Member Spotlight
NCNA's Member Spotlights celebrate the voices, experiences, and impact of NCNA members across North Carolina. Each spotlight highlights a nurse’s unique journey, professional insights, and dedication to advancing the nursing profession.
Read Jacqueline's Member Spotlight below to learn more about her career path, what inspires her work, and the advice she shares with fellow nurses.
Jacqueline Williams, DHA, MM, MSN, RN, ACNS
Jacqueline is a Military Veteran with 26 years of nursing experience. She is driven by the ability to care for patients in vulnerable moments, connecting the dots and building trusting relationships.
Share an 'ah-ha' moment when you knew you made a great career decision to become a nurse?
While in graduate school, I was involved in a research project involving patients diagnosed with hypertension. A significant part of my role was to provide weekly education on this chronic condition and how to manage it in the long term for better control and improved health. Being able to provide them with the information in a way that made managing their condition not just relevant, but also doable with simple changes, was an "ah-ha" moment. The patients not only remembered the key information but also made small changes and saw an improvement in their numbers. Nurses can take the complexity of healthcare and break it down into digestible components that patients can first understand and the apply to their daily lives. This continues to be the best thing about nursing for me.
What inspires you most about being a nurse?
Caring for patients when they may be at their most vulnerable moments has always been a motivation for me. Seeing and caring for the whole patient/family, connecting the dots, and building trusting relationships is what nursing is all about.
Share a nursing experience that stands out to you - when you learned something about yourself, or about being a nurse, that was meaningful to you.
Being a Navy Nurse. The demanding nature of being a Navy Nurse honed my resilience, compassion, and ability to remain calm under pressure, while also exposing areas where I needed to grow. The strong relationships formed with fellow service members and patients underscored the importance of teamwork, empathy, and communication.
What (or who) inspired you to become a nurse?
I was a member of the Health Occupations Students of America during my high school years. Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan was our teacher and also a nurse. She was instrumental in fanning my interest in not only healthcare but also nursing!
What motivates you to participate in the NC Nurses Association?
Wanting to stay engaged and connect with local nurses and leaders.
Share a useful tip(s) you use to inspire/engage patients, colleagues, or students.
Ask the question, go for the opportunity. The answer is always no if you don't ask the question or put in for the opportunity, but what if the answer is yes? Be ready…
Do you have a favorite quote, cartoon or image about nursing to share?
"Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses…we must be learning all of our lives.”
— Florence Nightingale
Jacqueline' Advice for a New Nurse
Take time to learn and grow. Use your resources - seasoned nurses and others.
NCNA thanks you for being a part of our community and for your passion for nursing, Jacqueline!
