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I recently interviewed Nurse Clara Jones, a Nurse Practitioner from Atlanta, Georgia, and founder of the Asian Care Unit and when this opportunity was brought forth, needless to say, I was thrilled. What makes this interview even better is that it serves a purpose for so many healthcare workers globally. People like me, people like Nurse Clara, and who knows, maybe even people like you! You may be wondering, how? Introducing: Nurse Clara’s limited edition sneaker collaboration with healthcare sneaker brand, Clove!
Gauri Kumar: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Clara!
Clara Jones: My name is Clara Jones, but many of you may know me as Nurse Clara! I have a background in Labour & Delivery (L&D), which I’ve loved, and recently just passed FNP school and will be taking on an GYN Nurse Practitioner position. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, with my husband and two dogs!
GK: What have been some of the privileges you’ve had in having a platform as an influential healthcare professional?
CJ: It’s a very intentional relationship and a choice. I get to educate people, share real life situations, and build my own community which I’m proud to say is very engaged, loyal, and like-minded. It allows me to connect with them and build relationships that are long-lasting. Through my platform, not only have I been able to work with amazing brands but I’ve had the opportunity to start a group called the Asian Care Unit (ACU). The ACU is a play on words, kind of like the ICU! It’s been an eye-opening journey because it’s very different from the traditional teachings of nursing school, in which not many of us are taught to open an organization! It’s been great because Asian-Americans and Asians in general can come together and share how our upbringings affect how we serve our patients. As a Korean, it’s always so enlightening to learn more about other Asian cultures. And of course, through my social platform, I met Clove and have built an amazing relationship with the team behind the brand as well as their community.
GK: Do you have any advice for students like myself making their way through nursing school?
CJ: There’s so much advice I can share, but I think the main point to take away is to remind yourself that this is your own unique path. I feel like as we go through nursing school and into our careers, we’re always told you need to have experience before you go to grad school, or you’re going to start up on Med-Surg, or to go pick a speciality. Everyone’s journey is different, and it is your own. Take everyone’s advice, including this one, as a grain of salt and remember your ‘why’. Why are you even doing this in the first place? Once you’re concrete on your purpose, then you’re less swayed by other people’s input. Always remember to stick up for yourself!
GK: What is your favourite and most rewarding part about being a nurse and now a Nurse Practitioner?
CJ: I love building connections and getting to know my patients on a personal level. Oftentimes as students we’re taught “don’t tell others about yourself and keep it strictly professional”, but we can’t just walk off without that relationship and connection when we’re there for them first-hand. At the end of the day, we’re people caring for other people. My favourite experience as a nurse has definitely been working on the L&D unit, I mean, I’ve welcomed life into the world, supporting the patient and their families in the most intimate of moments! This experience of human connection drove me to pursue an advanced practice role to connect more intimately, and more long-term because you’re considered a provider while still being able to connect with patients.
GK: How did you start working with Clove?
CJ: Well, Clove itself is actually a little over 2 years old. The founder, Joe Ammon, actually brought the company to life because he saw his wife (an RN) working long shifts at the hospital and coming home with tired feet and a sore back. Joe saw the need to create a pair of shoes that not only provided comfort but would last long and look good. When he founded the brand, he reached out through a mutual friend to see if I was interested in working with them! After my initial interaction with Joe, Jordyn Amoroso (Clove’s Chief Brand Officer) and Paula Belatti (Clove’s Chief Operations Officer), it felt so natural and organic and I knew working with the brand would be a great fit. I still have a hand-written card that Jordyn sent me following our conversation and always stuck with me as a super thoughtful gesture. This type of relationship reminded me that I need to work with brands that truly align with my values as a human being and professional. It was so real and natural, bringing upon some of the best friendships. It’s the beauty of a start-up and bringing in real people—it’s not just a company!
GK: Can you tell us more about The Clove Collective and the community that has been built—how did you become a part of it, what is your role as a member, etc.?
