ROME – Helping people regain their independence is the passion that drives Jeanne Stevens, RN, the new nurse manager of Rome Memorial Hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department.

If there is one quality that describes Jeanne Stevens, it is "passion," according to Mary Lou Kunkel, director of the department. And this quality definitely comes through when she talks about why she entered acute rehabilitative nursing.

"It’s the look in their eyes," said Stevens. "When I know a patient has done well in physical therapy or made another step toward going home, they have that glimmer of hope. That’s why I keep coming back to acute rehabilitation."

Rome Memorial Hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department provides individualized and flexible treatment programs to individuals who have been disabled by injury or illness. "Our ultimate goal is to have patients go home," said Stevens. Physical medicine and rehabilitation addresses physical or medical problems, difficulties with activities of daily living, and specialized problems with feeding, communication, attention, and self care. "And families actively participate in rehabilitation," she said.

Stevens has come full circle since 1962 when she volunteered as a candy striper at the hospital. "When I came in for the interview, I felt like I was home. I was born at Rome Memorial Hospital and my very first job was in medical records at Rome Memorial Hospital."

In 1985, she received her nursing degree from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and then went on to Children’s Hospital (now Faxton Hospital) to work as a rehabilitative nurse. During her years at St. Elizabeth’s, Stevens was an intern at Faxton Hospital where she met Kunkel, who was a nurse manager at the Utica hospital. It was a connection that has spanned the years.

"I fell in love with her then. I saw that she had the right qualities. I said then that she would become an excellent nurse," said Kunkel. They kept in touch with each other through the years when Stevens held part-time positions as a school nurse and as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital.

Stevens was most recently head nurse at Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center’s 40-bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit but saw an opportunity to join Rome Memorial Hospital’s program, which had recently earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

"I am very lucky to have recruited Jeanne because of her many years of experience in the health care field, her extensive experience in acute rehabilitation, and her great enthusiasm. She brings the needed expertise and capabilities to help develop our program," said Kunkel.

Stevens is looking forward to further getting to know the systems, the people, and continuing to identify goals that are important to the unit. In the meantime, she has already set a couple of key goals and is working diligently to accomplish them.

"First, a large part of my job is getting nurses certified in acute rehabilitative nursing, which is a long process. Second, my goal is give everyone the information they need to understand and apply our reimbursement system, which is dependent on accurate assessments made by all disciplines. That’s why we are conducting classes, tests, and reviews, as well as one-on-one training."

Stevens is quick to speak with enthusiasm about the attitude and motivation of the entire staff and how it enables patients to reach that point of independence. "When I see patients that have overcome severe disabilities, it is incredible. This staff is giving people the chance at going home again."