Julie Reynolds, LVN
Julie Reynolds is a Licensed Vocational Nurse with more than 23 years of nursing experience, having begun her clinical career in 2003. She is a proud U.S. Army veteran, having served from 1984 to 2016 with an eight-year break in service. Her background reflects a strong legacy of military service and healthcare dedication, following in the footsteps of her family’s armed forces tradition. Originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, she later relocated to Texas after Hurricane Katrina, where she continued to build her professional and educational career in nursing.
Throughout her career, Julie has transitioned from direct patient care into nursing education, where she has made a lasting impact as a CNA instructor with Northeast Independent School District since 2015. In this role, she has focused on preparing future healthcare professionals by developing innovative, data-driven teaching methods that move students beyond memorization toward true understanding and clinical competence. Her approach emphasizes interactive learning, confidence-building, and practical skill development to better prepare students for real-world healthcare environments.
In addition to her work in education, Julie is the founder of Nurse Jar, a professional development and CNA training brand dedicated to enhancing nursing education. Through Nurse Jar, she creates structured frameworks, instructional tools, and engaging learning resources designed for both instructors and students. She is passionate about helping learners succeed, and she plans to expand her work through seminars, workshops, and eventually a dedicated training studio that supports CNA education and instructor development.
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), U.S. Army Nursing Program
• Military Nursing Training (U.S. Army, 1984–2016 service period)
• LVN
• CNM
• QCP
• WCC
• CPR Instructor Certified
• Military service recognition (U.S. Army, 32 years of service with break in service)
• Professional recognition in CNA education
• AANC
• CNA education and mentorship through public school district instruction
• Development of Nurse Jar educational tools supporting student and instructor advancement
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- CNA training and certification preparation
- Nursing education and curriculum development
- Data-driven instructional design
- Skills competency assessment
- Healthcare workforce development
- Student confidence and performance building strategies
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most about my work is seeing my students succeed. Many of them begin their training feeling nervous and uncertain about the healthcare field, but by the end of the program, I am able to witness their transformation into confident, capable, and professional healthcare workers. Knowing that I have played a role in helping them achieve their goals and take meaningful steps toward their future careers is incredibly rewarding. I take great pride in being able to breathe life into their dreams and support them as they begin their journey in healthcare.
Locations
Northeast Independent School District / Nurse Jar (founder)
Houston, TX