Author: Jasmine Brown
“I love working with the patients and making their stay at McLaren a pleasant experience."
McLaren Flint is pleased to announce January’s Outstanding Employee of the month, Danielle Spearman, a nurse assistant. Spearman was presented the honor by hospital leadership in front of her colleagues and manager on January 25, 2022.
“It is an honor to be acknowledged and appreciated for the work I do,” Spearman said. “I love working with the patients and making their stay at McLaren a pleasant experience.
“What I love about my job is working with my coworkers and meeting patients. My coworkers keep me going every day. With the patients, I immediately am put into a good mood when I walk into their room and begin to introduce myself. You never know who you are going to meet, who is going to make you laugh, cry, or smile. Sometimes, the patients can make you realize that your problems are not as big as theirs.”
Spearman works third shift on 11 South, which is the hospital’s oncology unit. Medical and surgical patients also receive care on this floor. Spearman started at McLaren Flint as a dietary aide on the same floor. The staff and management on the unit liked her so much that they requested she be the floor’s permanent dietary aide.
“After being a dietary host, I wanted to do something different and more exciting,” said Spearman. “A nurse assistant that worked on the unit really encouraged me to apply for an open position. As a child, I wanted to become a nurse and I thought this would be the perfect time to start reaching my goal.”
Those who nominated Spearman said during a time when the hospital is experiencing the demands of the ongoing pandemic, she constantly steps up with the utmost compassion and desire to serve her patients and assist her fellow team members.
Her manager stated, “She not only does what is expected by completing all of her tasks in a timely fashion, she goes above and beyond every single day. A group of RNs recently came into my office to tell me how wonderful Ms. Danielle is as a person, employee, and teammate. This is not the first time – at least one staff member has recognized Danielle every single week since I have had the privilege of being her manager.”
Spearman’s nomination goes on to state how she is an example of an outstanding employee and teammate.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who nominated me. This award reminds me how much everyone appreciates me. It really warms my heart, and I couldn’t do it without my coworkers from 11 South,” Spearman said.
The Outstanding Employee of the Month candidates are nominated by managers, directors, and McLaren Flint’s executive leadership team. Criteria for nomination are based on the hospital’s mission and core values: contribution to culture and core values, teamwork, going the extra mile, outstanding patient service, performance excellence, and commitment.