04/11/2025
As Awards Weekend approaches, we wish to recognize our amazing Clinical Manager M Rena` Bender, who will be honored for being nominated for the very prestigious Ann Baiada Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership!
Rena` was nominated by her office peers, field staff and client families for exemplifying excellence in Clinical Leadership and demonstrating the highest personal and professional standards in accordance with The BAYADA Way.
Here are just a few snippets from the many, many letters of recommendation that went along with Rena’s nominations:
“I am honored to nominate Rena’ Bender for the Ann Baiada Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership. Rena’ joined Paoli Pediatrics in August 2019 as an RN and was then promoted to Clinical Manager in June 2021. I truly believe that Rena’ embodies Ann’s legacy to empower, inspire, and support others through her daily work.
When Rena’ interviewed for the CM role in PAO, I recall her asking a lot of great questions and coming across as self-assured, knowledgeable, honest and eager to learn. These attributes proved to be accurate and the decision to hire Rena’ was one of the best of my career! Over the last 3 ½ years, Rena’ has emerged as a leader within the office. She has brought a spark to the PAO team that is undeniable and arrives at the office each day with an infectious positive energy, even during difficult times.” ~ Matt Lewars, Director
“Rena’ brings an amazing energy to the office. She is always excited to hear that we have a new referral staffed and is counting down until the next client open. There have been times where she has opened 2-3 new cases in a week. On multiple occasions she has worked late and additional hours on the weekend to ensure she is prepared for her opens so that everything runs as smoothly as possible for the client and nurses.
Not only does Rena’ bring a great clinical perspective to new referrals, but also helps to brainstorm ideas for staffing. Her relationships with the field team helps give her an edge on who would be a good fit and she is always on top of nurses that are looking for more hours. She is always thinking about how the office can increase our hours to help more people, whether it is new referrals or coming up with new ideas for our current cases.” ~ Ally Shervin, Client Services Manager
“Our life experiences are what mold us into the person we are in this moment right now. These experiences change us …. daily…monthly…. yearly. It is how we incorporate those experiences into our being that creates who we are as a person.
Rena has endured experiences that no mother should ever have to face. But this is exactly why she is the strong and compassionate nurse that she is today. …Any other person would have walked away from nursing…especially pediatric nursing. This did not deter Rena. She dug in her heels and powered on. No, this was NOT easy for her. But sitting next to her daily in our pod, I have heard her say more than once, ‘This isn’t about me. It is about them.’ Her resolve is unmatched.” ~ Mary Frain, Clinical Manager
“Rena is an excellent nurse, a dedicated clinical manager, and, most importantly, a wonderful support for parents of children with medical needs. Rena quickly fell in love with our daughter, Vera, and visited our house often to spend time with her and check-in on how she was doing. Vera had complex needs and was hospitalized frequently, which required constant updates to her complicated medical plan. Rena was always quick to update her plan upon discharge, worked with me to make sure all of her medications, equipment and instructions were in order, and maintained constant communication with Vera’s nursing team and pediatrician. Rena made sure that every nurse on Vera’s team had excellent clinical skills, was a good match for our family, and provided Vera with the same care, dignity and love as she did. She was so dedicated to Vera’s care during her life, which was exemplified by her presence at CHOP the day Vera passed away. Rena was an incredibly important part of our Bayada team and we are forever grateful for the love, care and support she gave Vera and our family. She constantly went above and beyond for our daughter and played a pivotal role in allowing Vera to thrive at home. We are so lucky to have worked with her as she is a true asset to the entire Bayada team.” ~Vera’s Mom
“We as special needs parents consistently express our gratitude for Rena's involvement, noting her empathy, attention to detail, and ability to rightfully articulate our requests to the nursing team in times of need. It's clear that Rena is deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of complex special needs kids like my son and that he could stay safe at home under the care of Bayada.” ~Manny’s Mom
“Rena has been a tremendous advocate for our child and has been diligent in ensuring the nurses who work with him are comfortable and tuned into his needs. Her involvement in our case has unquestionably led to smooth transitions among nurses and reliable continuity of care for our child. We are glad she is on our team!” ~ Carter’s Dad
“She was Julianna's nurse and then case manager and she has always been a very awesome person. Very compassionate and loving. She's made it easier for us. She is always there when you need her.” ~Julianna’s Dad
“What truly sets Rena Bender apart is her adherence to company policies and ethical guidelines. She manages to maintain a perfect balance between following protocols and building trust with clients. This is no small feat in a field where the stakes are high, and trust is paramount.
Moreover, Rena Bender has a remarkable work ethic. She approaches every task with diligence and care, ensuring that all responsibilities are handled promptly and effectively. Her dedication is evident in the positive outcomes and the high level of satisfaction among patients.” ~Tanishq’s Mom
“We have had the pleasure of working with Rena this Year as we navigated the difficulty of having a medically complex child. She has been nothing but wondering to us and our daughter Jules. She has always been so sweet with Jules even when she was a very difficult baby. She recently taught us that Jules loves the song Head Shoulder Knees and Toes and left us with a giggling Jules every time we sing it.” ~Juliette’s dad
The Ann Baiada Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership was established 17 years ago in honor of Ann’s countless contributions to BAYADA Home Health Care, including BAYADAbility.
CONGRATULATIONS, RENA`! ❤
