Greenville, N.C. – East Carolina University and ECU Health are launching an initiative to increase the number of adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioners serving as advanced practice health care professionals in ECU Health’s critical care settings. This effort builds on the collective commitment of both organization to solve the rural health challenges in the region as well as the state.
The effort – conceived by nursing and education leaders from ECU’s College of Nursing and ECU Health – will benefit both the university and the health system, said Dr. Bim Akintade, the dean of ECU’s College of Nursing. An investment of nearly $1.5 million over five years from ECU Health will increase the College of Nursing’s capacity to graduate trained and qualified nurses who can meet the growing need for acute care practitioners to treat the hospital’s sickest patients.
“ECU Health is proud of its close relationship with ECU and the College of Nursing, particularly as it pertains to our efforts to adapt to the national health care workforce shortage,” said Dr. Daphne Brewington, ECU Health’s vice president of nursing. “Our success as an academic health system is predicated on our ability to leverage clinical and academic excellence in order to ensure we can provide high quality health care for the residents of eastern North Carolina.”
Nationally, the aging population is growing, accompanied by the shortage of health care workers. This collaboration not only strengthens the health care workforce in eastern North Carolina but also contributes to improved health outcomes and increased accessibility to specialized care for older adults in the communities of eastern North Carolina.
Through this effort, ECU Health is helping fund the development of a new Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate, which will train current nurse practitioners to treat acute care adult patients. The investment also provides funding for a program director who teaches and an additional part-time faculty member as well as administrative support and operational costs.
The program will reserve six enrollments per enrollment cycle for current ECU Health employees, highlighting the importance of providing specialized training that benefits the region.
“Our plan is to take the next few months to work with our partners at ECU Health and find clinical placement sites in critical care environments for ECU Health employees who enroll in the program,” Akintade said. “They need nurses, and training nurses is our business and passion. This collaboration is a win-win and makes complete sense for the University, the Heath System, the region, and the state.
Clinical placements for students employed by ECU Health will take place at ECU Health facilities, which will help to alleviate a major sticking point for training advance practice nurses – finding clinical placements for students in training. It also has the potential to create pathways for those in the program to experience acute care at both ECU Health Medical Center and in ECU Health’s regional community hospitals.
The initiative isn’t limited to the current arrangement and both ECU and ECU Health continue to explore ways to leverage this effort to design innovative solutions that benefit the people of eastern North Carolina.
“Eastern North Carolina depends on institutions like ECU Health and ECU to collaborate on innovative solutions that drive us towards our mission of improving the health and well-being of the region,” said Dr. Trish Baise, ECU Health’s chief nursing executive. “As a health system serving 1.4 million people, we need more nurses at every level in order to meet the region’s immense needs. The College of Nursing is one of the premiere nursing education schools in the nation and our health system is great training ground for developing a health care workforce with a focus on rural health challenges. I am excited to see the benefit this program will have on our patients and team members.”
The way Dr. Aundrea Oliver met Abby Coderre was, in Dr. Oliver’s words, “fortuitous.”
Abby was a sophomore at East Carolina University when she needed surgery for a mass in her thoracic cavity. Dr. Oliver’s colleague received the call about her situation, but couldn’t perform the diagnostic procedure on her, so Dr. Oliver was asked to step in.
“We just kept going”
At the age of nine, Abby was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, so she was no stranger to hospitals. As she grew older, however, she began experiencing unusual symptoms.
In high school, she noticed bruising on her legs, but she attributed those to being a dancer. During the summer before her sophomore year, Abby experienced chest pain, but an initial doctor visit diagnosed her with a pulled muscle.
“The muscle relaxer the doctor prescribed didn’t help, so my sister insisted I go to the emergency department,” Abby said. “They did an x-ray and saw my esophagus was pushed off to one side, so they did a CT scan. That’s when they saw the mass in my chest.”
“Her mass was located next to her pulmonary artery and had invaded her pericardium,” Dr. Oliver said. What was supposed to be a four-hour surgery ended up taking Dr. Oliver eight hours to remove as much of the mass from Abby’s body as possible. “We tried to remove the majority of the mass and basically did a full resection.”
As a result, the doctors were able to correctly diagnose her with lymphoma and provide the right treatment.
That decision, Abby said, saved her life: “Who knows if chemo would have been able to get all of it?”
While Dr. Oliver has performed countless surgeries, she said Abby’s story sticks with her. “She was this young, vibrant college student who could have been my daughter, and her case was hard.” Dr. Oliver knew she wanted to do everything she could to help Abby. “We just kept going – we weren’t stopping until we got an answer,” Dr. Oliver said.
Abby’s recovery was, as Dr. Oliver put it, “slightly miraculous.”
“We cut through her phrenic nerve, so she shouldn’t have a voice at all. She should not be able to cough. But she still has great function.” Beyond the physical recovery, Dr. Oliver said it’s been gratifying to see Abby succeed in life: “To see her become this wonderful, exciting, vibrant caring woman and to go from being a happy college student to a mature individual – that gives in a way that I can only hope for is impressive.”
After surgery, Abby completed a two-and-a-half year chemotherapy regimen. Dr. Oliver was impressed by her commitment to her classes and studies while receiving treatment. “I was really proud of her. Whenever someone has to work twice as hard in order to achieve success, there is a greater depth of value in that education.” Dr. Oliver was doubly proud when she found out Abby wanted to be a nurse. “I was over the moon,” Dr. Oliver said. “She let me know she was interested in doing pediatric oncology, and I told her it was a perfect fit, that she was bright enough and she had the people skills to be a great nurse.”
A struggle worth the effort
Although it was challenging, Abby said it was important to her that she remain in school while undergoing treatment. “I needed to have some normalcy in my life,” she said. It became even more challenging when she transitioned to the actual nursing program. “I’d have to get chemo one day, and then the next day I’d be in the hospital as the student nurse and not the patient,” she said. “Then the next day I’d take a test.” As a result, Abby had to study extra hard and often took her notes with her to study during her chemotherapy treatment. She also took classes and tests online, even taking a few while she was in the hospital. “I took one final exam while I was in the ER, but it helped me get my mind off what was happening and gave me something else to focus on.”
Although Abby said she wondered when her cancer journey was going to be over, she advised anyone out there going through the same thing to remember it won’t last forever. “What you’re working for is worth it, no matter how hard the struggle. Just look at the end goal and do anything you can to make it good.”
Abby rang the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment in November 2021, and when she graduated from college, she invited Dr. Oliver to the celebration.
“It’s not common to be invited to a patient’s graduation,” Dr. Oliver admitted. “To have someone years later have an important life event and say, I want you there – that means everything to me.”
Bridging two worlds
Now, Abby is a pediatric nurse working at ECU Health.
“When I first started nursing school, I didn’t want to stay in Greenville,” she shared. “But I really fell in love with the hospital. The team I was treated by was amazing, and I saw the impact they had on me as well as other kids. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”
While their professional lives may not intersect much, Dr. Oliver is thrilled to have Abby as a colleague: “Abby is the perfect container for life, and she’s going to give it to a bunch of little kids who are scared life is going to be taken away from them.”
Coderre agreed that bridging the worlds of patient and nurse gives her a unique perspective that has helped her be a better nurse. “It gave me a lot of empathy toward my patients, because I know what they’re going through. I know what it feels like to be on the other side of things. I wouldn’t be half the nurse I am if I hadn’t been a patient also.”
