Welcome back to another week with ISAPN! Each week, ISAPN shines a spotlight on one of our members. This week, learn all about Kayla Jones.

Kayla M. Jones

 

What are your credentials? 

DNP, APRN-FPA, FNP-BC

 

How long have you been a member of ISAPN?

2 years 

 

What is your area of practice/specialty?

Family/Primary Care/Women’s Health

 

If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go and why? 

I would go to the Motherland—Africa. Specifically, I would love to go to Ghana and Morocco. Africa is filled with a rich history that is not taught. Learning while seeing the world is beautiful. I’m also interested in mission healthcare work. 

 

How many years have you worked in healthcare? 

Twenty years exactly. I started from the bottom; now I’m here. I went from working in registration overnights in the lab and ER to a certified phlebotomy. Then, I worked as a CNA for a hot 90 days and switched to an ER tech while completing my initial nursing degree as an RN. My journey continued with an accelerated RN-BSN program. A year later, I completed my MSN with the FNP track. And, finally, the big one was done in October 2022, with my DNP!

 

What inspired you to become a member of ISAPN?

At a quick-stop appointment at Walgreens, I learned about ISAPN from a current board member, Jenise Farano, while receiving my TB test, lol. Though ISAPN was not in plain view like other professional nursing organizations, I researched and knew I desired to become more involved in decision-making and leadership. Discovering that ISAPN was solely dedicated to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in IL was inspiring and piqued my interest. One night, I scrolled through the website, and in October 2022, one week before completing my DNP degree, I decided to join! 

 

What is your favorite book?

I don’t have a favorite book; however, I enjoy reading anything inspirational and relish reading autobiographies. I don’t read physical books much and would rather listen to audiobooks. The last read I listened to was The Gift of Rejection by Nona Jones.

 

If you couldn't be an APRN, what other job would you try? 

I would be a professional traveling consultant/coach, helping others discover their highest selves and giving gems to living out their purpose because life is so fragile and hard at the same time.

 

How has being a member of ISAPN benefited you?

ISAPN has benefited me immensely. Meeting some wonderful people and learning about them and from them through their personal/professional experiences has been inspiring. 

Meeting Marie Lindsey was life-changing and a highlight for me because I joined ISAPN during a challenging period in my life, personally and professionally, and her warm, feisty spirit propelled me to persistently apply for and receive full-practice authority (FPA). After meeting her at my first ISAPN conference, I felt seen and heard as an advanced practice nurse and left rejuvenated and empowered! It has also benefited me in networking and connecting with others that I consider my accountability partners/friends, like April Odom and Syeda Uzma Tabasam, to name a couple, in propelling forward with my nurse-preneur business. 

Most importantly, ISAPN has been beneficial, with ongoing updates in the political arena and their effects on the nursing profession as a whole—and that is major!

 

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice as a student. What would it be?

Get involved with a professional nursing organization and stay connected! Support is essential, and as a student, getting lost in the shuffle while navigating to the finish line is easy. But there’s someone with a similar story; together, you can make a difference and a greater impact! 

 

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