“Since the day I stepped into ECU Health, everyone has been supportive.”
Samantha Nichols, a hard working staff nurse and Grifton native, always knew she wanted to work in health care, but it wasn’t until she spent time volunteering at the ECU Health Medical Center that she decided nursing was the right fit.
In her own words
“When we were kids, I was always taking a roll of toilet paper and wrapping my brother’s leg and pretending it was a cast – that sort of thing. No one in my family was a nurse, but I took health career classes in high school and participated in the health science academy. I also volunteered at ECU Health until my sophomore year at East Carolina University. I thought I might want to work in the NICU, but I had a last minute change of heart and decided to work in behavioral health. At first, I wasn’t sure if I had selected the right path. But once I got here, psych felt like the right fit for me. The whole team is awesome.
As a new graduate nurse, I couldn’t have received a better reception. Since the day I stepped into ECU Health, everyone has been supportive. I felt wanted – everyone was excited to have me there. And whenever I need help, my team is there. Every time we’ve had a difficult situation, everyone runs to the rescue. They also take the time to help me learn specific skills. They’re willing to teach me best practices based on real-world experiences, beyond what I learned in school.
I’ve learned so much since I started working here, both professionally and personally. I have realized I can step out of my comfort zone and be a leader. I’ve been a charge nurse a few times, and that’s a learning process. I’m proud of being able to lead the right way.
Now, I’m looking into a few programs and want to continue my education with ECU. I’ve always wanted to get my MSN. ECU Health has resources for those who want to go back to school, so I’m hoping to start next fall.
I’d say to new graduates when they’re trying to determine their specialties: tour all of the units. Whatever gives you that gut feeling that it’s the right place, go with it.”