Allison S. Jones

I attribute my success to the strength, determination, and values passed down to me, most powerfully through my great-grandmother, Minnatora, of the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee.

She wanted to pursue education and was unable to do so for much of her life, yet she refused to let that limitation define her future. Illiterate for many years, she later taught herself to read and write, living out the belief she often shared with me: “Education can never be taken away from you.” Her determination was not loud or performative. It was steady, grounded, and unwavering. That example continues to shape how I approach challenge, leadership, and responsibility.

From her, I learned that education is more than achievement. It is protection. It is agency. It is something no one can take away from you. That belief has guided every step of my professional journey, from clinical practice to leadership, scholarship, and service.

Her legacy reminds me that success is not simply about opportunity, but about what you choose to do when opportunity is scarce. I carry her lessons forward in my work, striving to create pathways for others to learn, lead, and rise, because knowledge, once earned, becomes a lasting form of freedom.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is this: do not wait to be invited into rooms where your expertise is needed.

Early on, I was taught that competence alone would earn access and influence. In reality, impact comes from pairing excellence with agency. You have to claim your seat, speak with clarity, and be willing to carry responsibility before permission is granted.

That advice reshaped how I approach leadership. It pushed me to step forward in moments of uncertainty, to build where gaps existed, and to lead with both preparation and conviction. Titles follow action, not the other way around.

Most importantly, it reminded me that leadership is not about being chosen, it’s about choosing to contribute, consistently and with purpose.

Own your expertise early and take it seriously, even before others do.

Invest deeply in your education, your clinical judgment, and your ability to think critically about systems, not just tasks. Do not wait for permission to speak, lead, or innovate. Preparation gives you credibility, but confidence allows your voice to carry. Learn the rules of your profession, then understand where they can be challenged or improved.

Seek mentors, but also learn to trust your own discernment. Protect your integrity, especially in high-pressure environments, and remember that excellence is a form of advocacy. Your presence in this industry matters. Lead with purpose, stay grounded in your values, and never underestimate the impact of showing up prepared, curious, and willing to take responsibility.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the growing disconnect between clinical reality and system-level decision making. Policies, reimbursement models, and technology solutions are often designed far from the point of care, yet their consequences are felt most acutely by patients and frontline clinicians. That gap creates risk, strain, and inefficiency, particularly in perioperative and anesthesia care where margins for error are small.

At the same time, this moment presents a significant opportunity. Nursing and advanced practice clinicians are uniquely positioned to translate complexity into clarity. We sit at the intersection of patient care, operations, and safety, with a firsthand understanding of how systems actually function under pressure. When nurses are included as designers of care models, technology, and policy, outcomes improve.

The challenge is inclusion. The opportunity is leadership. This is a critical moment to move beyond participation and into authorship, shaping the future of healthcare with evidence, accountability, and the lived expertise of clinicians who deliver care every day.

Integrity, accountability, and purpose guide both my work and my personal life.

Integrity matters because trust is foundational in healthcare and in leadership. Decisions carry weight, and I believe in being honest, transparent, and consistent, even when it is uncomfortable. Accountability follows closely. I take responsibility for outcomes, not just intentions, and I expect the same rigor in myself that I ask of others.

Purpose keeps everything aligned. It shapes how I lead, how I serve, and how I make choices when the path is not clear. In both professional and personal spaces, I value presence, lifelong learning, and respect for the people and communities I am part of. These values keep me grounded and remind me that impact is measured not only by achievement, but by how we show up for others along the way.