Greenville Reporter

Deborah Rice's journey to becoming a nurse was marked by challenges and perseverance. Her aspiration to enter the nursing profession was delayed due to personal circumstances following her father's death when she was 13. “As a young girl, I knew I wanted to be a nurse,” Deborah stated. However, she chose not to attend college immediately to avoid burdening her mother financially and to help care for her younger brother.

For two decades, Deborah worked as a database analyst at a bank while raising her family. The turning point came when her department faced layoffs. “My husband asked me if I still wanted to be a nurse, and I said yes,” she recalled.

The loss of several family members further solidified her resolve. “In 2008, my stepfather died from bone cancer, and from that point on for the next two to three years, we lost about five or six others in my family,” Deborah explained. Her experiences caring for them reinforced her desire to pursue nursing.

With encouragement from her family, Deborah obtained her certified nursing assistant (CNA) qualification and later graduated with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from Edgecombe Community College at age 48. She continued her education at East Carolina University, earning a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

Deborah fulfilled her dream by working in the palliative care unit at ECU Health Medical Center. “It’s about helping a patient die with dignity and respect," she said about her work. The job demands compassion and empathy, traits Deborah believes are essential for dealing with end-of-life care.

Her team plays an important role in supporting each other through the emotional challenges of their work. “If we need to go into a room and cry, we go cry," she shared. "We cry with each other, and we laugh and joke.”

Building relationships with patients and their families is particularly rewarding for Deborah. “I tend to bond with my patients," she noted.

Recognized as one of North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses, Deborah continues to embrace learning opportunities within oncology and palliative care fields.

To those considering starting a nursing career later in life, Deborah offers words of encouragement: “Even at 48 years old, I wouldn’t change a thing." She urges others not to let age deter them from pursuing their dreams.

Reflecting on her career choice, Deborah expressed gratitude: “Being a nurse has been the biggest blessing of my life."