The Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina honors nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence. The recipients are distinguished for their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This year, 25 ECU Health nurses were honored, including Britney Beeker, Rebecca Simmons, Sheena Bunch, Katherine Low, Connie Midgette and Stephanie Smith.
Britney Beeker
Britney Beeker, an assistant nurse manager, graduated from ECU with her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) 16 years ago, and she’s been with ECU Health – and the surgical oncology unit – ever since. “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.”
The second-generation Pirate nurse joked that in nursing school she was voted as most likely to complete her whole nursing career in Greenville. “Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like change,” she shared. “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?”
Britney said she had been nominated as a Great 100 Nurse before, but she didn’t really expect to win. “It was such a surprise,” she said. “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.”
It’s even more meaningful that ECU Health represents a quarter of the Great 100 this year. “My husband and I run a food truck,” Britney said. “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
Rebecca Simmons, a manager of patient care services at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, joined ECU Health in 2011, and after working in an inpatient setting at the Medical Center, she found an opportunity to transition to the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center team.
“In nursing school, I had an oncology rotation and thought I wouldn’t like it,” Rebecca said. “When I got there, I fell in love with it.”
Rebecca said she loves ECU Health Beaufort because of the people. “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.”
That impact has been seen through Rebecca’s service in community outreach, including cancer and other health screenings, and work with the cancer center. Recently, she and a colleague presented a poster at the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Denver, Colorado, about a smoking cessation program she’s initiated at the cancer center, an effort to bridge a gap and provide one-on-one coaching to help patients successfully quit smoking.
While Rebecca said she was honored to be recognized as a Great 100 Nurse, she emphasized that ECU Health has many great nurses. “Our nurses provide excellent care and serve our community. They are willing to go above and beyond.”
Sheena Bunch
Sheena Bunch has been a nurse for nine years, and her role as a procedure nurse at ECU Health Beaufort is, she said, truly unique. “I place vascular access lines using ultrasound, perform nuclear stress tests, bronchoscopies, transesophageal echocardiograms, cardioversion and step in wherever I’m needed,” she said.
Nursing has always been more than a career for Sheena; it’s a calling. “I’ve witnessed how skilled, compassionate care can shape the outcome of someone’s story,” she said. Her own experiences have also helped her understand the value of compassionate care. “My son, Owen, was stillborn at 39 weeks,” she explained. “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.”
Sheena was drawn to ECU Health because of its dedication to serving the community, she said, but what keeps her here are the people. “My colleagues feel like family, and the patients remind me every day why this work matters,” she said.
She also noted ECU Health’s culture and commitment to excellence, which is why she wasn’t surprised to learn we represent 25 of the Great 100 Nurses. “ECU Health invests in its nurses, fosters growth and values excellence,” she said. “It’s a reflection of the collective heart and dedication of our nursing team.”
That includes her own dedication, although she said the recognition isn’t just about her. “It’s about the team that stands beside me, the patients who have trusted me and the families who’ve let me into their most vulnerable moments. It’s a reminder the extra effort and emotional investment we bring to nursing truly makes a difference.”
Katherine Low
Katherine Low, a staff nurse III in ECU Health Medical Center’s neurosciences intermediate unit, knew she wanted to work in health care from an early age, but her pathway to nursing was solidified when she helped care for her grandfather.
“He had Parkinson’s with dementia,” she explained. “Caring for him led me to nursing. Even though he had dementia, he’d tell people, ‘Katherine is a nurse.’ He already knew that was my path.”
After graduating with an associate of arts degree from Warren Early College, Katherine went to ECU for her BSN.
“I did most of my clinicals at ECU Health and had really good experiences,” she said. “I knew I wanted to start my career at the Medical Center.”
Seven years later, Katherine is still in the same unit where she began her career. “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. It’s a very homey vibe.”
When she got the letter saying she was a Great 100 Nurse, Katherine said she was shocked. “I haven’t been a nurse for very long, and it’s a prestigious award,” she said. “I was in disbelief.”
Still, it’s meaningful to be recognized, and Katherine appreciates her leader nominating her for the award. “ECU Health is a great health system to work in and the nurses are wonderful. I feel honored to receive this award, and try to be a team player that anyone can come to for help.”
Connie Midgette
Connie Midgette has worked at ECU Health for 21 years, the last eight of which have been with the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center as a staff nurse and charge nurse in the infusion bay. Being a nurse, she said, especially an oncology nurse, has given her a sense of purpose. “I feel as though I’m making a positive difference in another person’s life.”
She has loved the supportive and family atmosphere of ECU Health, and said she was honored to be recognized as a Great 100 Nurse. “I am humbled and proud to be an ECU Health nurse,” she said. “I try to be a positive influence for my patients and their families, as well as for my colleagues. I’m dedicated to providing safe patient care and growing both clinically and personally.”
Connie said the award reflects not just an individual effort, but also the support and dedication of her team and ECU Health’s culture of excellence. “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
Stephanie Smith, an assistant manager in the ECU Health Medical Center’s neurosciences intermediate unit, has been a proud ECU Health team member for six years, during which time she worked on the TSIU trauma/transplant unit before transitioning to 3 North. She’s a legacy nurse; her mother served as a respiratory therapist for 30 years and Stephanie said the hospital has always felt like home. “There’s something about the pace, the complexity and the relationships with patients and families that truly resonate with me,” she said. “I feel honored to care for people during their most important moments.”
To be recognized as a Great 100 Nurse was truly meaningful to Stephanie. “It represents more than just personal achievement,” she said. “It’s a reflection of dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence in nursing. It means the long hours, the emotional investment and the deep care I put into serving patients and supporting colleagues have made a meaningful impact.”
It’s also a reflection of the investment ECU Health puts into its nurses. “ECU Health fosters a culture where clinical excellence, compassion and patient advocacy are deeply valued and consistently demonstrated by the nursing team. That so many of our nurses are thriving enough to be publicly honored suggests a supportive and empowering workplace, which can improve morale, retention and teamwork.”
Stephanie emphasized that the honor is not just hers; she is appreciative to everyone on her team. “The people around me, the mentors who guided me, the colleagues who supported me and the patients who trusted me – those have made it possible for me to thrive. I see this honor as a celebration of the nursing profession and the people who lift each other up every day.”
The recipients will be honored at a statewide gala in October, to be held in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Further Reading
ECU Health claims a quarter of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina
Twenty-five ECU Health nurses recognized among Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina