Since 1989, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina celebrates registered nurses who demonstrate exceptional practice, leadership and professionalism in a variety of settings.
This year, the program set a record with nearly 500 nominations. Among this year’s honorees were 18 ECU Health nurses, underscoring the system’s commitment to high-quality care and team member recognition.
Rebecca Jenkins, BSN, RN, Nicole Hinson, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, Nada Tannoury, CNP, APRN, FNP-C, RN, and Cierra Linton, BSN, RN are among the 18 inductees this year.
Rebecca Jenkins
She calls nursing her “second act,” but it’s clear Rebecca Jenkins, is a shining star in the Edgecombe Hospital ICU and CCU.
“I wanted to be a teacher out of high school, but then I got married and had four kids and stayed at home a while,” she shared. “I had a job as a companion for someone, and I helped her with her meals and getting around. When she was diagnosed with cancer, I helped care for her. At 18 I never wanted to be a nurse, but after caring for this person, I knew I’d really love it.”
Years later, Rebecca’s aunt was hospitalized with COVID, and a few weeks after that, Rebecca found herself there as a patient.
“The ICU was so kind to my aunt, and they were good to me,” she said. “I knew then I wanted to work at ECU Health, specifically at Edgecombe.”
She graduated in 2022 with her ADN and joined ECU Health the same year. In 2026, she graduated with her BSN. She knew her manager nominated her for the Great 100 Nurses, but she didn’t think she’d be chosen.
“I do not feel worthy,” she said. “There are so many I work with who are more deserving. But I love my job and appreciate that my team has confidence in me.”
Rebecca said she puts her all into her work and does extra things, like Nursing Honor Guard, additional education or washing a patient’s hair, to improve things for her unit and her profession. Part of that is her “all or nothing” attitude, but part of it comes from working with a great team.
“When you work with amazing people, it challenges you to be better. This award is very humbling because I have so many great people I work with. It’s an honor I hope to live up to.”
Christiana “Nicole” Hinson
Born in Cary, Nicole Hinson, attended ECU for her BSN and graduated in 2021. She immediately joined the Medical Center’s CVICU – partly because of ECU Health’s level one trauma status and opportunities for growth.
“The impact you make on every patient in the CVICU is special,” she said.
“You see patients go from being on the most life support possible to walking out of the hospital. Some come back and visit us. It’s nice to see that progression.”
She knew her manager nominated her for the Great 100 Nurses, but she didn’t expect to get a letter in the mail.
“I try to make a difference at the bedside,” she said. “And I also share my voice to make differences not just in nursing, but for all of patient care. There are so many projects our team is working on.”
One project includes working with dietary to create picture menus for patients who can’t read, have difficulty speaking or don’t speak English. She’s also involved in precepting new graduates, unit education, governance and the Pirate Nurse Alumni Council.
Her next achievement? She will graduate as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) in 2029.
“I’m already signed on to come back to ECU Health after I graduate,” she said. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Nada Tannoury
Nada was an ED nurse in Lebanon, and when she moved to the United States with her husband, she pursued higher education and built on her experience to continue making a difference in her patients’ lives.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor, but nursing got me into health care quicker. When we moved to the U.S., I wanted to continue my education and do more. It took time, especially while balancing work, family and school, but I did it because it was a dream of mine.”
This past May, Nada graduated with her DNP as a family nurse practitioner.
In her role at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Nada works in same-day surgery and endoscopy, and she also establishes vascular access and places peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) lines.
“I am passionate about improving the health outcomes of our patients, especially here in a rural community,” she said.
She didn’t expect to be a Great 100 Nurse, but she was deeply honored by the recognition and grateful to be selected.
“We have so many nurses who deserve this recognition,” she said. “Nursing is demanding work, and every nurse makes a difference, whether they receive an award or not. I feel truly honored to be recognized among so many incredible nurses.”
Cierra Linton
In high school, Cierra Linton spent a lot of time in the hospital as her aunt battled stage IV melanoma.
“I was close to her, so after school I would stay with her until I had to go home,” she said. “The nurses let me help change her dressings and involved me in her care. That’s the reason I do what I do.”
Before she became a nurse, Cierra worked in emergency medical services (EMS), and now her role in the Beaufort Hospital emergency department (ED) feels like the logical next step.
“In EMS you have to acutely fix the problem and stabilize the patient, but in the ED, you see the follow up to that.”
While she knew she’d been nominated for the Great 100 Nurses award, she was shocked to learn she won.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team and my patients,” she said. “Each patient teaches you something new.”
Cierra said she is humbled to be named with other great nurses, and she aims to show her team and her community that’s she’s more than someone who takes blood and gives medications.
“In the ED, it’s chaotic and noisy, and there’s no place for families to grieve or process what’s happening,” she said. “I try to make things easier for our patients and their families. It’s more than medicine.”
In the future, Cierra hopes to become a DNP and specialize in emergency medicine – right after she gets married.