Posted On: May 22, 2024
Sandy Rodriguez, RN, a 21-year employee at SMC, was honored during Hospital Week as the Department Manager of the Year.
“Not only is Sandy the consummate professional,” said President & CEO Mr. Jeff St. Clair, “she is a joy to work with. She is dedicated to her patients and to Springhill, and no matter what the challenges, she faces them with a positive attitude and an infectious smile and laugh. We are blessed to have had her all these years.”
Rodriguez is currently the Nurse Manger of two Intensive Care Units – a position she has held for the last three years. She says she has been a loyal employee at SMC because she loves the family atmosphere here.
“Everyone smiles and greets you in the hallways,” she said.
Her attitude is what her peers admire about her, and it comes from her personal philosophy that is patient focused.
“I believe that you should treat all patients and families as you would want to be treated. If you do that, then you will know that you have done an amazing job providing quality patient care.”
As a manager, Rodriguez believes in a fair and understanding approach to her team.
“It’s important to encourage employees to spend time with their families when they can. They will appreciate it and when the time comes for needed assistance at work, they are likely to step up willingly and help out the unit.”
Rodriguez has been a finalist at SMC for Nurse of the Year twice in her 21 years, so this honor came as no surprise to her colleagues.
“What I love about my work is the feeling you get when you receive a ‘thank you’ from a patient or family member,” she explains.
She is a member of American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
A Mobile native, Rodriguez currently lives in Irvington with her husband of 24 years and their three children.