Nurse Faculty Loan Program - Abstract – Nishikawa NFLP 2026-27 Project Title: Expanding Nurse Faculty Workforce Through Financial Support of Education Hawai‘i Pacific University School of Nursing 500 Ala Moana Blvd Bldg 1-424 Honolulu, HI 96813 Project Director: Jessica Nishikawa DNP, APRN, FNP-C Phone: 509-432-9641 Jnishika@hpu.edu Grant Funds Requested: $148,500 The State of Hawai‘i continues to face a significant nurse faculty shortage that limits the capacity of nursing programs to educate the future workforce. According to the Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing's 2023–2024 Nurse Education Capacity Report, the statewide full-time nursing faculty vacancy rate is 15%, nearly double the national faculty vacancy rate of 8%. Schools consistently identify filling full-time faculty positions as their greatest workforce challenge. Additionally, one-third of Hawai‘i's full-time nursing faculty are over the age of 60, highlighting the urgent need to develop the next generation of academic nurse educators (HSCN, 2025). As experienced faculty retire, the shortage threatens the ability of nursing programs to expand enrollment and meet the healthcare workforce needs of the state. At the same time, demand for graduate nursing education continues to increase. Hawai‘i's DNP programs reported substantial growth in enrollment capacity, applications, admissions, and new student enrollment during Academic Year 2023–2024, demonstrating strong interest in advanced nursing education and leadership preparation (HSCN, 2025). The purpose of this project is to increase the number of nurses prepared for academic faculty roles through financial support, recruitment, retention, mentoring, and career guidance. Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) School of Nursing collaborates closely with the Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing and healthcare employers statewide to address workforce shortages and strengthen the nursing pipeline. In Fall 2021, HPU launched a fully online Master of Science in Nursing program, a post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and a BSN-to-DNP pathway, significantly expanding access to graduate nursing education across Hawai‘i and the Pacific region. As a result, graduate nursing enrollment has grown from approximately 30 students to more than 350 students. The School of Nursing will provide information regarding the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) to eligible students upon admission and prior to each academic year. The Project Director and Financial Aid Office will oversee student selection, loan administration, academic progression, graduation tracking, and employment outcome monitoring. Proposed NFLP funding will support six graduate nursing students preparing for academic careers, helping expand the pipeline of future nurse educators and strengthening Hawai‘i's nursing workforce for years to come.