As for Dr. Oliver, she said the value of her work has been solidified. “It’s easy to feel like what you do doesn’t matter or doesn’t have an impact. If I never have another patient like Abby Coderre – if Abby is my one Abby – then my career is complete. That was the best eight hours I could have ever spent.”
Looking back, Abby said she wouldn’t be here if not for her ECU Health team working together.
“I couldn’t say anything better about ECU Health. It’s amazing, with the best nurses and doctors.” She also holds a special place in her heart for Dr. Oliver: “She is just an amazing human being.”
In her ECU Health profile, Abby wrote that her role model is “Dr. Aundrea Oliver, the most amazing surgeon and person that has ever graced my life by saving my life.”
This article is one of a series celebrating the 2023 Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina ECU Health honorees. The Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina honors the nursing profession by recognizing nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence. The recipients are distinguished for their outstanding professional ability as well as their contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This year’s 13 ECU Health honorees include Lindsay Caddell, Jenny Wester and Rhiannon Stallings.
Lindsay Caddell
Lindsay Caddell, staff nurse in the NICU at ECU Health Medical Center, graduated from East Carolina University with her BSN and started working at ECU Health in 2015. She serves as a bedside nurse, but she also plays other roles, including precepting new nurses, acting as a charge nurse, chairing the bereavement team in the NICU and teaching in the STABLE program, which represents the six assessment and care modules used in the program: sugar/safe care, temperature, airway, blood pressure, lab work and emotional support.
A visit to see her cousin in the NICU when Caddell was in middle school sparked her interest in nursing. “I did some school projects after that, then went to nursing school and knew I wanted to work in the NICU.”
Caddell said now she can’t imagine working anywhere else or in any other setting.
“I built a family here,” she explained. “I have close friends and feel comfortable and confident. I have other people’s backs, and they have mine. Our team is great.” Part of her success comes from the mentorship she received. “I wouldn’t be here today without the people who precepted me and mentored me.” Caddell said that level of support and skill makes it unsurprising that 13 ECU Health nurses have been recognized by The Great 100 Nurses. “It shows we have a great team, especially in the NICU. It speaks to the focus each of us has on passing along the knowledge that was given to us. It’s an environment of education and mentorship.”
Caddell said she didn’t know she’d been nominated for The Great 100 Nurses, so receiving the award letter was a true surprise. “I was honored,” she said. “I know other nurses in the NICU and the hospital who have been honorees, and I respect them. Knowing I was chosen to be alongside nurses of that caliber was exciting.” Caddell hopes that being honored as a younger nurse would inspire new nurses as they began their careers. “It’s humbling to represent the NICU, but also to show younger nurses that there are things you can achieve as a younger nurse.”
Jenny Wester
Jenny Wester named several reasons for becoming a nurse, but a four-week stay in the hospital after breaking her femur when she was 12 made her confident nursing was the right career path.
“I was in traction, and it’s hard to be 12 and not able to move for four weeks,” Jenny said. “But my nurses treated me wonderfully and tried to make every day a good one. I thought, that’s the kind of nurse I want to be.” One nurse in particular, Mary Beth, made a strong impression, and the two stayed in touch well beyond Wester’s hospital stay. “I kept up with her, and when I graduated from nursing school, she sent me a pair of gold scissors. That meant a lot.”
Wester has worked at ECU Health Medical Center since 1998 in pediatrics, and she said she’s never thought about going anywhere else.
“I love this environment and my peds family,” she explained. “ECU Health has been really good to me.” Her work at ECU Health offered flexibility and opportunities to grow. “I had a good work/life balance when my kids were younger and I could adjust my schedule,” Wester shared. “I was able to attend professional conferences, and they paid for me to go back to school to get my BSN.”
Wester attributed her success in part to strong mentor relationships during her career. “I’ve had wonderful mentors, and I wouldn’t be here without them. Now I take ownership of helping our new nurses, and I’m often called ‘Mama Jenny’ on the unit.” Wester said above all, she’s proud of her profession. “I’m so blessed to take care of my patients, and I’m proud to be a nurse. I want for all of our nurses to take pride in who they are and what we can do as a group.”
When she found out she was named a Great 100 Nurse, Wester was humbled and surprised. “I thought, they must not have had as good of an applicant pool this year if I won,” she laughed. Wester said she doesn’t think she does anything that her colleagues don’t also do. “I was taught to work hard,” Wester said. “In 25 years, there’s not a thing I’ve done around here I expected recognition for.”
Rhiannon Stallings
Rhiannon Stallings, a perinatal nurse navigator at ECU Health Medical Center, said that for as long as she could remember, she wanted to be a nurse. “As I went through nursing school, I decided I wanted to work in obstetrics, and here I am.”
After working for a few years at a smaller hospital immediately after graduation, Stallings joined ECU Health and has been here for the last 10 years. Stallings began as a bedside nurse but transitioned three years ago into the perinatal nurse navigator role, which, she said, allows her to impact many patients every day.
“I work with antepartum patients, some of whom are admitted for long stays,” she said. “I go on rounds with OB providers and ensure patients have the consults and education they need. I coordinate cardiac OB patients, who sometimes need special delivery plans to account for their cardiac diagnoses. I get to know the patients ahead of time, but I also go out into the community to meet regional hospitals’ patients’ needs.”
When she learned she’d been named a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina, Stallings said, “I cried. It was an honor just to be nominated. To have my work recognized – it made me know I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I really enjoy my work and the patients I touch.”
However, Stallings insisted she doesn’t do more than any other nurse at ECU Health. “We have so many nurses who provide great care and want the best outcomes for their patients,” Stallings said. “We love what we do, and we help our patients get through those tough times.” That teamwork, Stallings said, is key to quality care. “I couldn’t do what I do without the interdisciplinary team that’s around me and the administration that supports me. I’m truly thankful for the nurses and providers who support and believe in me.”
The honorees will be honored at a statewide gala in October, to be held in Raleigh.
This article celebrates the 2023 Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina ECU Health honorees. The Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina honors the nursing profession by recognizing nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence. The recipients are distinguished for their outstanding professional ability as well as their contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This year’s 13 ECU Health honorees are below.
Ann Brabble
Elizabeth “Ann” Brabble described herself as a “small town girl” who enjoys her work as a nurse in the ambulatory surgery unit at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. “Some of our patients have never had surgeries before,” Brabble explained. “They’re scared. But you calm their fears and then see them in Wal-Mart, or they come in for another surgery and ask you to be their nurse.”
Brabble said growing up with her grandparents living with her influenced her decision to become a nurse: “When they got sick, my grandparents moved in and lived with us from when I was 12 or 13 and up. It was at that time I said I wanted to be a nurse, and I never changed my mind.”
Although Brabble loves her current position in outpatient surgery, she has worked in a variety of nursing areas for 37 years, 27 of which have been with ECU Health. “I worked in pediatrics for about 11 years,” Brabble said, “But I enjoy working with patients having surgery: providing the preparation and education to them and their families.”
What helps her in this work, Brabble said, is her faith and the support of her family. In addition to her work on outpatient surgery, Brabble also cross trains in chemotherapy, the outpatient clinic and outpatient lab testing.
“Nursing is about teamwork,” Brabble said when asked about being honored as a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina. “If we didn’t have a good team, none of what we do would be successful. I try to do every day what is right for my patients, providers, family and co-workers. I wish I could take my whole team with me; I have co-workers who deserve it more than me.”
