Caring Like Family

Employee Spotlight: Novella Bobo, LPN, A.G. Rhodes Cobb

For Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Novella Bobo, every shift at A.G. Rhodes Cobb begins with the understanding that someone’s loved one is depending on her.

“When I go to work, I have somebody’s family member in my hands. Somebody’s life in my hands. I’m going to do my best to make them happy.”

That mindset, along with her attentiveness and deep connection with elders and fellow care partners, is part of what recently earned Novella recognition as A.G. Rhodes Cobb’s Nurse of the Year.

Novella has worked at A.G. Rhodes for nearly five years and has more than 20 years of nursing experience. Originally from Haiti, she came to the United States as a teenager and eventually built a career in nursing. Her experience caring for both of her parents during serious illnesses has greatly influenced the way she approaches her work today.

“I always say that I will treat everybody like they are my own family,” she said. “One day, I will be in their place, you never know, so I treat them with respect, the care and love I would want to be treated with.”

Novella says one of the most rewarding parts of long-term care is building trust with elders over time. She knows their routines, personalities and even subtle changes in demeanor, which she believes is critical in nursing.

One resident she cared for always greeted her the same way each morning: “Good morning, Novella.” But one morning, the resident was quiet.

“Immediately, I said, ‘There’s something wrong,’” Novella recalled. She quickly checked the resident’s vitals and discovered low oxygen levels and a fever. The resident was sent to the hospital for treatment.

“Everybody kept saying, ‘How did you know?’” she said. “Because I know my patient.”

Those relationships, she said, are built by taking the time to truly know each elder — their routines, personalities, moods and needs. Even during stressful shifts, Novella makes it a point to slow down and truly connect with the people in her care.

She remembers one resident who became upset late one night because she had missed pizza for dinner. Around 1 a.m., Novella ordered pizza for the two of them.

“We sat there at 1, 2 o’clock in the morning having pizza and drinking soda,” she said. “It was the best thing ever.”

Jovonne Harvey, Administrator of A.G. Rhodes Cobb, says Novella’s approach reflects exactly what person-directed care should look like in practice.

“Novella has an incredible intuition when it comes to responding to elders’ needs,” Jovonne said. “Her ability to recognize even the smallest change in someone’s mood, behavior or routine speaks to the genuine relationships she has built with them.”

While Novella was honored to receive Nurse of the Year, she is quick to point out that nursing is never a one-person effort.

“I think the entire team deserves it,” she said. “Nursing is a collaborative effort. I could have never achieved this without the support of my staff, and especially my CNAs.”

She credits the teamwork at A.G. Rhodes Cobb as one of the reasons she loves coming to work.

“Sometimes our job is very stressful,” she said. “But we always find a way to navigate positively. We take time to help each other out.”

For Novella, nursing requires heart, selflessness and the ability to connect with people during vulnerable moments. And for the elders she cares for each day, that compassion makes all the difference.

May 2026