Thirteen years into her nursing career, Director of Nursing Maria Kiwagama is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated professionals at Barclay Friends. Beyond her luminous eyes and joyful spirit, her reputation has been dutifully earned, built on a series of wise decisions regarding her education, career path, and mentors. “I’ve always liked science,” says Maria, “and I had three brothers to nurture growing up, so a calling to nursing seemed natural.”
Maria connected with Barclay Friends in 2019 while working as a Registered Nurse Assessment Coordinator (RNAC), collecting patient data crucial for developing care plans at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne, PA. With determined foresight, Maria sought educational opportunities for herself and her young son in West Chester. “After we moved here,” reflects Maria, “I got him enrolled in a Spanish immersion program, and I started a dual master’s degree in nursing and health administration at Wilmington University; then the pandemic hit, and my education was put on hold.”
Fortunately, the leaders at Barclay Friends were forward-thinking and engaged in succession planning. “My mentors saw my potential for leadership and created a position for me as Assistant Director of Nursing,” says Maria. “During Covid, challenges arose daily, and I focused on calmly finding solutions and keeping our residents safe.” Her team achieved a 3% reduction in facility-acquired infections by developing policies and procedures to meet evidence-based practice standards.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, Maria’s team encouraged her to apply for the top nursing position, and she won the post. Simultaneously, Friends Service Alliance (FSA) opened a mentoring program for Directors of Nursing (DONs), and Maria cites coaching by mentor Donna Sterli as key to her growth. “Donna helped me realize that it is okay not to have an answer for every question and that it is good to let our team solve problems together.”
Next came two exciting scholarship awards: the first for a Pennsylvania Long Term Care DON Certification, which she completed in 2023; the second award was funding from Leading Age to complete her dual master’s in nursing leadership and healthcare administration. With a radiant smile, Maria announced, “I will be graduating in June!”
Another thing to know about Maria is that moments of music and dance energize her days at work. She smiles when she shares that she was president of her drama club in high school. “I love to work here because there is a culture that encourages respect for art, science, and a collaborative spirit with everyone on our special stage here at Barclay Friends.”