Brabble also acknowledged that having 13 honorees from the ECU Health system is significant. “It speaks highly of the team members who are striving every day to do the best they can, even in bad situations,” Brabble noted. “You don’t do it for recognition, but it shows that the organization supports team members.”
Brabble does her own work to support student and new nurses. “You have to come in to this not just for the money, but with compassion and care,” Brabble explained. “I tell that to all of my students. Don’t forget about the patient in the bed by focusing on the computer. I teach them to make eye contact and talk to the patient.” Brabble said she credits her own mentors for learning these important skills. “I had excellent preceptors who took me on this journey. Every transition I’ve made, I’ve had people I can refer back to.” Even now, Brabble said she learns something new every day. “New things come out all the time. And I learn things from the new graduates. We might all do the same skill but with a different technique, and you learn from each other what works best for you. Having an excellent team every day makes me successful.”
Emily Nock
Emily Nock wasn’t sure at first what her path in life was supposed to be. “I thought I wanted to be an accountant, and then I thought I wanted to work in public health,” Nock said. “I ended up going to UNC at Chapel Hill to study psychology. It wasn’t until my junior year in college that I realized what I wanted to be.”
Nock’s mother is a nurse, but while growing up, Nock said she thought she wanted to do something else. “In the back of my mind, my mom was a fantastic nurse and a role model, and I thought I could never live up to her greatness,” Nock shared.
After graduating from UNC, however, Nock worked in the Behavioral Health Unit at ECU Health Medical Center, which is where she said her love for helping others truly blossomed. Nock added that having that experience secured her desire to pursue nursing. “I come from a sheltered and privileged upbringing, so to see what many people struggle with – homelessness, mental illness, no family support – it was completely life changing.”
From there, Nock applied for and was accepted into the ECU Accelerated BSN program, from which she graduated in 2016. Nock didn’t want to completely step away from her background in psychology, which is why she chose to work in the neurosciences at ECU Health Medical Center.
“I love the brain and didn’t want to get away from my roots entirely. Seven years later, I still love my patient population so much,” Nock said.
That ECU Health has 13 Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina recipients says a lot about the health system, Nock said. “It’s so wonderful that our leaders and teams are excited to celebrate our nurses and give recognition that’s deserved.” What makes winning the award particularly special for Nock is that she’s not the only one in the family to achieve such an honor. “My mom is a Great 100 recipient from 2001,” Nock explained. “I remember when she got dressed up for the gala – she was so proud and it was so special for her to receive this award.”
When Nock found out she was being nominated, she said she initially felt unworthy. “It was humbling and fulfilling to read the nomination – to see all of your hard work written out helps you realize your worth,” Nock said. “I am especially honored to share the gala experience with my mom.”
Alex Owens
Chelsey “Alex” Owens said that while she picked neurosciences as a practice specialty on a whim, she doesn’t regret the decision. “What I like most about my unit are my co-workers and the patients,” Owens said. “The patient population isn’t the easiest, but we have great teamwork and that makes the shifts smooth.”
Owens graduated with her associate’s degree in nursing from Beaufort Community College in 2016, and she’s worked in ECU Health Medical Center’s neurosciences unit for the last seven years. Being a nurse is something that Owens said she “always wanted to be.” She followed a nursing career pathway in high school and became a Nurse Aide 1 (NA1) as a senior.
To be nominated for and then to win a Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina award was a shock, Owens said.
“My initial reaction was disbelief. I couldn’t believe I’d been a nurse long enough or accomplished enough to be honored with this once-in-a-lifetime award,” she said.
Still, Owens works hard to support her team and promote her profession. “I am head of our CAUTI quality team, I have participated in the Children’s trick-or-treat event for the past four years, I’ve been a clinical coach for five years and an elite charge nurse for four years and I’m a member of our stroke response team,” Owens said. “If my manager needs anything, she can depend on me.”
The honorees will be honored at a statewide gala in October, to be held in Raleigh.
Dana Byrum
Dana Byrum has been a nurse for 23 years, but her career with ECU Health began in 1996, when she worked in medical records. “Initially, I wanted to be a teacher,” Byrum admitted. “But as I continued working in medical records, I was drawn to patient care.”
Her work in medical records gained the attention of the nurse manager on the medical surgical unit. “Whenever I saw her in medical records, I asked a lot of questions about health care topics I read or heard about. She encouraged me to be a nursing assistant, and she and the other nurses took me under their wings and educated me on patient care – not only as a nursing assistant, but also about the impact a nurse can make,” Byrum shared. That support led Byrum to ultimately pursue her nursing degree. “I am fully HomeGrown,” Byrum said. “I got my AND, BSN, MSN and DNP all with the support of ECU Health.”
After working as a bedside nurse on the medical surgical unit, the ambulatory surgical unit and the outpatient specialty clinics, and after serving as the assistant manager, and later manager, of the ambulatory surgical and outpatient specialty clinics, Byrum assumed the role of director of nursing and is now the vice president of patient care services at Bertie and Chowan hospitals. “Being in a leadership role is being a voice for our front-line nurses and our patients,” Byrum said. “I’m advocating for and empowering nurses to provide the highest quality of care so that our patients have optimal outcomes.”
Byrum said the way she does that is by spending time on the floors with her nurses. “I round frequently in our departments and get that face-to-face time with the nurses,” Byrum explained. “I learn about the challenges they face and how I can help address those.” And, Byrum noted, just because she became a nurse doesn’t mean she doesn’t get to be a teacher. “I have served as adjunct faculty for our local community college and have done a lot of education in my roles. As a front-line nurse, I was the eyes and ears of my patients and served as an advocate for them. I was able to spend time with them and their families, educating them about their care. There was no greater feeling than to know I helped a patient improve their health care or quality of life,” Byrum said. In her current role, Byrum now looks for ways to develop her colleagues into leaders. “I had great mentors along the way and I want to give back,” she said.
When she learned she’d been named a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina, Byrum said she was excited. “I feel like I’ve worked hard to be a great person and a great nurse; it was exciting to see the contributions I’ve made being recognized.” Byrum was quick to say that receiving such an honor is humbling, and it’s a reflection of the passion she feels for her work. “I genuinely love what I do,” Byrum shared. “I love that I’m responsible for the patient care in two facilities, and I’m able to nurture front-line nurses as well as grow and mentor nurse managers to be great leaders. The fact that I can walk the floor and talk to team members, and then take that information to the board room to make creative solutions that improve those nurses’ day-to-day activities, which leads to high quality patient care – there’s nothing more important.”
Elaine Henry
Elaine Henry, the manager of Children’s surgical subspecialists at ECU Health Medical Center, has worked at ECU Health since graduating from ECU in 1996. Prior to her current role, Henry worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit for 18 years, followed by three years in pediatric surgery quality improvement and four years in quality for women and children’s. She received her MSN from ECU in 2019 in nursing leadership.
Henry said her clinical rotations led her to the neonatal world and she loved it immediately. “It’s the most rewarding career,” she said. “Even in the worst situations, we can comfort and take care of our patients and their families.” Henry observed that children she saw as patients early in her career are now grown up and having kids of their own. “I recently went to a baby shower for one of my former NICU patients,” Henry said. “It’s such a privilege to care for these babies and watch them get well.”
Henry’s role in quality now gives her a more global perspective about the impact of nursing. “I get to see the improvements we’ve made in health care and in the NICU. I feel like my role is so important; I’m a leader impacting the clinical care in the NICU and across Children’s.”
