in the PRCN program. For a listing of these courses, please click to Certificate of Achievement in Practical Nursing. Back to top.
How long it will it take to complete the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program?
The minimum of length of time will consist of three terms (e.g., Fall, Spring and Summer or a combination thereof), since the ZOOL 141 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I), ZOOL 142 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II) and PHRM 110 (Basic Clinical Pharmacology) courses must be completed in the proper sequence. ZOOL 141 serves as a prerequisite for ZOOL 142, while both ZOOL 141 and ZOOL 142 serve as prerequisite courses for PHRM 110. You can decide how and when you want to complete the other prerequisite and co-requisite courses around the ZOOL 141, ZOOL 142 and PHRM 110 courses. You are encouraged to complete the English and math courses early on, since some of the other PRCN prerequisite and co-requisite courses require a certain level of English and math qualification. Back to top.
Is there a time limit on the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program?
The science courses (i.e., Zoology and Pharmacology) have a five-year time limit, which must be completed within the last five years prior to the first day of the application period. There is no time limit for all other (non-science) courses. Back to top.
Am I able to re-take any prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program and obtain a better grade in order to enhance my application to the KCC PRCN program?
Yes, you may retake a prerequisite or co-requisite course to obtain a better grade in order to enhance your nursing application, since the KCC Nursing Department does not have a limit on the number of times that a course can be repeated for a better grade. To clarify, when retaking a course for which you received a grade of “D” or “F,” if you receive a higher grade after retaking the course, this higher grade will change your cumulative GPR. When retaking a course for which you received a passing grade of “C,” if you receive a higher grade after re-taking the course, this higher grade will not change your cumulative grade point ratio (GPR). In both situations, when reviewing your application for the KCC PRCN program, the KCC Nursing Department will look for the higher grade for the course retaken. Back to top.
Do I need to maintain a certain grade and achieve a certain grade point ratio for the prerequisite and co-requisite (support) courses?
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. A 2.5 cumulative grade point ratio (GPR) is required for the pre-requisite and co-requisite courses. Back to top.
Does my KCC cumulative grade point ratio (GPR) count, when my application is reviewed by the KCC Nursing Department?
Your cumulative grade point ratio at Kapi‘olani Community College must be at least 2.0 or higher (which is a “C” average or higher) for ALL courses completed at KCC in order to be considered for the KCC PRCN program. However, your KCC cumulative GPA is not used for ranking purposes, when applicants are selected for the KCC PRCN program. Back to top.
How do I prepare for the ATI-TEAS exam?
You are encouraged to consider using the exam study guide which may be access via the ATI website within the following URL link: http://www.atitesting.com/global/students/teas-study-manual.aspx. Back to top.
Is there a time limit on my ATI-TEAS exam score?
Your ATI-TEAS exam score is good for three (3) years. As long as the exam score has not expired, you may use the same exam score when initially applying to the nursing program and if re-applying to the nursing program in a subsequent semester. Back to top.
Am I able to re-take the ATI-TEAS exam, if I am not satisfied with my initial exam score?
Yes, you may re-take the exam every three (3) months. If the second exam is taken less than the three months after your first exam, your second exam score will be voided and, in order to be eligible to retake the exam, you must wait another three months from the date of your second exam.
If you’ve taken the exam more than once, you should complete your nursing application by indicating the best score you received on the ATI-TEAS exam. The KCC Nursing Department does not use the most recent exam score or does not average out the multiple scores received. Instead, the KCC Nursing Department will consider your best exam score received. Back to top.
Are letters of reference needed as part of my application?
Letters of reference are not necessary for the PRCN application. The Nursing Department is in the process of seeking approval to amend the admissions/application process which will enable applicants to submit letters of reference to affirm prior health/medical work experience; thus enabling applicants with health/medical work experience to receive additional consideration on their application. For updates, you are encouraged to revisit the KCC website periodically, attend a KCC Nursing Information Session or contact the KCC Nursing Department at 734-9305 or at kapnurs@hawaii.edu. Back to top.
