Patrice Jones, RN, MSN, joins Shands Jacksonville as its new CNO

With more than 20 years of nursing leadership experience, Patrice Jones, RN, MSN, is joining Shands Jacksonville Medical Center this month as vice president and chief nursing officer.

Jones was most recently vice president of patient care services at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She also served as chief nursing officer at the Regional Medical Center and at Northport Medical Center in Northport, Ala. She had been with DCH Health System since 2008.

She starts her new job March 5 at Shands Jacksonville, where she will oversee about 1,200 registered nurses. She will be responsible for directing and providing strategic leadership to all nursing services.

Jones said she's excited about joining Shands Jacksonville, which was granted Magnet recognition last year by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Magnet recognition is all about raising the bar, and she looks forward to helping Shands Jacksonville continue that momentum.

"I've been a nurse for more than 30 years, and this is the love of my life," she said.

Shands Jacksonville President and CEO Jim Burkhart said Jones brings a wealth of nursing leadership experience.

"We're extremely excited about Patrice joining our organization," Burkhart said. "She was an exceptionally strong candidate among strong candidates."

Jones started her career in 1980 as a staff nurse at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, Ala., where she worked for four years. She then served in various staff and leadership roles at the Visiting Nurses Association and University of Alabama Hospital until 1997.

In 1997, Jones became nurse manager at University of Alabama Hospital and worked in various leadership roles. She also worked as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Alabama School of Nursing. She left the hospital in 2008 as nursing administrative director to take the DCH Regional Medical Center position.

Jones earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Troy State University and her master of science in nursing and health care administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is currently enrolled in the doctor of nursing practice program at the University of Alabama.

Jones moves to the area with her husband, Tom, and their two dogs.