Bernice Jones' life changed when she was a domestic worker for a physician in a small town in Washington state. Her employer referred her to the Emanuel Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, Or. She entered in 1937. Recent changes in curricula emphasized a focus on pediatric nursing, which became her passion. She did her training in that field at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital. After graduation in 1940 she moved back to Washington and later worked at Vancouver Memorial Hospital. She also taught a course in practical nursing there. She took her BSN at University of Oregon School of Nursing (1967) as well as her Master's (1968). She taught Pediatric Nursing until her retirement in 1980. She was involved with the expansion of the School of Nursing across the state. Her biggest accomplishment was the creation of a master's program for pediatric nursing.