A daughter of Jamaica, Cynthia James-White’s passion for nursing started at a very young age, particularly when she realized she liked helping people. Her aunt had arthritis and as a young girl, she helped a lot. She immigrated to this country 41 years ago.
Decades later, Ms. James-White is director of nursing for the 400-bed The Phoenix Rehabilitation & Nursing Center where she oversees the day-to-day operation and management of the nursing department. This includes planning, organizing, developing, implementing, supervising and evaluating the direct functions of the nursing care in accordance with the nursing process and guidelines.
“My primary focus is on the quality of care and customer satisfaction,” she points out.
Her 32 years of service reflect working her way up: she started as a nursing assistant, then an LPN, then an AAS in registered nursing.
“I earned a BS in nursing, continuing to a masters degree in advance practice nursing at SUNY Downstate.” Ms. James-White is also credentialed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Certified MDS 3.0, Instructor and Mock Survey Consultant.
In her pursuit of the profession, this nurse emphatically recognizes Mary Jane Seacole with her Jamaican roots, the founding mother of nursing, as well as nurses who mentored her along the way. She says, “Early on, one nurse, compassionate about patient care, took me under her wings.” Ms. James-White also pays tribute to a college nursing professor who “motivated me and gave me the inspiration that I needed to pursue my nursing profession.”
A former vice president of the Jamaica Nurses Group of New York, Ms. James-White is also professionally affiliated with the New York State Nurses Association and the National Resident Assessment Institute.