When she found out she was a Great 100 Nurses honoree, Henry said she was humbled and surprised. “I was so excited I started jumping up and down,” Henry shared. “I have a twin sister who is also a nurse at ECU Health, and I had to text her.” Receiving such recognition is an honor, she said, especially considering the quality of nurses at ECU Health. “There are so many great nurses here,” she explained. “I am proud of my profession and to be a nurse at ECU Health. To be recognized across the state means a lot, and it represents who we are as an organization.”
Katie Knowles
“Service is my love language,” said Katie Knowles, a quality nurse specialist at ECU Health Duplin Hospital, when asked why she chose to go into nursing. When her grandfather had to deal with a misdiagnosed stroke, it solidified her decision to work in health care. “His quality of life would have been so much better if he had received treatment in a timely manner,” Knowles said. After that experience, Knowles attended NC State considering a pre-med route, but a rotation in pediatrics showed her that nurses did the work she was really interested in. She returned home and first attended James Sprunt Community College for her ADN before transferring to the University of Mount Olive for her BSN. She later graduated with her MSN and the realization that her calling was to stay and work in her hometown. “ECU Health gave me the avenue to best serve my community, and it allowed me to become the person and nurse I wanted to be,” Knowles said.
Now an ECU Health team member for 10 years, Knowles said she loves her work in quality.
“I look at the unit, processes, people and problems. And I work to put things in place to make them better for patients and the team,” Knowles shared. She is quick to note that it’s not just her work that gets things done. “No one person changes things alone; it takes a bunch of people working towards the same goal. That’s how you get big change and impact our patients and families.”
Knowles said she was in shock when she found out she was a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina. “Just to know someone nominated me was huge,” Knowles said. “I’m a person who doesn’t like being in the spotlight. I’m receiving this award on the back of other nurses who’ve worked just as hard, if not harder – not for an award, but because they want to change the lives of the people they help.” Knowles said the honor also means a great deal to her family. “It is emotional because it’s not just for me – it’s for my family and my community. And it shows my kids that the work you do is important, that it matters. That makes this award extra special to me.”
Doing that work in a rural community is especially important, Knowles said. “ECU Health serves 29 rural counties. In Raleigh there’s a doctor on every corner; here there is one provider for every 4,000 people. These patients are underserved, but ECU Health is pouring its resources into those areas and covering more territory than any system in the state.” That service drives Knowles to be the best she can be. “To be a small part of such a big team that’s putting employees and communities first – it’s exciting.”
Jennifer Kendrick
Jennifer Kendrick has worked at ECU Health since 2018, but she’s been a nurse since graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1994. She is currently a perinatal outreach coordinator, and she provides obstetrical education to clinicians and providers to improve the health and well-being of maternal and childbearing families in eastern North Carolina. While working in this field wasn’t necessarily something Kendrick knew she wanted to do from the beginning, she spent a rotation during college in labor and delivery and found her passion there.
After working as a bedside nurse for more than 20 years, Kendrick found herself with the opportunity to educate new and current nurses and other providers. “I started with teaching CPR in the early 2000s,” Kendrick said. “Now I educate providers in obstetrics, and I take clinical students from ECU to the OB floor at Nash.” Kendrick said she’s been asked by the American Academy of Family Physicians international forum to teach an Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics course in Palestine in November of this year. She’s also pursuing her DNP, with plans to graduate next year.
Kendrick said it’s an honor for her hard work to be recognized as a Great 100 Nurses honoree. “It’s humbling to be recognized for the passion I have for what I do and the great need for it,” Kendrick admitted. “We work in some of the poorest, toughest, most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.” She pointed out that she’s not the only one doing this valuable work, and that having so many nurses from ECU Health to be recognized is important. “It speaks to the level of expertise we have in our systems, and the fact that we’re willing to see it and recognize each other,” Kendrick said. “There is phenomenal work going on in eastern North Carolina.”
Kimberly Lupton
Kimberly Lupton has been a nurse for 37 years and is currently a CSO assistant nurse manager for nursing assistants at ECU Health Medical Center. That experience, Lupton said, is what might have inspired her manager to nominate her as a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina. “My manager said she appreciated my extensive nursing career and had not only heard, but has seen first-hand the lives that had been touched,” Lupton said. “I have never been someone who likes to be in the spotlight. As a nurse, you often make light of how you support and inspire others, and you take a back seat.”
Although she began her health care journey thinking she’d pursue dentistry, Lupton said her mother was the one who knew all along she’d make a great nurse. “When I was in high school, my mom often encouraged me to become a nurse and said she believed I’d never regret it. She was 100% correct. I started in pre-dentistry, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea,” Lupton said. “Being a nurse is not a job; it’s a calling. And I love it.”
Now Lupton takes the knowledge she’s gained during her career and is sharing it with new nursing assistants and nurses. “I enjoy mentoring,” Lupton shares. “That’s why I’m an adjunct instructor at Pitt Community College. I love seeing students grow, better themselves and achieve their goals.”
Lupton said that when she received the Great 100 Nurses letter, she opened it in private. “I really thought it was a letter congratulating me for being nominated,” she laughed. “It was such a surprise, I wondered if the letter was sent by mistake. I was apprehensive about sharing it with anyone until I was sure it was authentic.” Being an honoree, Lupton said, only shows the quality of nursing care at ECU Health. “There are so many nurses here who are deserving,” she said. “Some of the finest nurses in the nation work here. It’s an example of what a great organization we have, the care we give and the experience you’ll receive as a patient.”
Donnie Johnson
Donnie Johnson’s nursing career began in the ECU Health Medical Center’s emergency department (ED) more than 14 years ago. His personal and family experience working as a volunteer firefighter and a paramedic drew him to work in the ED. Pursuing a nursing degree seemed a logical next step, and now Johnson is wrapping up his PhD with Liberty University. “I loved the fast pace and critical thinking of the ED,” Johnson said. “The lifesaving interventions make an impact.”
Since 2017, Johnson has worked as a professional development specialist for emergency services, which allows him to take his clinical experiences and share them with new cohorts of nursing students and nurses. “I enjoy education and nursing, so this allows me to pair both while impacting the unit, organization, system and the nursing profession as a whole,” Johnson explained. “Education is the great equalizer. I might not be at the bedside but I’m helping develop, grow, prepare and nurture nurses no matter where they go.”
That investment, Johnson said, is a way of giving back to the community in which he lives. “I have an interest in making sure our students are prepared, because one day my family or I will be a patient. I want to ensure all patients receive good care.” That carries over to Johnson’s work in education outside of ECU Health, where he will teach part time with ECU’s College of Nursing this fall.
Johnson said he was surprised when he learned he was being nominated by his manager and colleagues for the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina. “ECU Health is consistently promoting and advancing the profession of nursing,” Johnson said, something he strongly believes in. “I hope my manager, director and administrator saw in me a commitment to the organization and the profession, to helping our nurses grow and develop a passion for nursing,” Johnson said. “I try to be a role model within our department that others can come to for help.”
That commitment is seen across the organization, Johnson said. “By having so many nurses at ECU Health recognized, it shows we are actively living our vision and mission every day. We are holding ourselves to a higher standard.”
Lindsay Caddell
Lindsay Caddell, staff nurse in the NICU at ECU Health Medical Center, graduated from East Carolina University with her BSN and started working at ECU Health in 2015.
