In referencing Atrium's Culture Commitments, Michelle has been a nurse for 32 years, all of her career has been on MSICU at Atrium Cabarrus and currently is the Clinical Supervisor on night shift. Michelle creates a space where all belong with her assistance to transition many new staff members, including nurses, techs, and even Intensivists. On many occasions, she is often the most experienced clinical nurses in the building.

An event that demonstrates Michelle working as one team was one night a patient required cannulation for ECMO (a procedure not commonly performed at Atrium Cabarrus), and she was integral in rallying the troops and supplies to get this done to stabilize the patient for transport.

On a regular basis, she works through multiple admissions any given night coming to the 35 beds, expanding over 2 floors, Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Michelle's innovation to create space for the sicker patients needing a bed can sometimes require transfers off the unit to accommodate the needs. She has seen the sickest of sick patients; leading the unit through the COVID crisis, which has forever changed the life of a nurse. Michelle has earned trust with her teammates and medical staff as previously was selected as Clinical Supervisor Nursing Award a few years ago.

Michelle is certainly a role model in the nursing profession and as an employee of Atrium. She has 2 children whom she raised as a single parent many years. Her children have followed in her footsteps to create their own future within the health profession. One is now a Critical Care Nurse at Atrium Cabarrus since 2017 and the other is currently in medical school at Campbell University of Osteopathic Medicine class of 2025.

If at night, you are lucky enough to be led by Michelle, you get the same Michelle every time! She is positive, hard-working, willingness to help others and dedicated to her job and profession. She describes taking care of others as her life and frequently off the clock, she can be found taking care of her parents and father-in-law.

Michelle posted on her social media that after 32 years, she is "still so proud of her profession". She does not only drive for excellence, Michelle is Excellence! She seeks to be a better nurse by attending NTI Leadership Conferences. She has a way of nursing like no one else.

Michelle has a motto, "If you're negative...keep moving". She defers negativity, but also encourages people to keep striving to the positive in all that they do. This lays down the preface to Michelle Motley, RN, BSN, CCRN. Michelle is willing to step up and help in any situation and this is a true leader.