Leading with Care: Why One Nurse Manager Went Back to School to Better Support Her Team
For Jen Maddox, leadership in healthcare has never been about titles. It has always been about people.
Long before she became a nurse manager overseeing multiple departments at Levine Cancer Institute, Maddox was a bedside nurse who loved caring for patients. But over time, she noticed something else pulling at her attention: the people standing beside her.
“I found myself wanting to support and advocate for my teammates as well,” she said.
That instinct gradually pushed her toward leadership. She stepped into informal leadership roles first, then spent more than 14 years as a nursing supervisor before becoming a nurse manager nearly two years ago. But even after years of experience, Maddox felt ready for another challenge.
So she returned to the place that had already shaped much of her journey: UNC Charlotte.
Now enrolled in the university’s online nursing administration program, Maddox is building on decades of healthcare experience while preparing for the future of an industry that never stands still.
“Healthcare is definitely evolving,” she says. “And it is constant.”
For Maddox, going back to school was not about starting over. It was about learning how to lead more effectively in an environment where innovation, staffing challenges, and patient care are constantly changing.
The program, she says, has shifted the way she thinks.
Before returning to school, she focused mostly on responding to challenges as they came. Now, she finds herself thinking more proactively—forecasting change, looking ahead, and asking how healthcare teams can innovate before problems arise.
“We have to think about constantly, how can we innovate? What can we do better?” she says.
That mindset connects directly to the part of her job she cares about most: supporting her team.
At Levine Cancer Institute, Maddox oversees several departments, balancing operational demands with the emotional realities that come with oncology care. And while patient care is always the priority, she believes the best care starts behind the scenes—with the people providing it.
“I honestly believe that the way that your teams are treated… is how your patients ultimately will be treated,” she says.
It is a philosophy that shapes both her leadership style and her future goals. While she does not have a specific title in mind for the next stage of her career, she knows what kind of impact she wants to have.
“My dream would be in a role that continues to support my teams so that they can take the best care of our patients possible,” she says.
Of course, balancing work, life, and graduate school has not always been easy. Maddox admits that one of the biggest challenges has simply been remembering to slow down occasionally.
“Sometimes it’s okay to take a few minutes for yourself,” she says.
Still, she has surprised herself along the way—not just with her perseverance, but with her ability to stay organized and manage everything on her plate.
Part of what has made the journey manageable is support from her employer, Advocate Health. Through a partnership with UNC Charlotte, Advocate Health offers tuition assistance to employees continuing their education.
“That’s been really important to me,” she says. “It shows that they’re dedicated to my growth and development.”
And for anyone hesitating to take that first step back into the classroom, Maddox understands the feeling completely.
“The hardest part, but probably the most powerful, is taking the first step of applying,” she says.
Because investing in yourself, she believes, ultimately helps you better care for everyone else, too.