Twenty-five nurses from ECU Health have been named among the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina, an annual recognition for nurses who demonstrate outstanding professional ability and contribute to improving health care in their communities. Among those honored this year are Britney Beeker, Rebecca Simmons, Sheena Bunch, Katherine Low, Connie Midgette, and Stephanie Smith.
Britney Beeker, an assistant nurse manager who has worked at ECU Health for 16 years since graduating from East Carolina University (ECU), reflected on her career in the surgical oncology unit. “When I graduated in 2009, they were developing the surgical oncology unit,” she said. “I thought I liked post-operative surgical patients, and I didn’t think I wanted to work in oncology, but surgical oncology is more post-op related and it ended up being a perfect match.” She added about her time at ECU Health: “Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like change. They were kind of right – I have no intentions of leaving Greenville. With the size of hospital we have and what we can do here, why leave?” On receiving the award after previous nominations, Beeker said: “It was such a surprise. But I try to be involved and do a lot for our community. We do a lot of charity and fundraisers that tie into cancer diagnoses, and we cook meals for the Children’s Hospital.” She also noted the significance of ECU Health representing a quarter of this year’s honorees: “My husband and I run a food truck. We have customers who see ECU Health on the Great 100 list and are surprised. People look at this list and they notice which facilities are on there and which ones aren’t.”
Rebecca Simmons serves as manager of patient care services at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. After joining ECU Health in 2011, she transitioned from inpatient work to join the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center team. “In nursing school, I had an oncology rotation and thought I wouldn’t like it,” Simmons said. “When I got there, I fell in love with it.” She highlighted the community aspect of her work: “It’s a family atmosphere, and I love caring for my neighbors and making a difference in our small community,” she said. “You know you’re making an impact.” Her contributions include community outreach such as cancer screenings and leading a smoking cessation program presented at a national conference. Simmons emphasized that recognition belongs to many nurses: “Our nurses provide excellent care and serve our community. They are willing to go above and beyond.”
Sheena Bunch has spent nine years as a nurse with roles including procedure nurse at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital where she handles vascular access lines, nuclear stress tests, bronchoscopies, echocardiograms, cardioversion, among other procedures. Bunch described nursing as a calling shaped by personal experience: “I’ve witnessed how skilled, compassionate care can shape the outcome of someone’s story.” The loss of her son Owen influenced her approach: “Losing Owen forever changed the way I see patient care and deepened my commitment to treat every patient like they are someone’s whole world – because they are.” She cited ECU Health’s dedication to excellence as reason for its strong showing among honorees: “ECU Health invests in its nurses, fosters growth and values excellence,” she said.
Katherine Low works as staff nurse III in the neurosciences intermediate unit at ECU Health Medical Center. Inspired by caring for her grandfather with Parkinson’s disease dementia, Low pursued nursing after completing clinicals at ECU Health during her studies at East Carolina University. Seven years into her career on the same unit where she started, Low described her workplace as having a home-like environment: “I enjoy the neuro aspect and being able to see patients progress and go home… At the same time, I also like the people and leadership on our floor.” On learning about her selection as a Great 100 Nurse she said: “I haven’t been a nurse for very long, and it’s a prestigious award… It’s meaningful to be recognized.”
Connie Midgette has been with ECU Health for 21 years—eight spent as staff nurse and charge nurse at Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center’s infusion bay—finding purpose especially in oncology nursing: “I feel as though I’m making a positive difference in another person’s life.” Midgette praised ECU Health’s supportive environment: “I am humbled and proud to be an ECU Health nurse… ECU Health has a focus on high-quality, safe patient care and they invest in the development, education and recognition of their nurses.”
Stephanie Smith is assistant manager at ECU Health Medical Center’s neurosciences intermediate unit with six years’ experience after working previously on trauma/transplant units; she comes from a family with medical backgrounds. Smith commented on what makes nursing meaningful: “There’s something about the pace, the complexity and the relationships with patients and families that truly resonate with me… It represents more than just personal achievement… It means the long hours, emotional investment… have made a meaningful impact.” Smith credited teamwork: “The people around me…the colleagues who supported me…the patients who trusted me – those have made it possible for me to thrive.”
The honorees will be celebrated during a statewide gala scheduled for October in Goldsboro.
ECU Health accounted for one-quarter of all recipients named among North Carolina’s Great 100 Nurses this year (https://news.ecuhealth.org/ecu-health-claims-a-quarter-of-the-great-100-nurses-of-north-carolina/). This recognition highlights not only individual achievements but also underscores the organization’s commitment to supporting nursing excellence across its facilities.
