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.”