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Michelle Young, BSN, RN

Nurse Spotlight

WakeMed Cary Hospital

Stories of Florence Nightingale’s compassion, bravery, and leadership have shaped modern nursing and influenced and inspired millions. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth, we are honored to shine a light on today’s #NurseHeroes on the front lines by sharing some of their stories.

This is Michelles’s story.

 

“My best piece of advice for any nurse is always be willing to help others.”

 

Describe why you chose to become a nurse

I chose nursing because I was looking for a rewarding and challenging career. I have never been one to sit still for long so the variety of nursing was an appeal to me, as well as the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives. And let’s be honest, the flexibility of the schedule is a big bonus as well. 

Describe your most rewarding day on the job

My most rewarding day on the job was seeing one of my former patients walk back onto our unit after recovering from his injuries. He was a patient who fell several stories off a balcony, sustaining multiple fractures, internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury.  After countless surgeries and almost 8 months in our ICU, he was discharged to a brain rehab center where we were still unsure how much functionality he would regain.  A year later, he came walking back on our unit to see the staff that took care of him.  We don’t always get updates on patients continued recovery once they leave the hospital so it was very rewarding to see.

Describe your most challenging day on job

After 13 years, it is hard to pick my most challenging day at work as there have been so many, but in general I would say taking care of organ donation patients are one of the most challenging. It is an emotional struggle acknowledging the inevitable loss of life and being a source of support for the patient’s family, while also knowing that the gift of organ donation is going to provide a second chance at life for others. 

Do you have any nurse hacks or lessons learned in the field you would like to share with others?

My best piece of advice for any nurse, is always be willing to help others. If you have time during your shift, be sure to offer help to your coworkers whether it be a fellow nurse, nursing assistant, doctor, secretary, environmental services or others. A small gesture can go a long way.  

What’s a favorite quote of yours?

“You will never regret being kind.”

For those looking for a way to help others, is there a charity you suggest?

Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon also known as THON.  This is an organization which I participated in while I was a student at Penn State and still hold close to my heart. It is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and raises money for the fight against childhood cancer. 

Thank you for all you do, Michelle!


Michelle Young’s Nomination

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and decreases in elective surgery cases, Michelle Young, a supplemental PACU RN reached out to me to ask about cross training to ICU.  She was the first nurse cross trained from PACU to ICU at our hospital  and has continued to offer flexibility, offering to work different shifts and weekends.  She is a true team player, and willing to do what ever is needed.

– Crystal Berry, BSN, RN, CNML
WakeMed Cary Hospital

Thank you for helping us honor Michelle and the profession of nursing, Crystal. We salute you! 


 

Do you have a story to share?

While our team at ShiftWizard believes all nurses are heroes, we’d like to hear who you feel has gone above and beyond. Help us honor a fellow nurse or nurse leader whose actions have inspired others in these unprecedented times, and let’s celebrate nursing together!

Did you know that ShiftWizard significantly lowers staffing costs for healthcare organizations? 

These are incredibly challenging times for nurses as well as the organizations they serve, and there’s no better time to learn how ShiftWizard can deliver significant cost savings and best prepare your team for success. One client saved over two million dollars in overtime costs within the first eight months with ShiftWizard.

Our industry-leading workforce management solution is quick to implement and was developed by nurses— it is built specifically for healthcare and solves the complexities of scheduling staff for any department within a hospital. And, especially for times like these, our powerful communication center excels at getting messages (text, email, and automated calls) to staff securely and quickly, maximizing accountability and teamwork.

We are honored to support our frontline teams and we are here to help you meet your challenges head on.

Send your nurse story to us at info@shiftwizard.com or let us know how we can help you.