The islands-state of Hawaii is the youngest state in the Union, but it holds important tourism and military value. With beaches, mountains, and rainforest, the islands draw millions of tourists each year, and 75,000 military members live in Hawaii on one of the many military bases there. If you are a resident of this state and are looking for information on becoming an LPN, from education to licensing, in Hawaii, continue reading.
The first section of information on this page discusses LPN schooling programs in Hawaii and what they usually provide. The second section of information on this page describes a typical LPN profession and its job duties. The third section lists some requirements that Hawaii has in place for LPN licensing, and the last section provides a list of some Hawaii schools that may offer LPN schooling.
LPN Courses & Schooling: Fundamental Information
In Hawaii, LPN students may participate in a program that is made up of classes, labs, and clinicals. Some LPN programs may require students to take general education classes, such as biology and psychology. However, nursing classes will usually be the majority of classwork that is required. Students may take nursing classes that include various topics like illness management, critical care, alternative medicine, mental health nursing, family and community health, and other related nursing topics . Labs may be required for some of these classes, which will allow student LPNs to practice techniques they learn on each other or on mannequins. An instructor will usually be present to offer advice and help students sharpen their skills as they practice them. Many Hawaiian LPN schooling programs also offer clinicals, which may occur once a week or more at a medical setting. Students working in clinicals basically begin taking on LPN tasks, which allows them to learn the job in the real world and work with other medical professionals and with patients. Clinicals tend to start out fairly easy with lighter responsibilities and become harder and more involved as the students continue in the schooling program.
Typical Job Functions of Hawaii LPNs
Most LPN professions resemble one another; however, specific job tasks may vary according to location. LPNs work in many different medical settings, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, the private homes of patients, and many other settings. Many job duties do cross over employment settings, while certain other job duties may be performed in one setting and not another (for example, LPNs in a nursing home will probably not be involved in infantile care at all while LPNs in a NICU may bottle-feed infants). Some examples of common LPN job duties that may cross over employment locations include bedside care, patient health status monitoring, and specialized tasks. Bedside care may include cleansing wounds and changing bandages, dressing and bathing patients, and helping patients with personal hygiene. Patient health status monitoring may include taking and reporting vital health signs like height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
Another aspect of being an LPN may also include being a liaison between the patient and doctor, expressing concerns that the patient has told the LPN about his or her health to the doctor or medical professionals in charge of the patient. Some specialized tasks that LPNs who have been taught and/or certified to do may be asked to do include working with IV therapy, working with catheters, and assisting nurses and doctors with dialysis. Some other fairly common job functions for LPNs in Hawaii include completing paperwork (like billing insurance companies), supervising assistants and aides, and administering medication.
Hawaii LPN Licensing Information
Hawaii requires all practical nurses to be licensed through their Board of Nursing. Following is information regarding some requirements for being licensed as an LPN in Hawaii; since regulations and laws sometimes change regarding requirements, visit the Hawaii Board of Nursing website for comprehensive, up-to-date information on requirements, unique situations (such as graduation from a foreign nursing program), and fee amounts.
Applicants must have graduated from an approved program. They must complete the application for practical nurse licensing and pay appropriate fees, as well as register to take the NCLEX Practical Nursing exam. When applicants have fulfilled Hawaii’s requirements for applying to be a practical nurse by examination, they will receive an Authorization to Test, which allows them to set a date to take the NCLEX. IF they pass the NCLEX and have satisfied all requirements for licensing, the Hawaii Board of Nursing may issue an LPN license to the applicant.
The NCLEX is a comprehensive, computerized nursing exam that bases its questions off of the examinee’s previous response to questions. This means every individual exam is unique, and the number of questions may range from less than 100 to more than 200, depending on examinees’ responses. Examinees are generally allowed six hours to take the exam, which is pass/fail. The examinees are not graded by a minimum percentage correct or against one another but rather against a preset standard.
Local Hawaii Colleges
The following is a list of local Hawaii colleges where you might be able to find LPN programs.
Hawaii Community College
200 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 934-2500
Kapiolani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 734-9000
Kauai Community College
3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 245-8311
Leeward Community College
96-045 Ala Ike St, Pearl City, HI 96782
(808) 455-0011
Maui College
310 Ka’ahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 984-3500
University of Hawaii at Maui
310 W Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 984-3500
Windward Community College
45-720 Keaahala Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 235-7400
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