With two young children, a husband and a full-time job, Kristle Akau Giraudy did more than juggle, she soared. Her hard work ethic has paid off, and she celebrates earning a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo this semester.
“I always did want to keep learning, because I¡¯m a lifelong student,” said Giraudy. “I love learning, and there¡¯s so much to learn in healthcare.”
Call to nursing
The Kailua, Oʻahu native¡¯s nursing path began after she left a nutrition program and returned to Â鶹´«Ã½ to work in a hospital. There, she discovered the deeply personal care nurses provide.
Giraudy started the doctoral degree program in fall 2022 at UH Hilo with two nursing degrees already under her belt: an from Kapiʻolani Community College (2020) and a from UH Hilo (2021).
Bridge to UH Hilo
She credits the UH nursing bridge program for playing an instrumental role in her transition from community college to UH Hilo. Giraudy said it allows students to seamlessly move from the associate degree at the community college to a bachelor¡¯s degree at the four-year campus.
After earning her bachelor¡¯s from UH Hilo, Giraudy planned to pause, however UH Hilo nursing instructor Bobbie Elisala encouraged her to press on.
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“She told me, ‘Kristle, don¡¯t stop. Just keep going. You won¡¯t regret it,’” Giraudy said.
She credits UH Hilo¡¯s flexible programs and supportive professors with helping her stay the course. With online classes and local clinical placements, she could continue working as a nurse at Castle Hospital while studying in the DNP program.
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Mindfulness in medicine
Her final project, Heal the Healers, tackled nurse burnout through a six-week mindfulness-based resiliency program.
“[It¡¯s] a very prevalent issue globally, but also locally. This project offers hope in mitigating this detrimental issue.”
Now working in a fast-paced telemetry unit, Giraudy has her sights set on transitioning into primary care. She believes nurse practitioners can lead the way in preventive care and healthcare reform.
“So many of the patients I see are coming in with heart attacks and strokes caused by modifiable risk factors,” Giraudy said.
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—By Sophia Kim-O¡¯Sullivan