Nurturing new nurses: Bayhealth’s Melissa Bailey

As a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit at Bayhealth Sussex Campus, Melissa Bailey knows a lot about working under pressure.

With a strong work ethic fueled by passion, Bailey takes on each case with strength and determination. Alongside her team, she’s devoted to working tirelessly to improve outcomes for their patients. And Bailey has so much pride for the united, perseverant team she works with.

One of Bailey’s accomplishments over the past few years has been completing her master of science degree in nursing education. “I pursued my continuing education as a full-time student, while also working full time in the ICU,” said Bailey. “I was able to still be a present wife and mother to my family during that time – largely due to the incredible support of Bayhealth.” Bailey has been a registered nurse for more than 18 years and has been with Bayhealth for 13 of them.

With a heart for teaching, Bailey is a clinical nurse educator at Delaware Technical Community College. “By educating nursing students, I am contributing in my own way to address the nursing shortage,” she said. “Bayhealth has given me abundant opportunities to jointly pursue my passions, nursing and teaching. I’m so grateful.”

Bailey embodies the same values that Bayhealth holds: high-quality care, treating patients as family and being part of the community, not just in it. Helping the community she calls home is important to Bailey. She and her husband of 20 years, Michael, have two children whom they continue to make a priority, among their other responsibilities and duties.

The Bayhealth team is pleased to share Bailey’s story, and is grateful for the dedicated determination that keeps her motivated, as well as her selfless desire to serve and teach others all that she knows.

To find more inspiring stories highlighting passionate Bayhealth employees, go to Bayhealth.org/Thank-You.