A CT nurse gets best Mother’s Day gift ever. And it didn’t cost a cent
Registered nurse Jodi Katz got a perfect Mother’s Day gift — one that couldn’t be bought and that only a mom could appreciate.
Her daughter, Gabrielle Katz, who is following in mom’s footsteps to become an R.N., landed a summer job at Yale New Haven Hospital in this, her sophomore year in college.
That’s exactly what mom did about 35 years ago in her sophomore year of nursing school.
“A wonderful Mother’s Day present I could not have imagined so many years ago,” said Jodi Katz, who has worked as an R.N. at Yale New Haven for 33 years.
Gabrielle Katz, 19, said she decided about midway through Cheshire High School that she would like to study nursing.
The younger Katz said she grew up hearing stories about mom’s work – funny ones, sad ones.
She said watching mom work in so many nursing roles through the years and “expand” her career has made her think that YNHH has great career opportunities.
But most of all, she thinks mom’s great.
“It makes me happy to know she’s so proud of me,” Gabrielle said of mom. “She’s always been the biggest role model in my life. So following in her footsteps has always been my biggest dream.”
Gabrielle attends the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University in New York.
Jodi Katz obtained her degree at UConn School of Nursing back when there were no computers and everything regarding patients had to be hand written.
As a sophomore Jodi Katz got a job at YNHH in what amounted to a personal care assistant for patients.
Gabrielle will spend this sophomore summer as an observation associate at the St. Raphael’s campus monitoring patients at high risk for injuring themselves or others.
Gabrielle is coming home to Cheshire Thursday and plans to get mom a tangible gift and nice card even though mom got her greatest gift.
Gabrielle said her mom has “definitely” helped with her study of anatomy. Jodi Katz said she’s excited for the clinical or hands-on portion of her daughter’s schooling to start because, ” I can’t wait to hear her stories.”
Jodi Katz has held all kind of positions at the hospital through the years, as nurse manager, with labor and birth, cardiology, radiology, oncology and general medicine.
She currently works in the supply chain arena making sure staff are using the correct supplies.
Jodi Katz the best part about nursing are the patients.
“I love my patients. Even my most difficult patients,” she said. “I love to be able to make an impact,” including doing simple things for them such as bringing them a cup of coffee, a newspaper or brushing their hair.
“It’s other things you can help them with (besides the medical end that makes such a big difference,” Jodi katz said. “That fills my bucket up.”
Gabrielle said her mom, “Has always taught me what it really means to be caring, compassionate and understanding.”
Jodi Katz said the field has changed in many ways through years, including that patient stays are much shorter.
“But the essence is still that of taking care of patients,” she said.
Gabrielle will graduate from her program in 2025 and is considering going on to become a nurse anesthetist.
And no surprise – she also wants to have a career at YNHH.
“My heart is overflowing to think my daughter is a nursing student,” Jodi Katz said, describing her daughter as “empathic” and “warm-hearted.”