Class of 2026: With decades in healthcare, Devon Jones still builds his nursing education

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The moments that kick-start a career can arrive in unplanned ways, and for Devon Jones, that first spark came from the sawing sound of a cast removal.

This spring, Jones graduates with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Nursing. But his healthcare journey started more than 20 years ago at VCU Health as a medical records clerk, delivering charts across the hospital. While the role offered exposure to many departments, Jones was especially drawn to orthopedics.

"Every time I would go to orthopedics, there would be this loud sawing noise," he said. "I would peek around the corner and see the care team cutting off a cast, and I thought that was kind of cool."

When the department had an opening for an orthopedic technician, he jumped at the opportunity and was hired on the spot. In this role, he met Susan Hardy, a licensed practical nurse who would become a close friend and a pivotal influence on his career.

"I asked Susan if she thought I'd be a great nurse," Jones said. "She said, 'No, I think you'd be an amazing nurse.'"

Encouraged by Hardy, Jones enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at ECPI University. She was a cheerleader for him throughout his studies, and after Jones became a registered nurse, he urged her to return to school as well - and Hardy earned her RN license at age 63.

Jones went on to join Bon Secours Mercy Health System as a staff nurse in the joint replacement unit. He quickly realized the profession was rewarding in ways he hadn't anticipated.

"As nurses, we steward patients through the most vulnerable moments of their life," Jones said. "One of the most priceless things is when a patient simply says, 'Thank you, you've made a difference.' That's been my driving force, more than salary or benefits."

At Bon Secours, Jones steadily took on leadership responsibilities, from training other nurses in orthopedic skills to overseeing daily nursing operations. However, he hadn't considered returning to school until a nurse leader planted the seed.

"He walked up to me one day and asked, 'Do you have a plan?'" Jones said. "It was a light bulb moment. He saw more potential in me than I saw in myself at that time. After that, I had a burning desire to do more."

That moment ultimately led Jones to pursue becoming a nurse practitioner, a role that would give him more autonomy to diagnose, treat and educate patients about their health. He enrolled in the VCU School of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a concentration in adult-gerontology acute care.

Jones said the program provided a safe environment to learn new skills and receive valuable mentorship from faculty that helped him grow as both a clinician and leader.

"Every professor is absolutely amazing," he said. "Each of them played an instrumental part in my success and helped me meet my full potential."

The program's education and support also provided a different kind of value for his own health.

In December 2024, midway through his coursework, Jones noticed some concerning neurological symptoms. At times he would wake him up in the middle of the night from severe headaches or perceive smells that weren't actually there. Then one day, while driving home from work, he felt numbness in his fingers. He tried texting his pastor to ask for prayers, but the message was incoherent.

"It looked like it was sent from a 3-year-old, like a word salad," Jones said. "I had just had a lecture on critical care and strokelike symptoms. I knew I needed to go to the ER and get a CT scan."

Imaging revealed that Jones had a sphenoid wing meningioma, a type of brain tumor that had grown to the size of a golf ball.

"The education I received at VCU helped me advocate for the care I needed," he said. "I'm so glad I paid attention in class."

The tumor was successfully removed through surgery at Bon Secours, where Jones experienced the rare perspective of becoming a patient cared for by his own colleagues.

"These are the same people I work with to provide patient care," he said. "To be on the receiving end of that care, there are not enough words to describe that feeling. Now when I see them in the hallway, I hug them and say thank you."

Once cleared by his neurosurgeon, Jones worked with the VCU School of Nursing's faculty, including Terry L. Jones, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate programs and chair of the Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems, to ensure he could stay on track academically and graduate on time.

Jones receives his degree this spring, and after completing board exams, he plans to work in trauma orthopedic surgery. But for now, he's most excited to check this accomplishment off his vision board with his wife and three children.

"For the past three years and nine months, not only have I made sacrifices, but they have sacrificed as well," Jones said. "I'm going to hand my wife the highlighter, and she's going to do the honors."