Erin Bailey, RN, an Assistant Nurse Manager on H71, a med/surg floor at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, can probably thank her grandfather for pointing her to her career. Whenever Erin would visit her grandmother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, “My grandpa would always tell me ‘she had such good days when you visited. I don’t know what you do, but you have some gift.’ So I wanted to share that with other people.”

Erin had a degree in engineering at the time and was considering a career in drug research. A visit to a hospital to observe nurses at their jobs changed her thinking. “I realized that I didn’t want to wait 15 years for research to go into play,” she says. “I wanted to make a difference. So, I went to nursing school.”

Checking all the boxes

As for why Erin chose to come to Cleveland Clinic to work, several factors came into play. First, she was looking for a place where she could grow her career, and where her voice would be heard. “I saw that Cleveland Clinic supports innovation, and you can submit your ideas for improvements,” she says. “That’s exactly what I wanted.”

Enhancing the deal for Erin was the benefits offered to nurses at Cleveland Clinic – specifically, the RN Loan Repayment and Tuition Reimbursement programs. “I got my master’s degree and really didn’t have to pay anything for it,” she notes. “And my student loans are paid off, too.”

And finally, she found that Cleveland Clinic’s principles aligned with hers. “Cleveland Clinic’s mission, vision and values truly are my mission, vision and values,” she says. “I walk by units and I hear a nurse talking to a patient, and I realize that this is where I belong, this is what I believe in.”

Working together

A typical day on H71 starts with the nursing team gathering on the unit before seeing to their patients. Erin thinks of it as a great opportunity for bonding. “It’s nice because it grounds us,” she says. “It makes us aware of what’s going on in the unit and helps us realize we’re here together.”

Erin sees her role as not only a caregiver, but also as the patient’s advocate. “You have moments where you see patients and you know something’s just not right,” she says. “So, you’re communicating with doctors and saying, ‘hey, come take a look at this.’ You are the eyes and ears, and the voice, for the patient.”

In many cases, the relationship with the patient moves beyond the medical, Erin notes. “Sometimes they are here for so long, and they just want to know how the weather is outside. They want to know what you’re doing in your life, just so they know something’s happening outside these doors. I can remind them what they get to look forward to when they get out of this place.”

Moving up the ladder

Erin started at Cleveland Clinic in the transplant unit as a newly graduated nurse and stayed there for three years. Then, during the COVID pandemic, she floated among different floors and units, left shortly to go to a regional hospital at the end of the pandemic, and then came back to Main Campus H71 after the pandemic because of her floating experience during the pandemic.

“When I had floated to H71, I really enjoyed it,” she says. “After the pandemic, I asked to be placed on H71 full-time.”

But Erin wasn’t stopping there. “When I came back, I met the manager and I said, ‘I not only want to be a nurse here, but I want to be a part of leadership.’ So, I became Assistant Nurse Manager.”

This summer will mark her third year in that role. Going forward? “I have no idea, but I know the opportunities are endless.”

Taking care of yourself and others

Another aspect of her job that Erin appreciates is her “work family.” “They’re like my own family here,” she says. “Whenever I was having a difficult time, the people in the unit kept me going, even during the pandemic. They were all checking on me, asking if I needed anything. We really care about people’s lives outside of work. We know how much taking care of yourself is needed to also take care of others.”