A Boston girl born and raised, Jayana Greene always wanted to work in medicine. 

She joined the float pool at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in 2022, and it was there she had her first experience in the labor and delivery department. She knew it was the right place for her. 

“I’m privileged to experience all different kinds of patient relationships,” Greene says. “Some are more challenging than others, and it’s really taught me a lot about humility and compassion.”

That empathy is a hallmark of her nursing philosophy, and an aspect she sees as crucial in building human connections in the labor and delivery department.

“One situation in particular, a patient was admitted for an induction of labor and one of our cervical ripening methods was not effective for her,” Greene recalls. “She was telling me the procedure felt rushed and that no one was listening to her or the preferences she had for her birth plan.”

Greene was her nurse on day three of her induction. Before getting to the plan of care for the day, Greene simply asked the patient if she was hungry. After a much-needed breakfast, Greene continued to work on her patient’s comfort.

“As the shift went on, I helped facilitate a plan of care that met the patient where she was at while trying to progress her labor,” Greene says. “I stayed four hours after my shift to make sure that the patient delivered safely. At the end, she felt appreciated, heard, but also supported enough to say that I made her feel safe.”

If Greene’s advocating for her patients and getting them the care she needs, then she’s doing what every nurse should. But being an advocate for her patients goes beyond just providing them care. To Greene, it also means recognizing where the system may be failing them.

Greene’s seen patients come in with their guards up, trust low, and stress high. She knows that a system working for the patients will make their lives easier. That’s why she sits on the BMC Diversity Council.

“It’s a burning passion to make sure everyone’s heard,” Greene says. “It’s a privileged right to be a part of someone’s care team, and I walk with and honor that every shift.” On the council, Greene devotes additional time to hands-on equity nursing education and projects for the institution, as well as specific initiatives for maternal health.

“It’s a privileged right to be a part of someone’s care team, and I walk with and honor that every shift.”

– Jayana Greene

That focus on equity is prevalent in every one of her patient interactions. It’s helped her advocate for patients, get them their proper treatments, and navigate the health care system.

“With advocacy work, it’s not just how we can be more culturally competent, but how we can have more humility as providers,” Greene says. “That’s honoring different cultural practices and understanding that equitable birth care cannot be delivered through a one-size-fits-all approach”

When Greene’s patients first meet her, they’re often experiencing one of the most stressful days of their lives. But when they enter the labor and delivery unit at Boston Medical Center, their care is tailored to who they are as individuals.

“Treating my patients like family is something I love,” Greene says. It’s that human connection she embeds in every interaction. “Everyone deserves kindness, humility, and compassion, and to be seen and valued.”

Jayana’s nomination letter:

Jayana is the ultimate advocate. When I was admitted to the hospital to have my baby, Jayana was my first day shift nurse. When she walked in, the first thing she wanted to know was how much I knew about the labor process. From there she took her time educating me and my husband, writing down the steps, and going through how to get from one step to the next. She listened to my fears, my wishes, and used all of her skills to not only care for me, my husband, and our baby physically, but she also cared for us emotionally. When the doctor wanted to break my water, I looked to Jayana for guidance. She told us she had some more tricks up her sleeve that we could try to have my water break on its own. Later that night, that exact scenario happened. With an IVF pregnancy not much is natural, but Jayana’s expertise and guidance allowed me to avoid an unnecessary procedure and experience my water breaking naturally — I will never forget it. Jayana — me, Dan, and baby Liam can never thank you enough for your compassion, humor, knowledge, and advocacy. We talk about you often! -Victoria Martell

I am pleased to recommend Jayana Greene, whose exceptional clinical skill is matched by a deep and sustained commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. During the time we worked together at the DEI committee at Boston Medical Center, I witnessed firsthand her ability to deliver high‑quality, compassionate care while also championing initiatives that made our workplace more equitable and culturally responsive.

As a nurse, Jayana consistently demonstrates excellent clinical judgment, strong communication skills, and a calm, patient‑centered approach. She builds trust quickly with patients and families from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her ability to listen deeply, advocate effectively, and tailor care to each individual’s needs has made her a model for culturally competent practice.

Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Jayana has been a driving force in our DEI efforts. She serves as a co-chair for the DEI committee members, where she helped design and implement initiatives that improved staff awareness and reduced disparities in patient experience. What sets Jayana apart is her ability to pair empathy with action. She approaches DEI work with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to measurable impact. -Astride Bernard