Kate Jones: A Journey of Resilience, Opportunity, and Lifelong Learning

Growing up, Katherine “Kate” Jones, DNP, RNC, learned early on the value of resilience, adaptability, and service. Her father, a physician who completed medical school through ROTC, was stationed at the Presidio Army Hospital in San Francisco as an infectious disease specialist during the early days of the AIDS crisis. He modeled compassionate care in a time of widespread uncertainty. After completing his service in the Army, Kate’s family moved to Delaware, where he established his own practice. Kate’s mother, a nurse by training, managed her father’s medical practice while also pursuing further education when Kate was in middle school. Her mother obtained an advanced practice degree as a nurse practitioner, becoming the first nurse in Delaware to specialize in AIDS care. From an early age, Kate witnessed firsthand how teamwork and empathy could transform patient care, instilling in her a natural inclination toward the healthcare field.

Yet her path was far from straightforward. Kate wrestled with dyslexia, often questioning her academic abilities. Still, her parents—who believed she was “built for medicine”—encouraged her at every turn. Determined to pursue her calling, Kate enrolled at Messiah University. Soon after, she and her husband relocated to Maryland, where she began working at Johns Hopkins. There, she contributed to teams that redesigned workflows and protocols to establish a bariatric service line and open the Wentz Orthopedic Unit. These experiences taught her an invaluable lesson: never say no to new opportunities—a mantra that would shape her entire career.

A pivotal moment arrived when Kate chose GBMC for the birth of her children. Struck by the hospital’s culture of genuine warmth and patient-first care, she felt an immediate connection. Eager to be part of this environment, she joined GBMC as a night-shift nurse in Labor & Delivery. In that role, Kate discovered hidden strengths and expanded her skill set. Transitioning to clinical unit coordinator gave her a taste of leadership responsibilities—scheduling, charge nurse duties, and administrative tasks—which she found both challenging and deeply rewarding.

With her appetite for growth awakened, Kate pursued certification and was delighted to see GBMC’s commitment to professional development. Between the organization’s tuition reimbursement program and the Norman and Jeanne Baetjer Center for Nursing Excellence Scholarship Fund Baetjer Fund, she was able to complete a master’s in Nursing Leadership at Grand Canyon University in just 18 months. Encouraged by her clinical instructor to seek mentorship opportunities at GBMC, she took a leap of faith and joined the Perioperative Department. Under the guidance of leaders like Sharon Rossi, she saw firsthand the power of shared knowledge and support.

When she was offered a role as an RN4 in the PACU and later became interim manager, Kate’s guiding principle—saying “yes”—propelled her forward again. She jumped at opportunities to serve as downtime lead and contribute to CSP build projects, each experience sharpening her leadership and project management skills. Encouraged by colleagues and a supportive home life—Kate jokes that her husband “earned his master’s in nursing” by proofreading her many assignments—she set her sights on a doctorate. Returning to Messiah University, she relied on T. Rowe Price Family Education Fund, the Baetjer fund, and GBMC’s tuition reimbursement programs to make this dream a reality.

Today, as a mother of two teenagers and a successful nurse leader, Kate looks back on her journey with gratitude. She credits her strong support system—her parents, husband, children, and the many “cheerleaders” at work—for consistently urging her to embrace the next challenge. Each new role, each new degree, and each new project added a layer of experience that now defines her multifaceted career.

Kate’s story is a testament to the culture of opportunity and encouragement at GBMC. She exemplifies what is possible when an organization actively invests in its people and when an individual, in turn, remains open to growth. From developing strategies to work with dyslexia rather than being limited by it to her most recent steps into leadership and advanced practice, Kate’s journey underscores a simple yet powerful truth: when you say “yes” to what’s next, you never quite know how high you can soar.