Meet Aerin - Employee of the Month

Employee of the Month, Topics

Aerin - PCA, 3 West

A lifelong Macomb County resident, Aerin grew up in Sterling Heights and Shelby Township. During her senior year at Utica High School, Aerin enrolled in a medical co-op program and was placed at Mount Clemens General as a nursing assistant. Aerin attended Macomb Community College and Baker College to pursue a degree in nursing. Upon graduation, she chose to join the staff at Mount Clemens General because she preferred the warm and comforting setting of a community hospital. It was, in her mind, a perfect fit for her.

She just celebrated her 17-year anniversary with McLaren Macomb.

Currently, Aerin serves as a PCA (Patient Care Assistant) on 3 West, where she has spent her entire nursing career. She has always enjoyed caring for surgical patients and, in particular, specializing in the care of bariatric and orthopedic and joint surgery patients. In her role as a PCA, Aerin provides compassionate care to patients by assisting them in daily activities such as eating, walking and bathing. In addition to providing comfort and making sure patients are safe, Aerin encourages patients as they progress on their road to recovery. She also assists nurses and doctors, performs daily rounding, restocks supplies and collects and cleans equipment. Aerin is confident in her abilities: "Caring for our joint patients requires experience and knowledge that I have learned through the years."

Aerin understands that patient satisfaction is best when they receive care and treatment in a clean, compassionate and professional healthcare environment. Aerin enjoys caring for patients and making their hospital stay as enjoyable as it can be. "I take great pride in my work and my compassion for people. I'm motivated when I make patients feel better even when they are not feeling their best." I believe in doing the "˜the little things' for patients, like washing their hair to make them feel "˜more human' as they say, or getting them a warm blanket or cold cloth to make them feel comfortable. I am inspired when a patient tells me that just my smiling face brightens their day, knowing a simple gesture can make a difference!

"I also love my coworkers! They are truly my work family and have been with me through many milestones. For anyone considering a nursing career, my advice is be ready and willing to work hard within a team and know that caring for patients is truly rewarding."

While raising two boys, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, taking vacations and decorating her house.