Jones awarded doctoral scholarship from Oncology Nursing Foundation

Vanessa L. Jones, C.R.N.P., an oncology-certified nurse practitioner who works at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, is one of 15 nurses in the nation to receive a doctoral scholarship from the Oncology Nursing Foundation.

Jones, a Mobile native, said she will use the $5,000 award to finish a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of South Alabama.

“Because of my love of oncology nursing, I want to be able to offer the best care and use as many resources in the practice as possible,” said Jones, who is set to graduate in spring 2023.

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and a master’s in nursing education and administration from the University of Mobile. She also holds a master’s degree in adult primary care from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is certified in oncology nursing by the Oncology Nursing Society.

Jones recalled being drawn to cancer care during her last semester as an undergraduate student and then starting her career on the same cancer unit where she completed her practicum. “After nursing for a few months, I developed a deep and sincere love for oncology nursing,” she said.

She says her most challenging job, however, is being a single Black mother of two daughters, ages 8 and 9.

“It is very important that I model and inspire them,” she said. “I believe there is no better way to inspire my children as well as my patients and peers than to focus on building positive relationships and displaying how much I can handle – in my career and as a mother.”

At the Mitchell Cancer Institute, Jones sees patients with blood cancers as she works alongside medical oncologist Omar Alkharabsheh, M.D.

“I have personally witnessed her compassion and know that she offers excellent care, going above and beyond for those in need,” said Leigh Minchew, D.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C., a fellow nurse practitioner, associate professor and assistant dean for academic affairs at the USA College of Nursing. Minchew recommended Jones for the scholarship.

Jones said she plans to expand her research experience by contributing to scholarly articles on nursing practice. She is a co-author on a research article published in 2018 in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology that examined the correlation between DPYD genotype variants in GI cancer patients and fluoropyrimidines-associated toxicity.