About

The Kauai Career Nursing Academy was started by Liza Trinidad, R.N. In January 2019, Zoila Ortega, R.N. joined her as co-owner.

The Mission of KNAC is to provide quality Personal Care Aide education at a reasonable cost to all in Kauai interested is care giving training.

Ortega and Trinidad
Zoila Ortega (left) and Liza Trinidad

Zoila Ortega, R.N., Ph.D.

Zoila Ortega has been a health care professional for more than 50 years. She has taught at six major universities throughout the United States, established and administered numerous health promotion centers, and worked in non-profit, for profit, and governmental health agencies. Her areas of expertise include nursing education, educational psychology, cardiovascular health, childbirth education, home health, studying and test-taking strategies, and international health.

Dr. Ortega has an M.A. in Health Education from New York University, a Masters in Philosophy with a specialization in Health Administration from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. from American International University with a specialization in Human Behavior.

Zoila  was an adjunct professor in the Nursing Department at Germanna Community College where she taught in the R.N. and the Practical Nurse programs and created the Nurse Aide Program.

In May 2015, Dr. Ortega established the Career Nursing Academy in Locust Grove, Virginia which offers Virginia Board of Nursing approved  Nurse Aide courses. Personal Care Aide courses are also being offered at the Academy. She is the owner, director and an instructor. Most Recently, in February 2019, Zoila Ortega became co-owner with Liza Trinidad of the KNATC.