She serves as a bedside nurse, but she also plays other roles, including precepting new nurses, acting as a charge nurse, chairing the bereavement team in the NICU and teaching in the STABLE program, which represents the six assessment and care modules used in the program: sugar/safe care, temperature, airway, blood pressure, lab work and emotional support.
A visit to see her cousin in the NICU when Caddell was in middle school sparked her interest in nursing. “I did some school projects after that, then went to nursing school and knew I wanted to work in the NICU.”
Caddell said now she can’t imagine working anywhere else or in any other setting. “I built a family here,” she explained. “I have close friends and feel comfortable and confident. I have other people’s backs, and they have mine. Our team is great.” Part of her success comes from the mentorship she received. “I wouldn’t be here today without the people who precepted me and mentored me.” Caddell said that level of support and skill makes it unsurprising that 13 ECU Health nurses have been recognized by The Great 100 Nurses. “It shows we have a great team, especially in the NICU. It speaks to the focus each of us has on passing along the knowledge that was given to us. It’s an environment of education and mentorship.”
Caddell said she didn’t know she’d been nominated for The Great 100 Nurses, so receiving the award letter was a true surprise. “I was honored,” she said. “I know other nurses in the NICU and the hospital who have been honorees, and I respect them. Knowing I was chosen to be alongside nurses of that caliber was exciting.” Caddell hopes that being honored as a younger nurse would inspire new nurses as they began their careers. “It’s humbling to represent the NICU, but also to show younger nurses that there are things you can achieve as a younger nurse.”
Jenny Wester
Jenny Wester named several reasons for becoming a nurse, but a four-week stay in the hospital after breaking her femur when she was 12 made her confident nursing was the right career path. “I was in traction, and it’s hard to be 12 and not able to move for four weeks,” Jenny said. “But my nurses treated me wonderfully and tried to make every day a good one. I thought, that’s the kind of nurse I want to be.” One nurse in particular, Mary Beth, made a strong impression, and the two stayed in touch well beyond Wester’s hospital stay. “I kept up with her, and when I graduated from nursing school, she sent me a pair of gold scissors. That meant a lot.”
Wester has worked at ECU Health Medical Center since 1998 in pediatrics, and she said she’s never thought about going anywhere else. “I love this environment and my peds family,” she explained. “ECU Health has been really good to me.” Her work at ECU Health offered flexibility and opportunities to grow. “I had a good work/life balance when my kids were younger and I could adjust my schedule,” Wester shared. “I was able to attend professional conferences, and they paid for me to go back to school to get my BSN.”
Wester attributed her success in part to strong mentor relationships during her career. “I’ve had wonderful mentors, and I wouldn’t be here without them. Now I take ownership of helping our new nurses, and I’m often called ‘Mama Jenny’ on the unit.” Wester said above all, she’s proud of her profession. “I’m so blessed to take care of my patients, and I’m proud to be a nurse. I want for all of our nurses to take pride in who they are and what we can do as a group.”
When she found out she was named a Great 100 Nurse, Wester was humbled and surprised. “I thought, they must not have had as good of an applicant pool this year if I won,” she laughed. Wester said she doesn’t think she does anything that her colleagues don’t also do. “I was taught to work hard,” Wester said. “In 25 years, there’s not a thing I’ve done around here I expected recognition for.”
Rhiannon Stallings
Rhiannon Stallings, a perinatal nurse navigator at ECU Health Medical Center, said that for as long as she could remember, she wanted to be a nurse. “As I went through nursing school, I decided I wanted to work in obstetrics, and here I am.” After working for a few years at a smaller hospital immediately after graduation, Stallings joined ECU Health and has been here for the last 10 years. Stallings began as a bedside nurse but transitioned three years ago into the perinatal nurse navigator role, which, she said, allows her to impact many patients every day. “I work with antepartum patients, some of whom are admitted for long stays. I go on rounds with OB providers and ensure patients have the consults and education they need. I coordinate cardiac OB patients, who sometimes need special delivery plans to account for their cardiac diagnoses. I get to know the patients ahead of time, but I also go out into the community to meet regional hospitals’ patients’ needs.”
When she learned she’d been named a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina, Stallings said, “I cried. It was an honor just to be nominated. To have my work recognized – it made me know I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I really enjoy my work and the patients I touch.”
However, Stallings insisted she doesn’t do more than any other nurse at ECU Health. “We have so many nurses who provide great care and want the best outcomes for their patients,” Stallings said. “We love what we do, and we help our patients get through those tough times.” That teamwork, Stallings said, is key to quality care. “I couldn’t do what I do without the interdisciplinary team that’s around me and the administration that supports me. I’m truly thankful for the nurses and providers who support and believe in me.”
Greenville, N.C. – The Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors have named thirteen ECU Health nurses in their list of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina. The recipients are recognized for their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities.
“I admire, and I am so proud of our ECU Health nurses who have dedicated their careers to caring for others and serving our region,” said Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “We congratulate the amazing nurses of ECU Health for receiving the once-in-a-lifetime honor of being part of the Great 100. Thank you to this year’s honorees and to each and every member of the ECU Health nursing team who exemplify our mission and an unwavering commitment to excellent, compassionate care every day.”
Since 1989, The North Carolina Great 100, Inc. has recognized and honored nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence and to promote a positive image of the nursing profession. Each year, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors asks patients, health care workers, friends and family members to nominate an outstanding nurse practicing in North Carolina. Thousands of nominations are reviewed, and 100 nurses are selected and honored at a statewide gala in October.
The ECU Health nurses chosen as Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina in 2023 are:
Elizabeth “Ann” Brabble, RNC
Ann Brabble, RNC is a staff nurse III in the Ambulatory Surgical Unit and Endoscopy Department at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. Ann has worked at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital for five years and previously worked at ECU Health Bertie Hospital for 22 years. Ann received her associate degree in nursing from Roanoke-Chowan Community College and has been a registered nurse for 37 years. She also has a specialty certification in Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA). Ann serves as a unit educator, safety coach and clinical coach for the Ambulatory Surgical Unit Department. She is also cross trained to work in the Outpatient Clinic, Patient Testing and Chemotherapy.
Dana Byrum, DNP, MSN, RN
Dana Byrum, DNP, MSN, RN is the vice president of Patient Care Services for ECU Health Bertie and ECU Health Chowan hospitals. Dana received her associate degree in nursing from Roanoke-Chowan Community College. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in nursing from East Carolina University. Dana joined ECU Health Chowan Hospital in 1996 and began her nursing career there in 2000. Dana has obtained specialty certification in ambulatory care nursing. Dana is a member of several nursing and leadership organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Lindsay Caddell, BSN, RN
Lindsay Caddell, BSN, RN is a staff nurse III in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Lindsay has worked in the ECU Health Medical Center NICU for eight years where she started her career as a new graduate nurse. Lindsay earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University. Lindsay serves the NICU as a charge nurse, float nurse, clinical coach and bereavement committee chair. She also serves as a member of the ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital interdisciplinary Adverse Drug Event workgroup. Lindsay continues to commit her nursing career to compassionately caring for the smallest patients at ECU Health Medical Center.
