Meet our August Alumni Spotlight: Joni Batson, LPN
Meet Joni Batson, a 2023 LPN graduate whose path to nursing began after raising her children but whose passion for the field was always there. Since graduating, she’s built a rewarding career in long-term care, where she now serves as a wound nurse and department head. In this interview, Joni shares the challenges, joys, and personal growth that have come with pursuing her calling.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Joni: I had always wanted to pursue nursing, but this goal was delayed for a time and family came first. Finally, after raising my kids, I made the decision to go to school and it turns out it has been more than I ever expected. The excitement always outweighs the disappointment one might find in health care today.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held, what was your favorite and why? And what are your responsibilities in your current position?
Joni: I started as a charge/floor nurse in Long Term Care (LTC) working day shift and a short stint on night shift. I am now the wound nurse and department head in the same facility I have worked in for the past 8.5 years. I love wounds!!!
Q: Have you specialized in any specific area of nursing? If so, what drew you to that specialization, and what are the unique challenges and rewards it has brought?
Joni: LTC is my go-to. I love what I do and the people I take care of.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your nursing career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Joni: I work with some of the best nurses I know. They are smart, educated, seasoned, and willing to share their knowledge.
Q: Can you share an especially memorable time caring for a patient and why that sticks with you?
Joni: It is really easy to get attached to the patients I care for in LTC, sometimes the ornerier the better. I don’t have any real particular story to share but to care for someone, sometimes for years, and to see them decline in their disease is heartbreaking. At times, that means spending time with them as they pass.
Q: How is working as a nurse different from what, as a student, you expected nursing to be?
Joni: I worked in the nursing field for years before I was a nurse. The responsibilities can sometimes be overwhelming, so you must have good time management. One person can’t do it all, so pray you have a good team.
Q: Have you pursued additional education or certifications since graduating? If so, why did you pursue it and how has it enhanced your nursing practice and career prospects?
Joni: I would like to be wound certified and learn all I can.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Joni: I am still debating on going back and getting my RN, but the thought can be overwhelming at times. I will make that decision soon.
Q: How have you seen the nursing profession evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Joni: I was in school and first a nurse during the pandemic, so things have definitely changed over that time.
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time when you are not working as a nurse? Any special ways to de-stress? Fun hobbies to help unwind?
Joni: Anything with family, they are my refuge. Especially time in church with family. I kind of fell away from church while in school (you know, the little time and always having to get the next thing done), so glad to be back and involved.
Q: What’s one memory you have from nursing school that sticks with you today?
Joni: The staff always being available when needed and cheering you on to the end.
Q: What advice would you give to current nursing students who are about to embark on their career path? Are there any key lessons or insights that you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Joni: Work hard. Take time for yourself when you can. Take it ALL in, but try not to let it get you down. Depend on your support team, friends, family, staff.
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go in to the nursing field or not?
Joni: Do it! Take that first step!! Some days are rough, but the journey can be outstanding and very heartwarming.
Joni’s story is a powerful reminder that with dedication and heart, nursing can become more than a career; it can be a purpose. From hands-on care to leadership and mentorship, she continues to grow while staying rooted in what matters most: her patients and her faith. Her advice to others? Take the leap. You just might find the journey more rewarding than you imagined.