Our Story
Born in aftermath of the pandemic, the Education Center of Excellence was established as an innovative, yet sustainable, solution to help address the island-wide workforce gap left in its wake. The pandemic took its heaviest toll on the healthcare industry, creating burnout and attrition, and leaving vacancies filled with costly traveling staff. Between 2020 and 2022, the Education Center of Excellence launched several initiatives to address workforce shortages, including a Surgical Technology program, a Nurse Residency Program, a Certified Nurse Assistant Program, and recently, an island-wide push to certify high school students in Basic Life Support. The center recently opened its internal offerings of specialty nursing and medical training courses to our island medical community.
For those interested in a course, click on each link to learn more.
Our Programs
Surgical Technology Program
Recently accredited in May 2023 as the state’s only Nationally Accredited Program, our Surgical Technology Program opened the doors to its first student cohort in August 2022. As we are now in our second year of students, we are excited to witness the growth and development of our surgical technologists. Our program’s commitment to excellence in surgical education is reflected in our experienced faculty, rigorous curriculum and community partnership to make this all happen. We are dedicated to preparing our students to excel in the operating room, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to provide exceptional patient care. We are currently accepting applications for our school year 2024. Deadline to submit applications is June 1, 2024.
Nurse Residency Program
The Nurse Residency Program is a dynamic, yearlong initiative designed specifically for new graduate nurses. Developed in collaboration with the Hawaii State Center of Nursing, this program focuses on integrating Evidence Based Practice into nursing, preparing nurses for diverse roles within the hospital. It offers a personalized and modern educational experience, combining online learning, live skills training, and unique project work. By participating, new graduates are set for a successful nursing career, gain a strong support network, and exposure to various clinical departments. Openings are announced each spring, and interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to the Education Department or Human Resources for more information.
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
In partnership with GoodJobs Hawaii and the Health Association of Hawaii, Kona Community Hospital is a proud coalition partner of the Certified Nursing Assistant Program. GoodJobs Hawaii offers opportunities to obtain free skills training in Hawaii’s high-demand sector, including healthcare. Through grants, high school students can apply for free training to become a CNA.
Kona Community Hospital hired nearly all the graduates from the first cohort of students who went through the CNA program. Visit GoodJobs Hawaii for more information.
Community Offerings
We take pride in providing a diverse array of specialty courses tailored specifically for our hospital units. Our primary commitment is to maintain the highest standards of care by ensuring that our staff at KCH are thoroughly trained. In line with this, we occasionally have available slots in these courses, which we are delighted to offer to community healthcare members for a nominal fee. Explore our course schedule and contact us to secure your registration. Join us in enhancing healthcare excellence within our community.
Fee Schedule
Classes are free to staff employed with Kona Community Hospital. Pricing for medical members of our community vary by classes. Please click on each offering above for related costs.