More than 70 emergency services nurses and physicians from across the ECU Health system came together Oct. 8, for the inaugural Emergency Services Nursing Summit at Eastern AHEC. The daylong event offered a mix of professional development, peer connection and heartfelt recognition for the vital work of emergency department teams.
The summit began with welcoming remarks from Dustin Bass, vice president of emergency services at ECU Health, and Dr. Leigh Patterson, chief of services for emergency medicine at ECU Health Medical Center and chair of emergency medicine at Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, setting the tone for a day focused on professional growth and celebrating the contributions of ED nurses.
One of the first sessions addressed imposter syndrome, led by Rachael Smith from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), offering insights into overcoming self-doubt in high-pressure environments.
Dr. Trish Baise, chief nursing executive at ECU Health followed with a presentation on The State of Nursing at ECU Health, highlighting current initiatives, challenges and the future direction of nursing within the organization.
The afternoon featured a series of practical and forward-thinking sessions. Theresa Wilson from Stryker shared strategies for pressure injury prevention, helping nurses strengthen patient safety practices. Lori Puthoff from Mednition introduced attendees to AI for Nursing, exploring how artificial intelligence is streamlining workflows in emergency care.
Later, Paige Tyson led an interactive workshop titled, “True Colors”, which helped participants better understand personality styles and how they influence communication and teamwork.
Throughout the day, attendees had opportunities to network, share experiences and build connections across hospitals and disciplines.
“We have EDs in every hospital across the system, but they are all different,” Bass said. “Bringing us together creates opportunities to collaborate, share resources and learn from each other.”
Bass said he hopes the summit helped nurses build relationships with peers and physicians, meet leaders and potential mentors and feel inspired to explore new career paths.
“I also hope they leave with a sense of gratitude for what we’re able to do for patients, feel uplifted and have a renewed sense of purpose,” he added.
The summit not only recognized the dedication of ECU Health’s emergency services teams but also reinforced the organization’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and excellence in patient care.
