Joni first arrived at Duke Health as a travel nurse after relocating to the area from Arizona with her husband. It didn’t take long for Duke Health to become Joni’s first choice for a permanent role.

"I immediately fell in love with the hospital and the unit, said Joni Danjczek, Nurse Manager, 5-3 at Duke Regional Hospital. "I decided to stay at Duke because I really appreciated that Duke was a Magnet facility. That means that nursing has a big say in the way we do different procedures and protocols. I felt like Duke really exemplified that.
Joni found a home at Duke Health and opted to stay on full time at Duke Regional Hospital’s Unit 5-3 – the same unit she had started in as a travel nurse. After gaining additional experience and strengthening her bonds on the team, Joni felt ready to advance into a leadership role. Through participation in Duke’s Nursing Career Ladder and her time as a charge nurse in the unit, Joni gained the experience needed to continue her leadership journey to nurse manager.

In more than 15 years at Duke Health, Joni says she’s grown tremendously as a nurse and as a person. She helped to start a new stroke program on her unit and eventually contributed to Duke Regional Hospital becoming a certified stroke center. Joni has also grown as a leader. She spends time deepening the bond with the team and understanding what each of her team members’ strengths are in order to help them grow and pursue their passions.

"Honestly, I just get excited to connect with the team. I want to hear about what's going on with them. What's happening in their lives. I feel the most important thing I can do is have that connection with them, so they know they're in a safe place and excited to come to work."

—Joni Danjzcek, Nurse manager, Duke Regional Hospital | With Duke since 2017

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