Entry-level nursing students got a head start on their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) path through a no-cost, three-day summer bridge workshop piloted by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and UH West O‘ahu. The inaugural workshop took place in August, before the start of the fall 2025 semester.
Designed for students in the UH West O‘ahu Pre-Nursing to UH Mānoa BSN pathway and the UH Mānoa High School Direct Entry in Nursing pathway, the program combined hands-on clinical refreshers, academic skill-building and cultural grounding to help students transition smoothly.
“This workshop gives our students the tools and confidence they need before stepping into the demands of nursing school,” said William Siegman, UH Mānoa nursing undergraduate program director. “It’s about resilience, connection and preparation, inside and outside the classroom.”
Participants practiced clinical skills such as taking vital signs and performing medication calculations while also engaging in workshops on prioritization, time management and academic success strategies. To address mental and emotional well-being, the sessions included self-care activities, peer networking, and discussions on balancing stress and responsibility.
The program also emphasized cultural values of aloha, kuleana (responsibility) and mālama ‘āina (to care for the land). Through reflection, relationship building and guided planning, students gained a deeper understanding of the cultural context of nursing in Hawai‘i.
Siegman credited the collaboration of UH West O‘ahu, UH Mānoa Nursing and the ‘IKE AO PONO Program, a student support program for underrepresented nursing students, for bringing the pilot program to life.
Article originally posted to UH News on Sept. 3, 2025.