CJ: The Clove Collective is a give-back ambassador program. It’s comprised of a diverse group of healthcare workers, such as physical therapists, pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and so many more. We all have a platform of our own, no matter how big, that we share our lives with, and we use our voice to initiate change. This means that when someone purchases a pair of Cloves with our unique collective code (mine is CLOVECLARA), not only do I receive a commission which we are transparent about, but Clove matches that amount to a different charitable organizations every quarter. With the commission I receive I can also donate to charitable organizations of my own choosing, such as Black Girl Mathgic and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. I am so grateful to be a part of a program where I can give back while building meaningful relationships with others in the group, as well as the team members of Clove, that have developed into lifelong friendships.
GK: Why do you prefer Clove over other footwear brands and why would you suggest healthcare workers to make the switch to Clove?
CJ: The shoes already out there that are designed for healthcare workers are very clunky, too high, and heavy. It was time to change the narrative about shoes that we have as healthcare workers, and I’m almost saying this like I’m Joe, but it’s true! It’s life changing—healthcare workers want to look good at work, too! I love Clove because they’re easy to clean (especially working in L&D). All they need is a quick wipe and it’s so easy. They’re also odour-fighting, considering you’re wearing them for such large timespans, and they’re just comfortable. Their new Insole also provides that extra cushion and support. They have a non-traditional approach to footwear because they’re functional and fun! I mean, have you heard of shoes for healthcare workers with limited edition drops and fun campaigns?
GK: Tell us a little bit about your collaboration with Clove! What is the name of your new sneaker for healthcare and what makes it different/inspired you to create it?
CJ: The sneaker I collaborated on with Clove is called the Clara 1. It’s approaching medical footwear with a fashion forward spin! We worked closely on the design for about a year in order to make it perfect. My favourite design elements include the fact that they’re lace-free. They have an elastic band that is V-shaped (a new feature for the brand!) so they snug your feet very comfortably. I was also intentional with the colours – cream and mauve – to add a touch of femininity and grace. The past two-years have been very tough on healthcare workers, and this is just to remind us that we can still be grateful and forgiving of ourselves. Another thing I love about the shoe is the Mugunghwa flower, which is a beautiful flower with great significance in the Korean culture that represents resilience within our stories. What better way to pay tribute to my upbringing than to include this flower throughout the sneakers detailing and in the logo! In addition to the physical product, I worked with Clove on the campaign shoot – it was important for me to showcase my different sides through my wardrobe – there was a combination of images wearing my scrubs , streetwear style and I also incorporated wearing a Hanbok, a traditional Korean garment. I still have an identity outside of the workspace, so having been able to capture these different elements of my personal and professional life in the campaign really showed who I was. We’re more than our professions.
GK: Tell us a little bit about your mission and what went on behind the scenes in the process of creating this sneaker!
CJ: My mission was beyond just creating a shoe. It was putting me into a shoe through experiences and preparing to become an advanced practice nurse practitioner who works at the front line. Again, this shoe is to serve as a reminder of our own purpose. We are people beyond our profession and that’s really what drove the process behind creating this sneaker.
GK: Are there other projects in the pipeline that we should look out for next?
CJ: Clove is always onto something! The shoe is named Clara 1 for a reason, so keep on the lookout… who knows, there might be more to come!
GK: Lastly, where can we find you on social media and where can we buy Clove’s Clara 1s?
CJ: Nurse Clara’s Website: nurse-clara.com
Nurse Clara’s Instagram: @nurseclara
Asian Care Unit’s Instagram: @theasiancareunit
Asian Care Units’s Website: asiancareunit.com
Clove: @goclove
Clove website: goclove.com
The Clara 1s by Clove are available for purchase on goclove.com for $135 and are available for shipping in the US and Canada.
Clove and Nurse Clara will be donating $10,000 to the Asian Mental Health Project who provides resources to make mental healthcare more accessible to the AAPI community. This donation will help the foundation pay for speakers and professionals who host free virtual sessions for their community.
It was so great having had the opportunity to have a chit-chat one-on-one with Nurse Clara. It was evident how passionate she is about her career and making not only change to better the lives of healthcare workers but to unify them. Be sure to shop on goclove.com for the latest medical footwear, but especially the Clara 1, officially having launched on February 9th, 2022!
Happy shopping, friends!