How are students selected for the nursing program?
For the Practical Nursing (PRCN) program, the “best qualified” applicants are selected based on three criteria: their grade point ratio (GPR) for the prerequisite courses and co-requisite courses (if completed before the application deadline), their percentile exam score and their completion of the co-requisite courses before the application deadline. A range of points are assigned for the GPR for the prerequisite and co-requisite courses, for the percentile score for ATI-TEAS exam and for each co-requisite course (completed before the application deadline).
For the Practical Nursing Program, qualified applicants who are deemed as Hawai‘i residents for tuition purposes are considered first for acceptance; after which, qualified, non-resident applicants are considered on a space-available basis. Military personnel and their dependents are eligible to pay resident-level tuition based on their non-resident military exempt tuition status; however, they are deemed as non-residents when applying for the KCC nursing programs, since the military personnel’s home of record determines the state of residence. Back to top.
Is there a wait list for the nursing program?
There is no formal wait list for the nursing programs; however, there is an alternate list that is maintained for only a specific semester.
PRCN applicants who are not selected for admissions may be deemed as alternates depending on their ranking. Alternate students are required to attend the PRCN New Student Orientation Session and are encouraged to complete the health requirements in case they are selected for the nursing program. Alternate students may be offered admissions as early as two months before the start of the semester or as recent as one week before the start of the semester. In either case, alternate students must be ready to start the PRCN program at the time they are offered admissions or the next qualified alternate student, who has completed all of the health requirements, will be offered admissions into the program. Alternates for the PRCN Program who are not offered admissions into their semester of application must re-apply to the nursing program in a subsequent semester. Back to top.
I’ve completed all of the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the KCC PRCN program and was wondering if there are other courses that can be completed during the semester before I actually start the PRCN program?
Students are encouraged to complete the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. In addition, below are other courses that are recommended for pre-nursing students. While no extra application consideration is given for completing these courses, pre-nursing students gain extra knowledge in preparation for entry into the ADN program.
HLTH 110 – Medical Terminology (2 credits)
HLTH 125 – Survey of Medical Terminology (1 credit)
HLTH 160 – Study of Diseases (3 credits)
HLTH 252 – Pathophysiology (3 credits)
MEDA 100 – Introduction to Medical Assisting (3 credits)
NURS 9 – Long Term Care Nurse Aide (6 credits)
PHIL 250 – Ethics in Health Care (3 credits)
Other courses such BIOC 241-Fundamentals of Biochemistry, BIOC 244-Essentials of Biochemistry and MICR 140-General Microbiology Lab may also be taken in preparation for the UHM Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Back to top.
What is a nursing student schedule like and am I able to work full-time or part-time while enrolled in the KCC PRCN program?
Depending on the scheduled days/times for the lecture, lab and clinical practicum for a specific nursing course, a nursing student schedule encompasses the weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The decision to work is a personal choice, however, it is recommended that students lessen their work hours or forego working due to the demands within the nursing program. Back to top.
Is financial aid available for the KCC nursing programs?
Federal financial aid (i.e., grants, college work study and loans), UH System tuition waivers and private nursing scholarships are available for students accepted into the KCC PRCN program. Private nursing scholarships administered by KCC are available. Back to top.
Will KCC offer its nursing program at other sites throughout O‘ahu?
The KCC Nursing Department has received approval from the Hawai‘i State Board of Nursing to bring the KCC Practical Nursing (PRCN) Program to Windward Community College starting in the Fall 2009 semester. The KCC Nursing Department is working to determine if its nursing program can be offered at other sites throughout O‘ahu. The KCC Nursing Department will also be working with the Hawai‘i State Board of Nursing to address requirements that will enable KCC to bring its nursing program to other sites in the future. For updates, you are encouraged to revisit the KCC website periodically, attend a KCC Nursing Information Session or contact the KCC Nursing Department at 734-9305 or at kapnurs@hawaii.edu. Back to top.
Is certification available?
The KCC PRCN Program prepares its graduates for the National Council of Licensure Examination for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN). Back to top.
