At the age of 18, Constance “Connie” Evans, became a licensed practical nurse for an opportunity to explore more of the medical field. However, in her first year at Stony Brook University, Evans became disillusioned with the thought of becoming a doctor. Her passion for nursing increased instead, as did her frustration with her lack of ability to help patients as a licensed practical nurse. Evans graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with nursing still on her mind.
In 2000, fifteen years later after raising her children, Evans went back to school. She graduated from Lehman College as a registered nurse in 2005. VNS Health employs the now 61-year-old registered nurse preceptor. The home and community based health care organization has been her only employer since graduating.
VNS Health hired Evans in April of 2005, prior to her graduation. Their nurses took care of Evans’ mother. While she was not the easiest patient, the nurses tended to her devotedly. It amazed Evans how her mother responded to them and attracted her to work for VNS Health. “In my interviews with VNS Health, I said, ‘I owe you guys a debt, I’ll probably never repay. But I’m going to do my best to do that,’” said Evans.
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Born and raised in the South Bronx, Evan was raised alongside her three siblings by her single mother. She understood her poverty but never felt it. Evans’ mother never let her and her siblings go hungry. She made it her business to make sure her children attended school and encouraged Evans’ dream of being a healthcare professional.
Today, as a Black healthcare professional working her dream job, Evans understands the importance of Black patients receiving treatment from health professionals that look like them. A 2019 study found that patients are more likely to utilize preventive care services and report care satisfaction when treated by a health professional who shares their racial or ethnic background.
Black nurses’ cultural competency provides Black patients with a safe space. Evans embraces patients as family and wants to show them that she works very hard. “I like to be an example of the greatness of our people. We are resilient, we’re strong,” she said. “Honestly, every time I go into a patient’s home, they become my family, not just my patient.”
This mentality is one Evans believes strongly in. In a Nov. 2023 article, Wall Street Journal writer Brenda Cronin describes how Evans revitalized her life when she cared for Cronin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evans visited Cronin at her apartment, offering encouraging words while nursing her back to health following a hip surgery. “But I recall vividly that as I healed and progressed from bed to walker to cane, the highlight of my day was Constance’s visit,” Cronin writes. “It seldom lasted long but in 15 minutes she imparted enough company, care and conversation to restore a wobbly world to an even keel.”
Evans’ care provided Cronin with stability and positivity during a dark time. Home care is a “very challenging but rewarding nursing experience” for Evans as she cares for patients in their homes for as long as a couple weeks to years. “It’s very, very precious to me. I love what I do,” said Evans.
She currently works towards earning her master’s in nursing education, expecting to graduate in September. Evans goal is to impart her knowledge on VNS Health nurses and empower them. As a nurse preceptor, she works with VNS Health’s onboarding nurses. Evans works one-on-one with each nurse, who either have recently graduated or have very little experience with nursing.
“Whatever I receive, I give to them. I’m in this for the long haul,” she said. “I want to help develop the greatest nurses on this planet and I want them to be at VNS Health.”
Evans enjoys VNS Health’s diversity and the ways they keep their legacy strong. She cites Lillian Wald, America’s first public health nurse who founded VNS Health in 1893, as one of her greatest heroes. Wald worked alongside Elizabeth Tyler, the first Black nurse at VNS Health in 1906, whose historical impact inspires Evans.
“We’re still doing our best to make New Yorkers’ lives a lot more livable, a lot more pleasant. To get them through those dark times when they have those illnesses that really just strike terror in their heart,” Evans said. “We can hold them by their hands and say, ‘You’re not alone in this, I got you.’”
This inspiring piece on Nurse Connie Evans highlights the profound impact of compassionate care and representation in healthcare. Her dedication to her patients and commitment to mentoring new nurses is truly commendable. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of cultural competency in medicine and the vital role healthcare professionals play in uplifting their communities. Thank you for sharing her story!