PUHI — Fifteen nurses have an opportunity to double their pay Wednesday. Ernie Pasion, president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce, said these 15 candidates for the Nursing Board exam, are currently working as Licensed Practical Nurses, or Certified
PUHI — Fifteen nurses have an opportunity to double their pay Wednesday.
Ernie Pasion, president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce, said these 15 candidates for the Nursing Board exam, are currently working as Licensed Practical Nurses, or Certified Nurses Aides.
But following a six-week review class to help prepare the candidates for the Nursing Board Exam, if the candidates successfully pass the examination, they will be certified as Registered Nurses.
“Right now as LPN and CNA, they’re making in the neighborhood of $36,000 a year,” Pasion said. “If they pass and become RNs, their starting pay jumps to between $60-$75,000 a year.”
The program, a collaborative effort between the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Education Committee, the Kaua‘i Community College Nursing Department, and the KCC Rural Development Program, culminated with the celebration of the candidates along with the program partners following the administering of a practice examination.
“In the past, nurses wanting to take the Board exam had to fly to O‘ahu, but under this program, one of the KCC instructors, Tammie Napoleon, was certified to teach and administer the exam,” Pasion said. “It allows the candidates to continue working while preparing to take the exam.”
Pasion said the first course, hosted about six years ago, had 20 candidates with 12 passing the exam successfully. During that course, Pasion said instructors had to be flown in from Honolulu, but under this program, Napoleon is now qualified to lead the program. He said that if this program proves successful, the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce is contemplating expanding the program to include a program for teachers as well.
Kevin Mince of the Rural Development program congratulated the candidates on their successful course of study, noting that all of this was made possible through a grant secured by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
“They can do it (pass the exam),” Napoleon said. “There’s a lot more study ahead of them, but they have gotten a lot of information already.”
Char Ono, the director of the KCC Nursing program, asked students to keep the department abreast of their results.
“We want to know how we can help you,” Ono said. “We also want to see if this is a successful program to see if we can offer it again to other candidates.”
Candidates in this program included Jeanalyn Agcaoili, Rowesa Grace Visitacion, Ramalyn Pena, Wendell Saludes, AmyLou Aginaldo, Vanessa Navarro, Mrites Aguinaldo, Yolanda Ragasa, Neria Batangan, Raquel Ballesteros, Myramel Ganir, Krystal Ondontz, Olive Pangan, Naomi Contado and Flordelina Quiacusan.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
