From CNA to Nurse of the Year: The Remarkable Journey of Devinder Pannu

In California, the state with the highest number of registered nurses across the United States—more than 500,000—the story of a nurse from a small town like Yuba City receiving the California Nurse of The Year Award stands out as truly exceptional.

In November, Devinder Pannu, Adventist Health and Rideout’s Director of Nurses at The Fountains Skilled Nursing, was recognized as the California Association of Health Facilities Nurse of the Year. Devinder’s journey is a testament to her dedication, continuous learning, and exceptional contributions to long-term care.

A Lifelong Pursuit of Learning

Pannu was born and raised in India, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s in English. After teaching for six years in her home country, she migrated to the United States to start a new life. In 2001, she started her healthcare journey, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at The Fountains Skilled Nursing Care in Yuba City.

Pannu embraced the opportunity to work in healthcare as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in 2004. Her passion for the field led her to become the Director of Staff Development at The Fountains in 2005. In 2010, she graduated from Yuba College’s registered nursing program, and became the Director of Nursing for The Fountains in 2011. But her commitment to knowledge didn't stop there; she graduated with BSN from Grand Canyon University in 2014 and then graduated from Sonoma State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner i.e. FNP program in 2020.

“I think my journey was super interesting,” Pannu said, “because every little milestone I achieved made me feel empowered to not only to fulfill my dreams, but also gave me the tools to improve the life of the residents of The Fountains by working in different capacities.

“I think what attracted me towards nursing was educating and empowering patients to take their own health into their hands.”

Leading by Experience

As she advanced in her career, Pannu worked in almost every role in the facility. Today, as a nursing director, she is equipped with experience and valuable insights to manage and connect with her team.

“I feel very comfortable working with my team because I understand where they're coming from,” Pannu said. “I know what contributes to their job frustrations, and I am always looking for ways we can work as a team to make it smoother for them, but also to provide a great experience to the residents.”

A Well-Deserved Recognition

Pannu’s contributions to the long-term care field were recently recognized with a prestigious award from the California Association of Health Facilities. The Nurse of the Year Award is designed to recognize an outstanding registered nurse who has dedicated her professional career to long-term care.

“I'm definitely excited, happy to be recognized as a pioneer, as a contributor to the long-term care industry,” Pannu said. “Every younger nurse wants the hospital experience, they want to explore the opportunity because the sky is the limit, but geriatrics always held a special place in my heart.”

Pannu 's legacy goes beyond this recognition. She has devoted herself to helping others to advance in their careers, mirroring the opportunities she had more than 20 years ago when started as a CNA. As a result, in the last two and a half years, 14 members of the Fountains Skilled Nursing Facility staff have become registered nurses, and 10 CNAs progressed to become LVNs.

“I am very proud to be a part of an organization that cares, that puts efforts into advancements,” Pannu said. “We created an environment for our staff that allows them to go back to school and advance their career opportunities.

“I think success breeds success, so I am thankful that I was given this opportunity and I want to pass this on to other people as well.”

“She has provided great support to the Adventist Health Rideout leadership team,” added Joe Miceli, Administrator at The Fountains. “The Fountains department managers and staff members appreciated Pannu’s knowledge and her ability to lead the facility.”

The Secret of Success

Working in an industry as demanding as healthcare, Pannu places a high value on maintaining a work-life balance. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, recognizing that taking care of us is essential to caring for others. Her insights offer a holistic perspective, emphasizing the connection between professional success and personal fulfillment.

“I enjoy what I do at work, but then I also love my time at home with my family. We like to take small walks and play with the dogs,” Pannu said. “I think that is very crucial. I cannot tell other people to stay healthy and do these things if I'm not going to do it for myself, right?”

In reflecting on her professional journey, Pannu expresses deep gratitude for the support she receives from the people around her. Whether it's the support of the administration, her dedicated team members, or the understanding environment of her family, she emphasizes the crucial role they play in maintaining balance.

“If you were to ask Devinder why she continues as a Director of Nursing,” Miceli said, “she would say that she loves what she does and cares about making a difference with those whom The Fountains serves.”