Jennifer A. Rodden, BSN, RN
Respected as a dedicated leader in Nursing, Jennifer A. Rodden, BSN, RN, nursing administrative coordinator, was also well-known for her sharp wit and dry humor.
“She could slice tension in a room with a little bit of humor,” said Anne Krajewski, clinical director of Nursing Operations.
Rodden, who passed away on February 9th, worked at PAH for more than 30 years, overseeing the management and operations of the hospital’s night shift. She would avert clinical emergencies and send detailed reports of any events during the day-shift transition. But despite any crisis or difficult situation, like reporting a power outage overnight or delivering bad news to a patient, Rodden always knew how to keep a conversation personable and lighthearted.
“She could make you laugh with a one-liner but also offered powerful words of wisdom,” said Krajewski. “She had this unique way of communicating that made everyone feel special and welcomed.”
As part of her role at PAH, Rodden was a facilitator of a two-day class for staff titled “See Me as a Person” that centered on relationship-based care and patient advocacy, emphasizing the wide range of challenges patients go through in the hospital. While they’re being treated for an injury or a health condition, there are other concerns that may be consuming their mind.
One instance Rodden would share was her attempt to calm a patient admitted for congestive heart failure. The patient was distracted and more concerned about who would feed her cat while she was away. Rodden listened and comforted her through her worries, contacting the patient’s family to help with the cat. Through telling this personal story, Rodden wanted staff to not just treat a patient’s medical diagnosis but to care for them as a whole person.
In April, staff gathered in the PAH gardens for a memorial to honor their beloved colleague. They held a candlelight vigil and presented Rodden’s family – her mother, two sisters, and nieces and nephew – with a memory box of items she kept in her cubby along with her white coat embroidered with her name. They also unveiled a bench with a plaque inscribed with Rodden’s name and her iconic tagline “Thanks for Stoppin’…” – a phrase she would commonly say to Nursing staff picking up their assignments each day, and a saying her colleagues continue to use.
“Everyone at PAH has a story about their connection with Jen. She was my first friend when I came to PAH, and she was really a friend to all,” said Krajewski. “She was truly one of a kind.”