Story and photo by James Coburn, Staff Writer

Rehab nursing is new for Brenda Hood, who in January assumed the role of chief nursing officer at Valir Rehabilitation Hospital, located in Oklahoma City.
“I have never been to a place that has more friendly people than Valir,” Hood said. “That was one of the first things that drew me here besides knowing the CEO. From top to bottom, they are probably the nicest people I have encountered at a facility.”
Hood said has been a nurse for 23 years since she was in her late 30s. She likes taking care of people and being in their company. She is also an avid problem solver. So, when someone is having a health problem, she enjoys seeing what physicians are doing to figure things out. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

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“I like the people connection,” she said.
Hood came to Valir Rehabilitation Hospital with a wealth of nursing experience to her credit.
After receiving her Associate’s degree in Nursing at Redlands Community College to become a registered nurse, Hood earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. She was serving as a charge nurse in the ICU at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City when deciding to earn her Master of Science in Nursing degree at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing (Health Sciences Center – Oklahoma City). She then became the manager of the post coronary care unit at INTEGRIS Health Southwest Medical Center. Afterwards, she served as chief nursing officer at Kindred Hospital where she served as CNO before being promoted to CEO for six years.
It was the CEO of Valir Rehabilitation Hospital who recruited Hood to join Valir Rehabilitation Hospital after she resigned from Kindred Hospital in August of 2022. Patients are at an advantage when coming to Valir Rehabilitation Hospital, Hood said.
“I think when they are in a hospital for a long time, they become deconditioned,” she said. “We have physical therapy and occupational therapy here that spends time with them. On average it’s three hours a day. So, the goal here is to get a patient to where they were before ever entering the hospital.”
Nurses help prepare their patients’ health to go to the next level. The goal is to prepare patients to return home. Three hours of working with therapists a day is one of the benefits patients have when choosing to come to Valir Rehabilitation Hospital, Hood explained.
Seeing patients before and after their maximum assistance by the nurses and therapists is the highpoint of her role as CNO. How long a patient will stay in the rehab hospital depends on their diagnosis. Different disciplines including speech therapists work with them and get them to where they need to be. Some patients only stay 12-13 days.
“What they can accomplish in that amount of time is kind of a miracle in itself,” she continued.
The nurses shine each day. Hood said she loves their diligence and personalities that translate into exemplary patient care. Normally an administrative officer does not work on Saturdays. But seeing Hunt on a weekend proved not to be a surprise.
“That spoke volumes to me, knowing they’re doing the right thing whether we’re here or not. They were just very welcoming to me, just showing up on a Saturday,” Hood said. “So that meant a lot to me.”
They have a caring heart and want to see their patients do better. Hood said what makes the difference is treating patients as if they are family members. Nurses must be a team player with a willingness to learn and consider their patient their priority, she added.
There are about 56-57 nurses working at the rehab hospital with 49 on staff besides a few agency nurses.
“We are in the process of getting more nurses,” she said.
Valir Health encourages continuing education. There are many LPNs at Valir Rehabilitation. And the hospital is in the process of creating more educational opportunities for the staff.
“We have a TBI (traumatic brain injury) unit, and we have certain nurses who like to work in that unit. So, through Ginger, the risk manager, we have come up with some classes that can be given to those nurses who want to work in the TBI unit,” Hood said. “They have an eagerness to learn, and they want to learn how they can better take care of these patients.”
Nursing has demonstrated for Hood the need for a caring heart.
“I think things that happen in your life teach you to be a better person,” she said.
Her father’s bypass surgery helped her to empathize with what families and the patients go through.
“I think life experience teaches you things that you can learn also in your practice,” she said.
Her greatest joy outside of her work is her dog.
“They love you unconditionally,” she said.
She and her husband consider their German Shepherd/ Collie mix a member of the family.
“She’s spoiled,” Hood said.
To learn more about Valir Rehabilitation Hospital visit: https://www.valir.com/

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