Jennifer Wilson

Results-driven Assistant Nurse Manager with five years as a Registered Nurse and over 18 years in healthcare. Skilled in patient assessments, care coordination, and resource optimization. Familiar with Medicaid and Medicare regulations. Seeking to leverage clinical expertise, leadership, and communication skills in a remote role focused on utilization management, review, and clinical documentation. Committed to continuous learning and effective problem-solving.

• RN - Florida Registered Nurse, 07/31/26, #RN9543849 - Compact
• Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification (ACLS)
• NIHSS Certification
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate

DAISY Award Nomination for Leadership, AdventHealth Lake Wales, May 2025: Recognized for outstanding leadership and dedication to patient care in a fast-paced hospital environment.

• ACCN
• AONL
• ANA
• MOC ACCN
• FNA

My WHY – Jennifer Wilson, BSN, RN

 "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."
— Pablo Picasso

We all have a WHY. Mine was born from pain, but it grew into purpose. From a young age, I was shaped by experiences that instilled resilience and empathy in me. My journey into healthcare began long before I ever held a professional title or knew I wanted to be a nurse. It began with personal tragedy—experiences that continue to shape who I am as a nurse, a leader, and a patient advocate.

I was raised in a low-income environment where violence, conflict, and instability were part of daily life. I witnessed things no child should—fighting, arguing, even violent stabbings between family members, and alcoholism. But those experiences didn’t harden me—they shaped my compassion. They taught me how deeply people can suffer without support, and they gave me the drive to become someone who could offer that support.

When I was just 13 years old, my grandmother—who had Alzheimer’s disease and was one of the most important people in my life—was placed in a skilled nursing facility. My family trusted she would be cared for with dignity and compassion. Instead, she suffered from neglect that ultimately led to her death. An untreated bowel obstruction went unrecognized for an unknown amount of time. By the time it was discovered, she had aspirated feculent material, leading to respiratory failure. She passed away in a way no one should—without dignity, without proper care, without an advocate, and alone.

Even now, nearly 40 years later, the pain of knowing she died in such a preventable and undignified way still haunts me. That experience left a permanent mark on my heart and ignited a fire within me to ensure that no other patient or family has to endure what we did. It became my mission to be the voice for the voiceless, to protect the vulnerable, and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

From that moment on, I became the caregiver in my family. I was always the one who asked to accompany loved ones to doctors’ appointments. I learned to read medication side effects, practiced basic first aid, and later helped manage their care. I became an advocate when the time for hospice approached. I made sure they were never alone or unheard.

But the traumatic events didn’t stop with my grandmother. At 19, I faced another life-altering moment. Both my father and uncle were stabbed—my uncle in the chest, directly into the heart. The moment I saw him collapse, my body went into fight-or-flight mode. I didn’t have formal medical training—just urgency, love, and adrenaline. The fear was overwhelming, but instinct took over. I rushed to his side and applied firm pressure to the wound using whatever I could find, doing everything I could to slow the bleeding and keep him conscious until help arrived. As the attacker came after him again, I had to drag him nearly 75 feet to the door to get him to safety. That’s when my father stepped in to fight off the attacker(a family member) and was stabbed as well—his hand nearly severed in the process.

That experience was terrifying, but it taught me the power of staying calm under pressure and the critical importance of knowing how to save a life. It was another defining moment that confirmed I was meant to be in healthcare. But life had other plans and more curveballs to toss my way.

One of the most meaningful relationships in my life was with my aunt Sissy.  She was near and dear to me—truly a second mom and my biggest cheerleader.  I remember as a little girl spending time at her house to escape the chaos at home. At an early age, she developed high blood pressure, vertigo, and anxiety, and I was there to help monitor her condition, remind her to take her medication, and go to doctors' appointments with her. I was there when she became high-risk during her pregnancy at 35. Later, in her 50s, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. I stayed by her side through her biopsy, diagnosis, and the hospital stay when she had her lung removed, ensuring she received proper care. When she entered end-stage COPD, I remained one of her caregivers—traveling back home on weekends or staying for weeks at a time, even after moving to another state. Her strength, vulnerability, and trust in me reinforced my purpose: to be a steady, compassionate presence for those in need.

Though I didn’t enter the healthcare field officially until the age of 34, I had already spent years advocating for and caring for those closest to me. Over the past 18 years, I’ve worked my way through the healthcare system—starting as a home health aide, then becoming a licensed nursing assistant, and a phlebotomist. Eventually, I pushed through life's hurdles and earned my associate's degree, becoming a registered nurse, and in 2023, earned my bachelor's degree, a personal goal for me. Each role and each step deepened my understanding of patient care and strengthened my resolve to make a difference. That’s why I became a nurse—not just to care for patients, but to advocate for them, protect them, and be the steady presence I once needed myself—and sometimes found—in my aunt.

Today, as a nurse leader, my WHY continues to guide every decision I make. It drives my passion for patient-centered care, my dedication to mentoring staff, and my commitment to ensuring that every patient receives the dignity, respect, and advocacy they deserve. I believe leadership is not just about managing tasks—it’s about inspiring others to care deeply, to advocate fiercely, and to never forget the human being behind every chart.

My grandmother’s story is not just a memory—it’s a mission. My aunt’s journey was not just a chapter—it’s a reminder of the power of presence and love. And every patient I care for is a reflection of the people I’ve loved and lost—and the reason I lead with heart.

 "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."
— Kahlil Gibran