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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program has received accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The school received the full five-year accreditation status.

“The commission’s action validates the outstanding efforts of our nursing faculty and staff in the development and administration of this important program,” said Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney. “The Doctor of Nursing Practice will play a crucial role in helping to meet the demand for nursing providers in this highly skilled area.”

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree in nursing. The program started at UH Hilo in 2012 and currently has 28 students. DNP provides training to become family nurse practitioners, which are considered primary care providers with global prescriptive authority. DNP also has a leadership track for those interested in this area of practice. The program objective is to provide nurses with doctoral-level education focusing on primary care, cultural diversity, health disparities, health promotion and disease prevention in rural communities.

“Accreditation is a recognition of academic excellence,” noted Katharyn Daub, School of Nursing director. “Our University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo administration and leadership saw the vision and need for this program and through their support, our program is in place, strong, and now fully accredited. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will help shape healthcare delivery in our community.”

—By Alyson Kakugawa-Leong

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