20 UNDER 40: Sarah Jones

Editor’s Note: This feature originally ran in the annual 20 Under 40 magazine which was a part of the LaGrange Daily News July 31 edition. If you would like to pick up a copy of the 20 Under 40 magazine, please visit our office at 115 Broad Suite 101.

Originally from Jefferson, GA and a member of the 2003 graduating class of Jefferson High School, Sarah Jones moved to Troup County in 2018. Her heart has officially been here though for quite some time as Jones attended LaGrange College and graduated from there in 2008.

Jones has earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LaGrange College, 2008); Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Education (Gonzaga University, 2013); Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing Informatics (Vanderbilt University, 2017) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (Vanderbilt University, 2019).

Her clinical background as a registered nurse (RN) is in pediatrics.  After she graduated with a BSN, she went straight into the Pediatric ICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), Egleston campus, and was there for six years, until she completed her MSN degree and began a job at Mercer. In those first six years, Jones also worked as a school nurse and at a pediatric urgent care.

At 39, Jones is about to begin her 11th year as an Associate Professor and Chair of Nursing. Her academic nursing education career began with Mercer University at their Georgia Baptist School of Nursing in 2013 and then she came to LaGrange College in 2016 where she’s been here ever since.

When asked what her favorite thing is about her current job, Jones said, “The students and my colleagues. I have the honor of getting to be part of each student’s journey – from the time they are accepted into the program, until the time they pass their NCLEX, and all that is in between.  We laugh together, cry together, work through problems together, and celebrate together.  As far as my colleagues, I could not do what I do, and the program could not run, without the people I work with every day.  We are truly a family unit in the nursing department, and, for that, I am so thankful! I can honestly say that I have a job I love.”

Jones is a member of the Georgia Association of Nursing Deans and Directors, the Georgia Association for Nursing Education, the National League of Nursing and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

She serves on the board for the Heart of West Georgia, the THINC Academy Health Care Advisory Board, First Presbyterian Church Children’s Ministry Committee and First Presbyterian Church Childcare Center Board.

In trying to get to know Jones a little better, we asked her to share some interesting tidbits. Her first response was this: “This is going to be an oddball answer, but when I had my daughter, I ended up needing a c-section.  When I looked around the OR, I realized I was surrounded by former students – my nurse, nurse anesthetist, scrub tech, and nursery nurse. And in an incredibly chaotic moment in my life, I had never felt calmer and safer.”

Jones has also helped LaGrange College facilitate a two-week hosting experience with nursing students from South Korea.  Through partnering with Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, they were able to provide these students with a week of observation in different units and a volunteer opportunity at Vernon Woods with its residents.

She has also been a volunteer judge for National History Day, West Georgia Regional Competition and Science Olympiad.

From 2018-2021, Jones had the opportunity to serve on the School Based Health Center Advisory Committee with the Troup Family Connection Authority.  This committee set the foundation for the partnership between Troup County School System and Wellstar in creating the pediatric clinic at Callaway Elementary School.

Jones generally takes things day-by-day but her current aspirations are to do her part in making the LaGrange College nursing program the best that it can be, which includes development, innovation and growth.  The program was recently awarded $214,000 in federal grant funding to do just that.

When asked if she was married, she said, “Yes, to the locally grown Dustin Jones.” They have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Hazel.

Aside from spending time with family, Jones loves her book club, tennis, yard work, and a solid Netflix series.

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