Jodie Alvino
May 2025
Jodie
Alvino
,
BSN, RN
Orthopedic and Neurology 4A
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Elgin
,
IL
United States
When my father unexpectedly developed confusion post-surgery, a frightening complication for our family, Jodie's response was immediate and reassuring.
During my father's recent hospitalization for knee surgery, Jodie demonstrated exceptional care that transformed a challenging experience into one where our entire family felt supported and heard.
When my father unexpectedly developed confusion post-surgery, a frightening complication for our family, Jodie's response was immediate and reassuring. She not only addressed his medical needs with clinical precision but also recognized the emotional toll this took on him. She spoke directly to him, maintaining his dignity even when his responses were confused, and ensured he understood each procedure before proceeding.
What distinguished Jodie most was her exceptional listening skills. When my mother, brother, and I bombarded her with questions—often the same ones repeatedly due to our anxiety—she responded each time with patience and thoroughness. She never made us feel rushed or that our concerns were insignificant.
She incorporated our family's observations into her assessments, recognizing that our familiarity with his baseline behavior provided valuable clinical information. Her frequent monitoring meant changes in his condition were caught early. Her competence created an environment where we could momentarily step away knowing he was in capable hands.
Beyond technical excellence, Jodie's compassion made the critical difference. She called my father by his preferred name, learned about his pre-retirement profession, and engaged him in conversations about his interests to help reorient him. When he was distressed, she sat quietly beside him until he calmed. These moments of genuine connection—of seeing the person beyond the patient—exemplified nursing at its finest.
Thanks to Jodie's exceptional care, my father recovered from both his surgery and confusion, but our family gained something equally valuable: the knowledge that in our most vulnerable moments, professionals like Jodie bring both clinical expertise and profound humanity to healing. Her care is the standard against which we will measure all future healthcare experiences.
When my father unexpectedly developed confusion post-surgery, a frightening complication for our family, Jodie's response was immediate and reassuring. She not only addressed his medical needs with clinical precision but also recognized the emotional toll this took on him. She spoke directly to him, maintaining his dignity even when his responses were confused, and ensured he understood each procedure before proceeding.
What distinguished Jodie most was her exceptional listening skills. When my mother, brother, and I bombarded her with questions—often the same ones repeatedly due to our anxiety—she responded each time with patience and thoroughness. She never made us feel rushed or that our concerns were insignificant.
She incorporated our family's observations into her assessments, recognizing that our familiarity with his baseline behavior provided valuable clinical information. Her frequent monitoring meant changes in his condition were caught early. Her competence created an environment where we could momentarily step away knowing he was in capable hands.
Beyond technical excellence, Jodie's compassion made the critical difference. She called my father by his preferred name, learned about his pre-retirement profession, and engaged him in conversations about his interests to help reorient him. When he was distressed, she sat quietly beside him until he calmed. These moments of genuine connection—of seeing the person beyond the patient—exemplified nursing at its finest.
Thanks to Jodie's exceptional care, my father recovered from both his surgery and confusion, but our family gained something equally valuable: the knowledge that in our most vulnerable moments, professionals like Jodie bring both clinical expertise and profound humanity to healing. Her care is the standard against which we will measure all future healthcare experiences.