By Lois Thomson
In accepting the position of director of emergency services at Jupiter Medical Center, Jon Hodges was able to advance his career while continuing to work at what he likes to do best.
Hodges was promoted to director in February of this year, after having been with Jupiter since 2005. He first joined as a staff nurse, then became assistant clinical manager for the night shift, and was then promoted to manager in 2017. Regarding his most recent promotion, he said, “I wanted to step up; I love my team, I think you do what’s best for your team, and some of them asked me to step up.”
He talked about the relationship between himself and his team, saying, “We all get along really well, it’s a family atmosphere here, we are open and honest with each other.” He said he believes that as a leader, he is very hands-on, preferring to be out working with his team than sitting in an office. “And I think when things are getting rough in the emergency department, part of what they love is that I will come out and help them – in any way they need. If they need me to start an IV, if they need me to triage a patient, if it’s just to sit and talk to a patient or jump in to handle a problem. They know they can count on me for that.”
He pointed out that since he was already doing some parts of the job, and because he wanted to stay at Jupiter, it was a natural evolution. “I was up for a challenge and the challenge was to become a director.” Hodges talked about the changes between the two positions: “As the manager, you’re really hands-on with your team, you try to work through problems; you wear scrubs, you jump in when needed. As director, you’re more in (regular) clothes, you have more to manage, from finances and budgeting, which I am still learning.”
As director, Hodges said he is handling more of the financial part of the work. In fact, he admitted that running the financial and the budgeting portion has been the biggest challenge for him so far, but added, “Luckily we have other great leaders in JMC so I’m very fortunate that they have helped me.” He said he has asked questions of both the CNO and the COO, and both have been very responsive and helpful, as have all of the other directors.
Working in an emergency department wasn’t what Hodges had planned as a career; he said when he started out, he originally thought he wanted to be a nurse anesthetist. “I had to go to nursing school, but when I got in I found out I didn’t really love the nursing anesthetist part of it.” He ended up doing work in an emergency room in Miami, and that’s when he realized, “That’s kind of where I fell in love with the emergency department, and knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Being relatively new to the position, Hodges isn’t contemplating any immediate changes to the department. He said, “Right now I’m really just trying to get my feet under me.” Having worked in Jupiter Medical Center’s emergency room since 2005, he said he has been a part of many of the changes that have taken place in the past two decades, and added, “The manager helps influence some of the changes, so we’re pretty happy with it.” He did say that the next big step being considered is trying to change the front-end process where patients are received.
However, no matter what projects are on the horizon, Hodges maintains that what he likes best is to be with his team. “I’m not as close as I was (previously), but I love that I can still get out on days when it’s a little bit slow and see patients and help the nurses.”
For more information, call (561) 263-2234 or visit www.jupitermed.com.