Elaine Henry, MSN, RNC-NIC
Elaine Henry, MSN, RNC-NIC is the manager of Children’s Surgical Subspecialists at ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital. Elaine has worked at Maynard Children’s Hospital for 27 years with experiences as a staff nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Quality Nurse Specialist for Women’s & Children’s division. Elaine earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing leadership from East Carolina University. Elaine has a specialty certification in Neonatal Intensive Care nursing and is a certified surgical clinical reviewer for the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Pediatrics program. Elaine is a member of the Eastern NC Nurse Honor Guard.
Donnie Johnson, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Donnie Johnson, MSN, RN, NPD-BC is a professional development specialist-nursing who works with the Emergency Services Division. Donnie has worked at ECU Health Medical Center for 14 years. Donnie earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing—and master’s degree in nursing, nursing education—from East Carolina University. Donnie has obtained specialty certification in Nursing Professional Development.
Jennifer Kendrick MSN-NE, RN, C-EFM
Jennifer Kendrick, MSN-NE, RN, C-EFM has been the Perinatal Outreach Coordinator for ECU Health since 2018. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of Western Ontario in Canada before moving to North Carolina to begin her career in Women’s Health. Jennifer received her master’s degree from UNC Wilmington and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Jennifer received specialty certification in fetal monitoring from both the National Certification Corporation (NCC) and Perinatal Quality Foundation. Jennifer is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Advisory Group and has volunteered her time to review the upcoming editions of Association of Women’s Heath, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses Electronic Fetal Monitoring courses.
Katie Knowles, MSN, RN, CNL
Katie Knowles, MSN, RN, CNL is a quality nurse specialist III and has served her community at ECU Health Duplin Hospital for 10 years. Katie received her associate degree from James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, NC, her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, NC, and her master’s degree in nursing from UNC-Pembroke in Pembroke, NC. Katie has obtained a specialty certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader and mentors aspiring clinical nurse leaders across the state. Katie is a passionate advocate for community and rural health and is actively involved with both local and national organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes in under-resourced communities and faith-based communities.
Kimberly Lupton, MSN, RN, CCM
Kimberly Lupton, MSN, RN, CCM is an assistant nurse manager for Central Staffing Nursing Assistants at ECU Health, adjunct Instructor for Pitt Community College and health service coordinator for Spring Arbor Assisted Living. She has worked at ECU Health Medical Center for 11 years and as a nurse for 37 years. Kimberly earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University and her master’s degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She obtained her certification in Case Management through the Commission for Case Managers. Kimberly exhibits exemplary transformational leadership qualities that inspire others to grow professionally and serves the needs of patients, families and her community with excellence.
Emily Nock, BSN, RN
Emily Nock, BSN, RN is a staff nurse III on the Neuroscience Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. Emily has been with ECU Health Medical Center for nine years, serving as an RN on 3 North for seven of those. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University in 2016. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014.
Chelsey Owens, ADN, RN
Chelsey “Alex” Owens, ADN, RN is a staff nurse III in the Neuroscience Intermediate Unit. Alex has worked at ECU Health Medical Center for seven years. Alex received her associate degree in nursing from Beaufort County Community College in Washington, NC. Alex is the CAUTI champion for her unit and has received stroke response team certification.
Rhiannon Stallings, MSN, RNC-MNN
Rhiannon Stallings is the Perinatal Nurse Navigator for ECU Health Medical Center. She works with high-risk pregnant patients throughout the region to ensure they have appropriate consultations and follow-up during pregnancy, and also provides patient and team member education. Prior to this role, Rhiannon was a staff nurse for the Mother/Baby and Antepartum unit. Rhiannon received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill and her master’s degree in nursing education from Barton College. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing and is active in the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses.
Jenny Wester, BSN, RN, CPN
Jenny Wester is an assistant nurse manager on Pediatrics at ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital. Jenny has worked on Pediatrics for 25 years. Jenny earned her associate degree in nursing from Pitt Community College and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fayetteville State University. She has obtained specialty certification in pediatric nursing as well as the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Pediatric certification in pediatric chemotherapy and biotherapy.
Kiera Slade, RN is a travel nurse who previously worked on the Cardiovascular Intermediate Unit (CVIU) at ECU Health Medical Center.
In April 2023, VCU Health in Richmond announced an inaugural chief nursing officer position. The 13-hospital McLaren Health Care system in Michigan did the same June 1, as did the WVU Health System in June 2022.
Closer to home, ECU Health announced in November 2022 that Trish Baise would assume the role as the system’s first chief nurse executive.
What these newly established positions seem to show is a recognition by major health care systems of the importance of having business-savvy nurses in leadership positions to help bridge the realities of hospital administration with the life and death demands at the bedside.
A new dual program offered by the East Carolina University College of Nursing, in partnership with the ECU College of Business, aims to empower nurses with the tools to advance up the ranks in executive leadership and health system administration. Graduates of the program will receive a Master of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Business Administration (MSN-MBA).
Bimbola Akintade, dean of the College of Nursing and an MBA graduate, understands the benefit of having nurses empowered to lead in health care administration.
“As we navigate unprecedented nursing shortages, nurse leaders with health care economics and health care finance acumen are important to advocate for the profession and to partner with health care administrators to properly assess the nursing needs of health systems, and to make fiscally responsible decisions regarding staffing and other financial investments,” Akintade said.
“Bringing their clinical backgrounds and leadership knowledge to the table, they will improve communication of financial decisions that impact nursing practice and direct patient care between administrators and bedside nurses. In addition, this knowledge will help graduates of the dual MSN-MBA program contribute meaningfully to the nursing workforce development solutions that will positively impact the health and well-being of residents of our region and beyond.”
The program
Students in the online program will graduate with a Masters of Nursing Science in health system leadership and a Masters of Business Administration, a potent combination of qualifications that will help graduates tackle long-term challenges in health care administration. Twelve semester hours will count toward both degree programs.
The first semester of the program will have students focus on business, the second semester will veer back into nursing coursework, and the remaining year and a half of students’ time will be blended.
Thompson Forbes, ECU assistant professor of nursing and one of the program’s directors, said the goal of having students complete the two degrees in tandem is to give them knowledge and skills they can use to bridge the cultural gap between frontline nurses and hospital administration, not making nurses into accountants.
Communication, Forbes said, may be one of the biggest problems facing health care systems — the legion of credentialed health care professionals in scrubs and lab coats don’t often speak the same language as the administrators and analysts in suit coats and dresses.
“We need to have leaders who can understand health system organizational theory, nursing theory and nursing evidence-based practice, and then pair that with an understanding of finance, accounting and marketing. They will be better prepared to translate decisions that are made in the clinical environment to business environment and vice versa, so the systems can be more efficient,” Forbes said.
Linda Quick, assistant dean of ECU’s Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business, is new to the partnership’s leadership, but her experience in business administration gives her a good sense of the balance between health care and business the program’s students will need to be effective after graduation.
“As businesspeople, we don’t want to make clinical decisions,” Quick said. “But at the end of the day I only have so many dollars. So where do I want to spend that money, how can I best use my investment?”
Quick said the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on the stresses health systems already faced in managing nursing resources. Hospitals were forced to invest heavily in travel nurses, who command significantly more money than staff nurses. This imbalance stresses the hospital’s wallet and can foster mistrust between nursing staff members and the administrators of the health systems who are trying to keep the doors open.
“You have to think about your customer, and in the hospital your patient is, in essence, your customer. The nurses are the ones who have that frontline time and know the customers best. Their perspective is going to be important for leadership,” Quick said.
