For Greene County News

XENIA – Caring for patients at Greene Memorial Hospital was the logical choice for Michelle Hern who recently became clinical nurse manager at Greene.

Several years ago Michelle Hern’s daughter was involved in a life-threating car accident in which she was transported to Greene Memorial Hospital. And it was the nurse that cared for her daughter that inspired the at-the-time legal secretary to switch careers and become a nurse.

“After my experience at Greene and witnessing my daughter’s recovery – I said I have to work there,” Hern said.

And she did just that. She would go back to school and come back to Greene as a nurse.

“I have a huge love for Greene,” said Hern about working at the hospital. “I want everyone here at Greene to succeed. I’m very thankful to work here.”

The high energy nurse manager has a bachelor’s degree from Clark State Community College and plans to obtain a masters’ degree in leadership.

She believes in patient satisfaction and makes that her top priority.

“Collaboration is the key in good nursing,” she added. “We learn new things each day that allow us to help our patients.”

The mother of four from Springfield loves her fast-paced life and continuously wants to learn more.

“I wanted to work in intensive care – it allows me to be able to take care of the whole patient and it’s so inspiring to watch our patients recover.”

Hern was amazed at the kinship and sense of family at Greene Memorial Hospital when her mother underwent a liver transplant in another state, “People from Greene sent cards, messages and were constantly checking on my mother. It made me realize that this is my home. The people here really care.”

Her goal at Greene is to strive for continual patient satisfaction – working with staff to ensure they are engaged at all levels with patients.

Proud to be part of the faith-based Kettering Health Network, Hern stresses that, “We are all God’s children and we should remember that we are taking care of God’s children.”