Jennifer Stone, Actress from Wizards of Waverly Place, Is Also a Practicing Nurse

Image Caption: (L-R) Jennifer Stone, Selena Gomez, Willie Garson appearing in the ABC tv series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’, episode ‘Fashion Week’.

Jennifer Stone balances two demanding careers: acting and nursing. An actress perhaps best known for her role as Harper Finkle on Wizards of Waverly Place, she also has a nursing school degree and currently has an active career as a nurse in the emergency room (ER).

“I consider myself lucky that I’ve found two things in my life that I’m really passionate about,” she said about her dual careers.

We’ve tracked down all the details about Jennifer Stone, nurse and actress.

Stone started acting as a child, landing parts in musicals, theater, films, and television. The role that brought her to national attention was Harper Finkle in Wizards of Waverly Place, which first aired in 2007. The Disney series, which also co-starred Selena Gomez, ran from 2007 until 2012.

When she was 20, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after experiencing mysterious symptoms. She gained weight without changing her diet or activity levels, and her vision became so blurry that she could not even read street signs. She was dissatisfied with her healthcare experience, particularly the support she got from physicians. When she went to college, she first considered majoring in psychology but then decided to become a nurse to help others who might experience the same issues.

She continues to advocate for people with type 1 diabetes, including serving Nick Jonas’ nonprofit, Beyond Type 1, as part of the Global Ambassador Council, and balancing her acting and nursing careers.

After Wizards of Waverly Place wrapped its final season, Stone earned her associate degree from Glendale Community College and then a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) from Azusa Pacific University. She said that many of the skills she called upon as an actress helped her become Jennifer Stone, a nurse. For example, she applied memorization skills that helped her learn her lines to recall nursing information. She also uses the same mindset of putting a character together to help her compile information to share with a patient, she explained in an interview.

“You’re there on somebody’s worst day, so to have the skills that I’ve acquired from acting, to be able to listen, empathize, and a lot of times say, ‘I don’t know what you’re going through, but I want to,’ is really a beautiful blessing,” Stone said.

Her Instagram account reflects both of her careers. Her profile describes her as “Actor. ER nurse,” and her feed regularly features nursing content, including a selfie celebrating Hospital Nurses Week and wearing a Hospital Nurses Week 2023 shirt. That post celebrated nurses and nursing, saying, “I grew up on sets where it was all about team work. I love being an integral part of a team. Being a nurse is getting to work alongside some of the greatest teammates I have ever encountered. Who will help you clean a myriad of bodily fluids (or maggots) with no questions asked. Healthcare providers (especially in the ER) are a strange motley crew with a sick sense of humor and a hell of a lot of heart. I’m honored to be counted among you.”