{"id":216144,"date":"2025-05-16T15:33:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T01:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=216144"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:37:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T22:37:22","slug":"uh-hilo-graduate-earns-doctorate-family-full-time-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/16\/uh-hilo-graduate-earns-doctorate-family-full-time-job\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Hilo graduate earns doctorate while balancing family, full-time job"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Giraudy
Kristle Akau Giraudy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/abbr>) from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo this semester.<\/p>\n

“I always did want to keep learning, because I\u2019m a lifelong student,” said Giraudy. “I love learning, and there\u2019s so much to learn in healthcare.”<\/p>\n

Call to nursing<\/h2>\n
\"Giraudy
Kristle Akau Giraudy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Kailua, Oʻahu<\/span> native\u2019s nursing path began after she left a nutrition program and returned to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> to work in a hospital. There, she discovered the deeply personal care nurses provide.<\/p>\n

Giraudy started the doctoral degree program in fall 2022 at UH<\/abbr> Hilo with two nursing degrees already under her belt: an associate degree in nursing<\/a> from Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College (2020) and a bachelor of science in nursing<\/a> from UH<\/abbr> Hilo (2021).<\/p>\n

Bridge to UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/h2>\n

She credits the UH<\/abbr> nursing bridge program for playing an instrumental role in her transition from community college to UH<\/abbr> Hilo. Giraudy said it allows students to seamlessly move from the associate degree at the community college to a bachelor\u2019s degree at the four-year campus.<\/p>\n

After earning her bachelor\u2019s from UH<\/abbr> Hilo, Giraudy planned to pause, however UH<\/abbr> Hilo nursing instructor Bobbie Elisala encouraged her to press on.<\/p>\n

Meet more amazing UH<\/abbr> spring graduates<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

“She told me, ‘Kristle, don\u2019t stop. Just keep going. You won\u2019t regret it,’” Giraudy said.<\/p>\n

She credits UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s 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<\/abbr> program.<\/p>\n