Doctor and nurse share unique bond, respect after life-saving encounter

Abby Coderre was a sophomore at East Carolina University when she needed surgery for a mass in her thoracic cavity. Dr. Aundrea Oliver’s colleague received the call about her situation, but couldn’t perform the diagnostic procedure on her, so Dr. Oliver was asked to step in.

After an eight-hour surgery and a two-and-a-half year chemotherapy regimen, Abby rang the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment in November 2021. Now, Abby is a pediatric nurse working at ECU Health.

“To see her become this wonderful, exciting, vibrant caring woman and to go from being a happy college student to a mature individual – that gives in a way that I can only hope for is impressive,” Dr. Oliver said.

Travel Staffing Program benefits ECU Health Nurses, communities

Suzanne Foster isn’t the only nurse who found herself looking for new and different opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wanted to try travel, nursing and experience other facilities,” said Foster, “but I have a husband and a son that I dearly love and do not want to be away from. The fact that I can drive home at night is huge.”

She can do both thanks to the ECU Health Travel Staffing program. It’s an innovative approach to recruiting driven by the ever-changing health care industry and the need to meet nurses where they are.

International Nurses Program brings unique perspective to health system

Launched in November 2019, the International Nurses Program has brought 175 nurses from 21 countries to ECU Health. Denique Barnett is a pediatric rehab nurse at ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital and international nurse at ECU Health.

“My passion is pediatrics, but specifically neonatal nursing,” Barnett said. “Back home there is no degree program for neonatology. So I decided that, you know, to further my studies and to self-actualize, I would need to come to the United States.”