Wilson Senior Care names Cynthia Jones as Long-Term Care Nurse of the Year

Cynthia Jones, LPN, named Long-Term Care Nurse of the Year. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
On Dec. 2, Cynthia Jones, LPN, an employee of Darlington’s Wilson Senior Care – Oakhaven, received the 2021 Long-Term Care Nurse of the Year Award at the South Carolina Health Care Association’s Winter Conference. For 23 years of dedicated service, progressing through the ranks of CNA to Restorative Nurse to LPN and Wound Care Nurse while packaging those experiences to positively lead Wilson Senior Care’s isolation units through the pandemic, Wilson Senior Care’s Executive Director and members of the company’s leadership team nominated Jones for this award. Dennis Lofe, President & CEO of Wilson Senior Care, said: “While the COVID-19 virus has impacted the long-term care industry like no time in our history, the result is that every facility in our state has their own individual set of heroes that stepped up to the challenge. Cynthia is certainly one of those outstanding heroes.” Jones began her healthcare career as a CNA at Oakhaven Nursing Center. Within two years she transitioned to a Restorative Aide and served as such until she earned her LPN degree in 2008. She continued her dedicated service as an LPN until she assumed the position as a Wound Care Nurse in 2010, a position that she serves today. While providing a history of dedicated service to the residents of Oakhaven Nursing Center in various capacities, that is only where the story begins. This year’s recipient stepped up during COVID like no other. Wilson Senior Care, during the early days of COVID, established separate isolation units at its Loris and Hartsville locations. When they asked for volunteer staff to serve in these units, Jones was the first in line and the last to leave. Jones claimed “ownership” of the units and lead the isolation teams. She emphasized proper infection control by following, training, and monitoring Wilson Senior Care Infection Control procedures based upon both CDC and DHEC guidelines. With the unknowns of the virus during the early days of the pandemic, she knew that the only way to protect the residents and staff was strict adherence to the guidance. While in the isolation units, the residents looked forward to their “Ray of Sunshine” when the radiant positive presence of Jones was on the unit. Several residents regretted “graduating” from the isolation unit and back to a regular floor because they were going to miss Jones. While in the isolation units, Jones always accommodated families who requested window visits or zoom visitations. Brock Oates, Executive Director of Wilson Senior Care – Loris, stated, “In all my years as a Nursing Home Administrator, I cannot think of a nurse more deserving of the Nurse of the Year Award than Cynthia Jones.” Samantha Robinson, RN, Executive Director of Wilson Senior Care, said, “Cynthia didn’t only take care of the residents at Oakhaven Nursing Center, she provided care for residents at four of our sister facilities as well. Her hard work and dedication have shined not only in Darlington, but in Hartsville, Loris and Myrtle Beach. She is the true definition of a HERO as a first line worker in our COVID Unit.”