The dual MSN-MBA program isn’t the first in the nation, but the pool of schools that offer a similar paring is small. Quick thinks that having this program as an option for potential students is a win for the region.
“This might plant the seed for someone who down the line is either going into hospital administration or looking at having their own practice,” Quick said.
Potential students
Brian Floyd, president and chief operating officer of ECU Health Medical Center, the system that services much of eastern North Carolina, believes that anyone can succeed in health care system leadership, but nurses have a particular propensity to be effective leaders. They know how hospitals work from the ground up and experience how the parts of a hospital come together as a whole. Also, the trust that nurses inherently build with patients and coworkers is rooted in practical awareness of how leaders come to their decisions.
“Nurses tend to be empathetic, and this also helps gain trust and confidence as a leader,” Floyd said. “Nurses typically do not present a power gradient with physicians and are more likely to act in a supportive and collaborative relationship.”
Forbes hopes to entice potential students with an opportunity to learn how to fill the dual role of nurse leader and business administrator. Forbes and his team conducted an informal poll with potential students and of about 40 who were asked, 37 said they would be very interested in the coursework. One student was already motivated enough to work out the logistics of applying to both colleges — nursing and business — to carve out his own course of study that the dual degree program will resolve for future applicants.
“It’s a heavy course load — two courses a semester, every semester including both summer sessions. But you can finish it up in 2 1/2 years,” Forbes said.
While demanding, Quick said the completely online nature of the MBA portion of the partnership should offer prospective students the flexibility needed to balance work and home life. Faculty from both colleges have a framework in place to help students manage coursework, but the flexibility in the individual programs should meet students’ individual needs.
“We offer our MBA courses in the summer and in eight-week blocks during the regular semester. Students really have a lot of options from the MBA coursework side to figure out what fits in best with their schedule,” Quick added.
Support for health care systems
Forbes said nursing will always be the largest line item on any health care system’s budget because nurses are the most patient-centric, and patient-intensive, members of the workforce in hospital and most healthcare settings.
“Instead of just striking numbers from a budget, there needs to be someone who can interpret and say, ‘We can handle this much efficiency gain on the business side, but that savings is going to result in a reduced level of quality of care at the bedside,’” Forbes said.
When conversations between the health care workforce and administration on how to balance patient care with keeping the lights on don’t happen, Forbes said distrust naturally festers. Advanced practice nurses with business administration education can foster “an environment of understanding amongst everybody.”
Floyd agrees with Forbes’ assessment that nurses who understand business can help build consensus and confidence in an administration’s business decisions.
Having familiarity with frontline operations is critical in determining what is important in helping shape the strategy of organizations. At the same time, influence to lead others to adopt the strategy is enhanced when the workforce appreciates that the leader has experience in direct patient care and is empathetic to their work, Floyd said.
Modern health delivery systems aren’t humanitarian organizations, but rather must compete as other complex business operations do, he said. As a registered nurse, Floyd understands the importance of having nursing staff who can speak the language of business.
“The skills obtained in MBA programs include data interpretation, financial and operational management, and leadership and organizational management, and the curriculum has been refined over years of volatility. The modern healthcare leader can benefit from decades of learning from business industries and apply those practices in the healthcare environment as it continues to evolve,” Floyd said.
On a February morning, Vietnam veteran Lee Pascasio sat in his brother-in-law’s room on 2 East at ECU Health Medical Center. As Melissa Warren, a nurse on the unit, checked on Willis Johnston Stancill she noticed his blood pressure was spiking, and the team sprung into action.
Pascasio said he watched in silence as the team went to work saving Stancill’s life. He said he’d seen that kind of teamwork before in his time as a Marine. The experience moved Pascasio to gift his Navy Commendation Medal, earned during his service in Vietnam, to Melissa Warren and the rest of the 2 East team. Now, it hangs in the hall of the unit on top of the stars of the American Flag for all to see.
“This is such a great team,” Warren said. “It’s such a well-oiled machine, it’s like we’re dancing almost when something crazy like that happens. It’s not like you have to ask somebody to do something. We just kind of do it, that’s the team. If something happens, the troops are coming in.”
A Medal Earned
Pascasio recalled his time in Vietnam vividly. During his second tour in Vietnam, Pascasio said at 25 years old he was an old man compared to the rest of the First Battalion, Ninth Marine Unit, where he served as sergeant, specializing in explosives.
On June 30, 1969, Pascasio said he was at Vandegrift Combat Base with the Ninth Marine Unit and another platoon in Vietnam. That day, rockets and mortars began to hit the battalion without warning. A lieutenant was killed in the attack, leaving Pascasio in charge. Pascasio sent a sergeant to get a corpsman while he administered first aid to the wounded. When the medevac eventually arrived, Pascasio helped load the dead and wounded Marines so they could receive further care.
Two years later, Pascasio was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal at Camp Lejeune.
Appreciating a Care Team
In the days following his brother-in-law’s incident on 2 East, Pascasio shared his appreciation in the form of tacos, donuts, coffee, cheesecake, Cracker Jacks and other snacks.
“He’s just so appreciative,” Warren said. “I can’t give like a superhero story or anything about that night. It was what we do. It’s nice to have him, or anybody, recognize what we do. It’s a demanding job with your emotions, high energy, physically, everything. So it is nice for somebody to care that much when we’re just doing our job.”
For Pascasio, the treats weren’t enough to show his appreciation.
“I said, ‘You know what? I want to do something nice for these people.’ They just saved my brother’s life. He got the best care in the world right here at 2 East,” Pascasio said. “I thought about Melissa and her team of crackerjacks on 2 East and I said, ‘This medal isn’t going to buy her a cup of coffee, but it’s straight from the heart.'”
“It was about their teamwork to save a life and the concern that we should all have. The nurses and teachers who have been through COVID are overlooked.”
Stancill passed away in May, but Pascasio said he still lives in his heart and in the heart of his wife, Emily Pascasio. He continues to be grateful for the care Stancill received, which Warren and her colleagues continue to find meaningful.
“This is for the whole unit,” Warren said. “I mean, you see the support of all the staff out there. They’re amazing. We are like family. When I come to work, when I walk in, we’re hugging each other. None of us could do this alone.”
ECU Health nurses from every area of expertise across the health system gathered on June 20 at the East Carolina Heart Institute for the 10th annual ECU Health Nursing Summit where they shared best practices and innovations that will help chart the future of nursing in eastern North Carolina.
Titled “Connecting with: Minds, Hearts and Purpose,” nursing leaders at ECU Health designed the summit to acknowledge what nurses have experienced over the last three years, including what the COVID pandemic taught them as professional nurses, what they have lost and what it will take to move nursing forward together, according to Trish Baise, ECU Health chief nursing executive.
“With the ever-changing health care environment, it is important for ECU Health nurses to hear from state and national colleagues,” said Baise. “We are proud to welcome experts who are making a positive difference in the field by advocating and influencing policy, as well as nurturing innovations that address the workforce, the nurse practice environment and the health and wellness of nurses.”
In total, more than 178 nurses attended the summit, which was held face-to-face for the first time since 2019. Topics included policy advocacy, building positive environments, communicating across generations, self-care and wellness. The summit featured presenters from both ECU Health team members and experts from other areas, including North Carolina State Senator Gale Adcock and keynote speaker Katie Boston-Leary, director of nursing programs for the American Nurses Association.
“The Nursing Summit gave me ideas, things to research and refreshed my mind to help navigate this different health care world that we live in,” said Paula Bush, MIU manager at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital.
