Jaines Andrades received national attention in 2020 when she made a Facebook post of the three different name badges she collected during the past 10 years of working at Baystate Medical Center: one as a custodian, one as a nurse, and finally, one as a nurse practitioner. When her post went viral, major media networks across the US covered her story and she was named Good Morning America’s Person-of-the-Week.
Jaines certainly did not expect the outpouring of support and attention, but she is happy her story is inspiring others. She says if she can provide motivation and encouragement, that in itself makes the challenges of her journey worth it.
Born to Puerto Rican parents in Buffalo, NY, Jaines moved to Springfield, MA, as a child. Nursing was not her original professional dream, but while in high school she had an impacting conversation with a nurse that drew her to pursue a profession in helping others. Nursing quickly became her passion.
She graduated from Our Lady of the Elms College in 2014 and began her nursing career as a correctional nurse at a local jail. From there she accepted a position as a registered nurse at Mason Square Neighborhood Health Clinic where she experienced noticeable success.
In 2016 Jaines returned to school to complete her doctorate in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. She graduated in 2020 and now works at Bay State Medical Center in the Trauma Surgery Department where she can be found doing what she has been doing for a decade—caring deeply about each patient’s care and recovery plan.
Jaines has acquired a wealth of information about medicine, but primarily she has learned how to cultivate humility while never giving up on her dream. She believes your life is what you make it and your path certainly does not need to be perfect.