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“Employee Spotlight” with Joseph Thomas, LPN, Jawonio
Joseph Thomas, LPN
"I appreciate knowing that every day I am able to make a difference in the lives of the people I care for and support. The opportunities I have had at Jawonio, have made me the nurse I am today."
Joseph, tell us how you found your way to a career in nursing?
Prior to becoming a nurse, I became certified in medical billing and coding. I received my LPN degree from BOCES which helped me get my first job at the Port Chester nursing home. From there, I moved on to become a dialysis nurse at Rockland Renal Care. Following that work, I began my career as an LPN at Jawonio in October, 2019 and I continue to work hard at what I do every day. I have been a nurse for 12 years.
Tell us about your professional and personal growth at Jawonio?
Throughout my almost four years at Jawonio I feel like I gained many skills which have made me the nurse I am today. I definitely honed my communication and interpersonal skills which are not only important in the field of nursing, but are skills that I think are important for all of us in daily life. Not only have I learned so much from my coworkers and our healthcare teams, but I am also blessed to learn and grow thanks to the individuals we support in our residences. When you are a part of Jawonio team, your practice of empathy, compassion, and leadership makes every day truly rewarding.
As a member of the Jawonio team, do you feel you are exactly where you are supposed to be?
I am most definitely where I am supposed to be right now. I am always looking to better myself and grow and I have truly loved my time here so far, and look forward to more opportunities on the career ladder. I appreciate knowing that every day I am able to come to work and make a difference in the lives of the people I care for and support.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I have a wonderful wife and two kids whom I love spending time with in my and all of us love spending time with Romeo, our family dog. I am a big New York Knicks fan so when I am not busy you can catch me watching a Knicks game. I enjoy keeping up with the news and getting to the gym to stay healthy.
If a nursing student, or nurse in another role wanted to change careers, what would you tell them about Jawonio?
I would let them know that Jawonio is a great organization, with a great culture that provides quality care to those with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Every day, the staff not only provides fantastic care of our residents, but at the same time they support the families. Being an employee of Jawonio has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience. I feel as if I am making a difference which is the whole reason I became a nurse to begin with. I love knowing that I am helping people reach their full potential and meeting their needs.
Thank you so much Joseph – you are a great role model for all of our nurses – and on a personal note, we hope the Knicks have a better finish next year than they did in 2023.