The summit also served as an opportunity for ECU Health nurses across various levels of expertise and experience to connect directly with health system leadership, fostering a sense of community among health system nurses.
“Sharing best practices from both within and outside the health system helps spark a culture of innovation within nursing,” said Daphne Brewington, ECU Health system vice president of nursing excellence. “When we harness the expertise of our nurses, we can lead improvements and create environments where nurses thrive here at ECU Health.”
“I was really apprehensive about it because I’ve always been at one little hospital,” said Suzanne Foster, a travel nurse with ECU Health, “so it was a little intimidating coming to a larger hospital.”
Suzanne Foster isn’t the only nurse who found herself looking for new and different opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I wanted to try travel, nursing and experience other facilities,” said Foster, “but I have a husband and a son that I dearly love and do not want to be away from. The fact that I can drive home at night is huge.”
She can do both thanks to the ECU Health Travel Staffing program. It’s an innovative approach to recruiting driven by the ever-changing health care industry and the need to meet nurses where they are.
“For an organization of our size to develop its own staffing agency is significant in the innovation of nursing care and staffing hospitals,” said Dennis Campbell, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Health Medical Center interim president. “It’s no secret that there is a nationwide shortage of staff nurses and nurses are more mobile today than they have ever been.”
“I was getting a little bit burnt out in my current role, which frankly after COVID, I think a lot of us needed just a change of scenery,” Foster said.
“The travel staffing program mimics any other staffing agency. The difference is it’s ours,” said Campbell.
Since the start of the program, the system has hired more than 500 clinical team members. Of those, 89% have opted to extend their assignments.
“The team, everybody that you encounter is extremely considerate and thankful to have you on board,” Foster said. “Working at ECU Health has been wonderful.”
To learn more about the ECU Health Travel Staffing Program visit: https://careers.ecuhealth.org/pages/vidant-health-travel-staffing-program.
At ECU Health, the support team members provide to each other makes a difference – not only to those team members but also to the patients we serve across eastern North Carolina.
Recently, three ECU Health nurses were inducted into the East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing Hall of Fame while another earned a scholarship as she pursues her doctorate in nursing. These four ECU Health nurses each said the support of fellow nurses has uplifted them throughout their careers and the scholarship and inductions into the Hall of Fame is a reflection of that support.
Learn more about the honorees below.
Amy Campbell
Amy Campbell, quality nurse specialist at ECU Health, has been with the system for about 18 years over two separate stops.
Campbell started at ECU Health Medical Center as an associate degree nurse in pediatrics and said she was quickly encouraged and supported by fellow nurses and leaders to join the HomeGrown program, which helps team members go back to school and balance their work and school responsibilities, and she received her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2001. Campbell left ECU Health to teach at Pitt Community College and ultimately returned to the health system with a master’s degree. During her second stop at ECU Health, she said she was once again supported to further her education and pursue a doctorate degree, which she completed in 2020.
“A lot of executives were so encouraging for me to get my Ph.D. and I was HomeGrown and I was able to do my research here so they really were supportive all along,” Campbell said. “I also went through the Ph.D. program with a lot of my colleagues here so that was really great, too. I couldn’t have done it if people hadn’t given me time to do my research and to go to school.”
Campbell is a Williamston native and she said the rural aspect of the care ECU Health provides for the region is close to her heart.
The close-knit communities of eastern North Carolina transfer over to the hospital setting where Campbell said it’s a family atmosphere for team members and the patients they serve.
“I believe that at ECU Health we really do rise by lifting others and people really try to make sure others get time in the spotlight, even though, if you ask any of the four of us, we really don’t like this spotlight,” Campbell said. “But for me, I’m able to embrace it because I want all those people who supported me to have their moment with me. I’m a single mom, I’ve been a single mom for 19 years, but I’ve had a wonderful family here. Everyone has always been so good and supportive of school or whatever I was going through to help me be successful.”
Angela Still
Angela Still, senior administrator of Women’s Services at ECU Health Medical Center, said she was humbled to join her colleagues who have been inducted into the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
Still has been with the health system for 36 years and is a 1986 graduate of ECU. As a Greenville native, Still said the opportunity to care for and support women in eastern North Carolina is special to her.
“The needs of the patients and families in our region, the disparities, and the social determinants of health are so different from what the rest of the state deals with every day,” Still said. “Our 29 counties are comparable to the size of some states but it’s rural. Access to care, access to healthy food, these are unique needs. At this point in my career I am not impacting the individual patient and family, I’m working to impact the region. It’s a population of mothers and babies that we want to be healthier because they are our future in the region.”
Still said that during her time at ECU Health, she’s been the beneficiary of great leadership and mentors and she’s been happy to give that back to the next generation of nurses as they rise through the system and across the state.
She said it’s crucial to invest time and energy into mentorship as it will make a difference for the individual, those they mentor in the future and the patients they serve.
“The opportunity to mentor people through my career has been just really amazing. I have people across the state I mentored that are not with the system anymore and they still call me to ask questions or just look for guidance,” Still said. “So just being able to make an impact on the people that are going to care for others is very special to me. We’re all eventually going to retire, so being able to mentor and guide folks that are going to be here long after I’ve left and are going to continue to carry that torch and make a difference for our communities, it’s a big deal.”
Georgia Perry
Georgia Perry is the nurse manager on 2 North Medicine and 2 North Progressive Care at ECU Health Medical Center and was also inducted into the ECU College of Nursing Hall of Fame this year.
Perry said the night of the induction into the Hall of Fame was special for her as she had a chance to look into the crowd gathered and see mentors, some of whom nominated Perry for the recognition.
Perry earned her bachelor’s degree from ECU in 2010 and began working at ECU Health as part of the very first New Grad Nurse Residency Program class. She started working on 2 South, became an assistant nurse manager, and eventually became the nurse manager on her current unit. She received her master’s degree in 2015 and said the backing of fellow nurses and leaders alike made going back to school a manageable task.
“I tell people all the time, if you can dream it, you can do it here,” Perry said. “I truly feel like the support system is really what makes it easy to go back to school to be able to juggle it all. There’s a wealth of mentors here, you can pick up the phone and call anybody and it doesn’t matter if it’s across service lines.”
Perry is a Newton Grove native and said working in rural medicine is important to her because she grew up in a rural area.
“I think it’s wonderful that we have such great access to really all specialties right down the road,” Perry said. “My family actually will travel and get to ECU Health Duplin Hospital and then have access to the tertiary center, so we live it. I’m really grateful for what we have here at ECU Health and I’m glad to be a piece of the impact we have on this region.”
She added that the team around her keeps her going while the patients they serve inspire her to bring her best each day.
Lauren Nichols
Inductees into the Hall of Fame help fund a scholarship for ECU College of Nursing students. Lauren Nichols, a staff nurse on the Cardiac Intermediate Unit at ECU Health Medical Center, earned a scholarship from the fund for this year.
Nichols, who has been working at ECU Health for seven years, is pursuing a doctorate in nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialty at ECU.
Nichols is from Edgecombe County and said she chose to work at ECU Health and continue her education at ECU because of the health system’s commitment to rural health care and eastern North Carolina.
“ECU Health’s mission really resonates with me,” Nichols said. “Growing up in such a rural community makes me want to do my part to help improve the health of the people of eastern North Carolina.”
She said she never doubted her decision to go back to school because of the support she has received, especially from nursing leadership.
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