Alumni spotlight: Megan B.
Online MSN-FNP Program, Class of 2026

Life rarely offers a perfect moment to return to school, but Megan B. felt the timing was right.

With a strong drive to go further and do more in nursing, she set out to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her goals were to challenge herself, to grow in her career, and to learn to serve the needs of new patient populations.

In other words, she wanted to learn to think like a provider — and to improve the level of care she gives her patients in the process. The timing isn’t always perfect, but Megan’s journey shows that with the right motivation, you can accomplish great things.

Megan’s search for the right MSN program led her to Hawai‘i Pacific University’s online nursing program.

The flexibility of the program helped turn a long-held goal into something achievable while still balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, she says. And once she made her choice, she hit the ground running.

Before her first course even began, Megan was ready to meet the moment. More than anything, she hoped the program would help her grow her skill set and push her to expand her limits.

“I was excited to start,” she says. “I was hoping to really grow my knowledge and challenge myself.”

She knew success would require discipline. Her strategy was simple but effective: Work at it every day and make sure to stay on track, finishing every assignment before the due date.

That steady routine helped her build momentum during the first few weeks and gave her the confidence to keep moving forward.

As the program progressed, Megan began to see herself thinking less like a student and more like a provider. As the processes and knowledge clicked, she saw how her education would inform her practice, and she built the confidence that would carry her across the finish line.

One of the most meaningful moments of this process was enrolling in her adult primary care theory course with Dr. Nishikawa. By learning to assess patient concerns, organize information clearly, identify diagnoses, prioritize problems, and create treatment plans, Megan recognized that she was developing the mindset and skills of a family nurse practitioner.

This experience, she says, “really got me to think like a provider.”

Through the program, Megan strengthened several important abilities, citing critical thinking, problem solving, self-discipline, accountability, and creativity as skills that grew throughout the experience. These traits became especially important as Megan moved into practicum experiences.

“I was able to go into my practicum course with a thorough understanding of how to structure a patient visit, document, and address problems,” she says.

Like many graduate nursing students, she faced obstacles along the way. But she stayed committed to her goal, and with support from a faculty member who helped adjust her practicum order, she says she was able to stay on track and graduate on time.

After completing the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program, Megan says she experienced meaningful professional growth, namely a career change and a salary increase.

But the degree's impact went beyond professional advancement: She says it gave her confidence.

“I now feel confident that I can manage my patients' care and help promote their overall health,” she says.

Looking back, Megan says she believes the value of the program was worth the effort and investment. The journey demanded effort, persistence, and sacrifice, but it also gave her the knowledge, skills, and confidence to expand her scope of practice as a provider.

Pursuing her MSN Family Nurse Practitioner became a turning point for Megan, one that strengthened her confidence, expanded her career, and prepared her to make a lasting difference in the lives of her patients.

Now, with the confidence and skill set to take on the next stage of her nursing career, Megan’s advice to prospective students is clear and direct: Waiting for the perfect time may only delay the future you are working toward.

“If you have the desire to be a prescriber and manage patients’ care,” she says, “you belong in an NP program.”

If you aspire to expand your scope of practice and have an even greater impact in your community, consider the online Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner program at Hawai‘i Pacific University.

The program is 100% online and prepares students to become advanced practice nurse practitioners who are capable of making a difference in health care.