Gov. David Ige released $1.75 million for 39 new instructor positions to help address Hawaiʻi’s  nursing faculty shortage in addition to supporting the state’s University of Hawaiʻi nursing programs.

The initiative, which the Governor included in his budget request to the state Legislature that lawmakers approved during the 2022 legislative session, will help UH graduate more nurses to meet the workforce demands of the state.

The 39 positions will support instruction needs for approximately 230 nursing students. Currently, there are about 770 nursing students enrolled across the UH System: UH Mānoa, UH Hilo, UH Maui College, Kapiʻolani Community College, Kauaʻi CC and Hawaiʻi CC.

According to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations there are an estimated 1,000 current nurse vacancies across the state.  Hawaiʻi State labor data predicts there is an anticipated growth of nurse demand of an additional 110 positions each year, through 2030.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, state nursing schools were able to graduate an adequate number of nurses to meet workforce needs, according to the Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing. However, in the last two academic years, there has been a loss of 15% of state-funded nursing positions. In addition, budget constraints prevented schools from receiving funds to hire replacements for faculty who left their positions.

The breakdown of the funding is as follows:

• UH Mānoa: $354,767 (8 positions)
• UH Hilo: $532,150 (12 positions)
• UH Community Colleges: $842,572 (19 positions)
• Kapiʻolani CC: (9 positions)
• UH Maui College: (3 positions)
• Kauaʻi CC: (3 positions)
• Hawaiʻi CC: (4 positions)

UH is actively recruiting and hiring for the nursing lecture positions. For more information, visit Work at UH.

(Photo credit: University of Hawaiʻi)