Soul of 78: Dewonica Samuels
Quality Assurance/Staff Development Coordinator, Ridgewood Health Services
Words by Micah Harrison | Images by Justin Hunter
Working in a nursing home can often present challenges, but it carries the potential for tremendous personal fulfillment when you can brighten a resident's day. This is the driving force behind Dewonica Samuels' commitment to nursing.
Dewonica has been a versatile member of the Ridgewood Health Services team since 1998, beginning in housekeeping and dedicating 14 years to this role. As a housekeeper, she formed strong connections with the residents. Reflecting on that period, Dewonica states, "When I worked as a housekeeper, there were certain things I couldn't do."
Simple tasks, such as bringing a cup of water to a resident, were beyond her reach, and this limitation became her inspiration to pursue a nursing career.
Motivated by this goal, she applied to the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program at Bevill State Community College in 2012 while maintaining her job and raising her four children. Once she obtained her LPN license, she continued working full-time in housekeeping at Ridgewood while working part-time as a nurse at Ridgeview Health Services. Later that year, both facilities came under the same ownership, and she was offered a full-time nursing position at Ridgewood. "I was really nervous about it," Dewonica admits, "but it turned out to be a perfect fit!"
Dewonica continued to pursue her education and applied to Bevill State once more, this time to become a Registered Nurse (RN). This milestone opened new opportunities at her workplace, leading her to serve as a treatment nurse and supervisor. After dedicating 19 years to the facility, Dewonica transitioned into the Director of Nursing (DON) role, overseeing the facility's operations and ensuring residents received the highest quality of care.
In 2023, Dewonica stepped down as DON, taking on the Quality Assurance/Staff Development Coordinator role. In her new position, she ensures that clinical standards are met and equips staff to deliver quality care.
For this mother of four - Miguel Jr., QuaNishia, Khiecia, and Dekilia - and grandmother to Ayden, MJ, Malani, and Teegan, her job transition also provides more time to spend with her family. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career has been working alongside QuaNishia and Khiecia at Ridgewood.
When asked about her favorite aspect of her job, Dewonica says, "The best part is seeing the residents smile and knowing that I've made their day better."
While this can sometimes be a challenge, it's a challenge she has consistently risen to meet in her years of dedicated service at Ridgewood. 78