Her Story
About Joy
I began my nursing career in 2008 and have been working in the field for about 16-17 years. Before that, I was a history professor for 32 years before retiring in 2015. What I'm most proud of is juggling both being a professor and a nurse, because the two careers overlapped - I retired from teaching in 2015 but was also nursing full-time. I'm also a part-time actress. Currently, I work part-time as a Health Navigation Specialist, which is sort of like a nurse coach educator. I have a roster of patients assigned to a clinic in Florida and Tennessee. I call patients and check on them once a month, filling prescriptions, answering questions, and providing general patient education. I sort of serve as a liaison between the patient and their physician. Being able to be involved in education in both careers has been the most fulfilling aspect of my professional life. I'm also a published author - my book 'Whistling Girls and Crowing Hands' is a collection of my mother's sayings and was published in 2019. It's available on Amazon and where books are sold. My mother's work ethic and her sayings are what kept me going throughout my career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and prayer. I have a very strong work ethic from my parents. My mother, who did not have formal education, gave me advice that kept me going - she told me to work hard and always set goals, and to never stop. Her work ethic and her sayings are what kept me going throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was probably from my mom, who did not have formal education. She told me to work hard and always set goals, and to never stop. That advice has stayed with me throughout my entire career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You're never too old to pursue your dream. I was in my late 40s when I started nursing school. The time's gonna pass anyway, you might as well pursue your dream. Don't let age or timing hold you back from what you want to do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I faced were going back to school while I was working full-time and being a non-traditional student. Learning so much in the medical field was challenging, but I attribute my success to working with younger people - I had a lot of help from my younger classmates.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are hard work, honesty, and compassion. These principles guide everything I do, both professionally and personally.
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