JNClems

Simonsmom I worked at the trauma center in Hawaii for three years and I can honestly say that due to HPU's theory based learning those students were more prepared to clinically think then any other nursing school student. I say this because being in the ER I had many nursing students from ALL of the schools in Hawaii. Now, granted the other nursing schools had more technical skills, they could not tell me WHY we were doing what we were doing. Nor could they tell me what things I would expect to see if my patient's status were to deteroriate. So all that time in your theory class PAYS off in real practice. I hated getting students from other schools because they couldn't think! Your job as a nurse is to PREVENT things from going bad....correct?!?!?! So why should it be more valuable for you to perform technical skill over being able to think ahead? It shouldn't!!! I can teach you technical skills on the floor what I can't teach you is to critically think! Not to be rude but you should be a little more thankful for your school because, while they do have their problems and there isn't one school that doesn't, you are a more well rounded prepaired nurse because you can think ahead. You can take my advise as you want but this is coming from a very experience ER person!

Ok HPU has moved away from the credit thing. Entrance is now based on nursing GPA, TEAS test score, I'm sure some other things but it is no longer based on HPU credits. My friend got in with me in 2009 with 6 credits. So the credit thing doesn't matter anymore. As for HPU, it is unorganized and can be very painful to handle at times. Some teachers are nut cases and some are amazing. If you choose HPU do your research and ask around about teachers before you decide on classes. I had asked around before I registered each semester and I can honestly say I only had two horrible teachers for my entire time there. The nursing course is difficult but you get out what you put in. If you get the good teachers you can do very well. Many offer a lot when it comes to helping students. Others, well it's better to find the nice teacher and ask. During my course I found it to be more of the students responsiblity to learn as much as they wanted. The teachers gave a good building foundation however it was the students responsibility to go back and study and make the connections. However that doesn't mean they wont help you. They just want you to make the effort. The school is very expensive and the cost only seems to be going up. However, I am a new HPU grad and just got a position in the ER, and I can honestly say that I was very well prepared for both my NCLEX and my current position as an ER nurse. My graduating class had approximately 120 students and only 1 or 2 failed the NCLEX. When you look at numbers compared to other schools that is an extremely high passing rate. I hope I have helped you answer some of your questions. If you have anymore please feel free to ask. I have heard that UH is much better but there program is 3 years regardless. There is no speeding it up. I finished HPU nursing program in a year and half. To me it was well worth the money to get it over with and start working.

HPU is completely disorganized and some teachers are more than painful to deal with. It is a very tough program however, as a new grad nurse in an ER, I can say that I was very well prepared from HPU. However, with that being said, you have to take your education into your own hands. You have to put forth the study and learn as much as you want. The teachers are not going to hand you the information. In my opinion it seemed that they gave you a good foundation to start to build with and it was your responsiblity to study and make the connections. I did have a really hard time with the school due to their ridiculous logic sometimes but in all honesty my graduating class was all well prepared for the NCLEX and nursing life there after. I think out of 110 students 1 person failed NCLEX and those numbers are not bad at all.