Counseling for Nursing Programs
Nursing Counselors provide support to students for health career pathways to earn degrees and certificates.
Counseling & Advising
Counseling is available for New, Returning, Transfer, or Program majors. Students learn about admission requirements and criteria, program curriculum, program cost, financial aid, application for licensure/certificates, and transfer to baccalaureate programs.
Counselors: Crystalyn Hottenstein and Kristy Yoshikawa
Location: Kopiko 201
kapnurs@hawaii.edu, (808) 734-9305
Advising Period: Please view our Nursing Information Session video clips. Online unscheduled appointment (first come, first serve) Tuesdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm and on Wednesdays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm via STAR Balance
Counselors are available to help you:
- Explore health career pathways through program advising and information sessions
- Select a health career program pathway
- Identify ‘professional qualities’ of your career pathway to ensure that you develop a good fit
- Select appropriate courses
- Develop an academic plan (STAR Graduation Pathway; semester-by-semester plan of courses)
- Achieve academic preparation for program admission
- Connect to resources for your academic and personal success
- Thrive for program graduation and employment
You should also meet with a counselor before:
- You register each semester
- You apply to a health program
- You are ready to graduate
- You prepare for employment
Career Exploration
Do you know what health career you may find satisfying? Do you know what the professional qualities of your profession/occupational cluster are? Do you know what your personal, academic, and career strengths are? Have you volunteered, engaged in service-learning, and/or enrolled in an introductory health professions course for your occupational pathway?
We encourage you to attend a program information session(s) and visit the Nursing Program page. Furthermore, meet with a counselor who can help you understand what your career interest is, decide on appropriate next steps in the journey, and connect you to available campus and community resources.
Credit & Non-credit Nursing Degrees and Certificates
Credit Programs:
- Associate In Science – Nursing (AS-NURS)
- Associate in Science – Nursing/Transition for Licensed Practical Nurse (AS-NURS/TRAN)
- Certificate of Achievement – Practical Nursing (CA-PRACN)
- Certificate of Competence – Adult Residential Care Home Primary Care Givers Program – ARCH (CO-CHO)
- Certificate of Competence – Long Term Care Nurse Aide -NURS 9 (CO-NALT)
Health Education Non-credit (HENC) Programs:
- Certificate of Competence – Surgical Technology Program (CO-SURG)
You might also be interested in:
- Career Kokua — Access information on Hawai‘i job market, occupations, education, and training programs
- Hawai‘i Career Explorer – to explore and learn more about nursing and other healthcare careers.
- Hawai‘i is Hiring – for prospective employment as a certified nurse aide, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, and other health care professionals.
- Employment Prep Center — Connects Kapi‘olani Community College students with job shadowing, volunteer, and internship opportunities
- Occupational Outlook Handbook — Access classes offered at UH campuses in various semesters
- O*Net — Access career information on work tasks, competencies, interests, values, wages and employment trends for occupations
Online Tools for Student Success
- Kapi‘olani Community College Catalog – Access general information on programs and services, course descriptions, and prerequisites/co-requisites
- STAR – Track degree progress, academic planning, what if journeys, registration, financial aid, and transcripts
- UH CC’s College and Career Exploration — Online tool for interactive exploration of career pathways and related academic programs at the UH Community Colleges
- UH Class Availability Lists – Access classes offered at UH campuses in various semesters
- UH System Academic Calendar (pdf) – Access UH System and campus-specific academic calendars
- UH System Tuition Schedule – Access resident and non-resident tuition for UH campuses
- Office of Student Activities – Access to student organizations, activities, and related resource support
Campus Resources:
- Financial Aid Office – Access information on financial aid including scholarships, grants, and student loans support
- Kulia Ma Kapi‘olani Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education – Access the native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP) is a federal grant administered as a consortia through Alu Like, Inc. and has been on the KCC campus for 20 years. Under the current grant, the project goal is to provide services to 75 Native Hawaiian students in career & technical education programs to succeed in attaining certificates and degree to transition to the workforce or additional training as desired.
- Targeted Population and International Student Counselors — Access to student support counselors for First Year Experience (FYE), Transfer Year Experience (TYE), Deaf Studies/Deaf Education (CORE) and Deaf Students, Disability Support Services Office, Honda International Center, Kuilei Outreach Program, Running & Jump Start, &Early Admit, Mental Health and Wellness, Military & Veterans Program, Kapo‘oloku Program for Native Hawaiian Student Success, Kulia ma Kapi‘olani – Native Hawaiian Career & Technical Educational Project, Student Parents Program, and TRIO Student Support Services
- Health Career Programs — Access to health career programs offered by the Kapi‘olani Community College Health Sciences Department and the Emergency Medical Services Department.
- Health Education Non-credit (HENC) Programs — Access to programs specializing in preparation for health care training including short term, evenings, weekends, certificates, and certification examination.