Isabel DeVon: Nursing, Empathy, and Determination

Isabel DeVon brings clarity, care, and resilience to her work as a registered nurse case manager. Originally from Venezuela, she carries with her a perspective shaped by cultural depth, personal hardship, and a deep belief in human connection. Her story shows how kindness is not extra, it is essential, especially in healthcare.

Isabel was born and raised in Caracas. She first visited the United States as a teenager, but it was after her mother’s death that she moved permanently. She arrived with $25, no English, and great motivation. Staying with friends at first, she took on various jobs and began learning English by watching the Weather Channel.

Motivated by her mother’s belief in education, Isabel pursued opportunities to grow. “My mom taught me to read at a young age,” she said. “She always believed in education.” Isabel initially wanted to study neuroscience but earned an associate degree in biotechnology while working as a medical interpreter. What guided her toward nursing was a realization: non-English speakers needed someone who could help them navigate a system that often left them out.

Now a registered nurse case manager, Isabel oversees approximately 70 cases per month, working primarily with patients living with chronic illness. Her clinical training is strong, but her motivation is rooted in compassion. “I build a relationship with them,” she said.

That connection extends beyond patients. Isabel described her nursing team with appreciation and joy. “Working with nurses is beautiful. Everyone helps each other. If you are having a bad day, you can share. Someone will offer you tea or make you laugh with a meme.” That culture of support reinforces the kindness she strives to extend in every interaction. “As a nurse, you have to be very kind to your patients,” she said. “Many of our patients are dying, many have cancer. They are in a very vulnerable place. You have the honor to be in that moment with them.”

Isabel also reflected on how culture and geography shape expressions of kindness. “In Venezuela, we are very socially close. In the U.S., people are kind, but they value space and structure,” she said. “Both can be kind, just in different ways.” She believes even the weather plays a role: “The sunlight, the serotonin—it can affect how people connect.”

When asked what investing in kindness means to her, Isabel discussed empathy and the willingness to understand someone else’s perspective.

“We are all humans, and regardless of what we think, or how we were raised, people need hugs, and we need to be in other people’s shoes.”

Isabel DeVon is a nurse, a technology enthusiast, and an immigrant, whose story embodies what it means to care with intention. This is what Investing in Kindness is about, recognizing those who lead with empathy, even in the hardest moments. Keep an eye out for more interviews.