They’re here when we need them most.
We couldn’t serve eastern North Carolina without the incredible 4,000+ nurses across the ECU Health system. ECU Health is also proud to support more than 300 nursing leaders, more than 500 advance practice providers and more than 300 international nurses caring for patients in the East. While we recognize their efforts and sacrifices each day, we’re excited to spend this week celebrating nurses in different ways. This year, we celebrate and honor nurses throughout May with local pop-up events, blessing of the hands events, and more.
Below, you’ll find a selection of stories from ECU Health nurses from across the system and some words from Chief Nursing Executive Trish Baise. If you’re interested in joining ECU Health’s many other incredible nurses, visit our Nursing Careers page.
From Trish Baise, ECU Health chief nursing executive
Dear Nurses and Nursing Support Team Members,
Trish Baise, ECU Health Chief Nursing Executive
This week is dedicated to you.
It is a time to recognize the decisions you make every day, often in real time, the steadiness you bring to difficult moments and the consistency you demonstrate, even when the work is demanding. It is about the skill, judgment and compassion you bring to each encounter, and the impact of that work that extends far beyond the bedside.
The Nurses Week theme, “The Power of Nurses,” truly reflects what you demonstrate every day at ECU Health. Your power shows up when you advocate for patients, support one another, adapt to change and lead improvement within your teams. It is evident in your spirit, your problem-solving and your commitment to doing what is right, even when it is not easy.
I recognize the complexity of the work you do and the pace at which you do it. I also know that nursing at ECU Health continues to evolve, and that progress is because of you. Your leadership, ideas and willingness to move forward are shaping the future of nursing across our system, particularly for the rural communities we are privileged to serve.
During Nurses Week, I encourage you to take a moment to make this time personal. Participate in the activities planned at your entity. Take time to recognize a colleague who has supported your practice or made your work safer or more meaningful. Reflect on your own growth and impact, often seen by others even when you may not pause to see it yourself.
Thank you for the care you deliver, the standards you uphold and the difference you make every day. You are the heart of ECU Health and a driving force behind our future.
Happy National Nurses Week!
With gratitude and admiration,
Trish Baise
Nurses of ECU Health
Each nurse at ECU Health has a special story. Below, we’ve selected some stories highlighting nurses and leadership from across the system. Hear from some of ECU Health’s inspiring nurses!
Jennifer Giordano
As a child, Jennifer Giordano, Cancer Center outreach coordinator, was deeply impressed with nurses.
“I always wanted to be a nurse,” she said. “When I went to the doctor, the nurses were warm and kind, but also steady and wise. I wanted to be that person when I grew up.”
Giordano has indeed been that person during her nearly 30 years as a nurse and 34 years with ECU Health. The Beaufort County native switched from the bedside to community outreach a decade ago, and the change was a good fit.
“It’s great to be on the front end of disease and cancer care and help navigate our patients towards cancer screenings,” she said. “We make a difference, because early detection is key.”
Dana Byrum & Christina Miller
Dana Byrum, vice president of Patient Care Services at ECU Health Bertie and Chowan hospitals, and Christina Miller, vice president of Nursing Strategic Operations, were both recently awarded the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Executive Fellowship, a prestigious and selective year-long program for nurses who are new to an executive or senior leadership role. This is the first time any ECU Health team member has represented the system as an AONL Fellow, let alone two, and they join a group of only 25 leaders from across the country.
Byrum has been with ECU Health for 29 years, and she began her career working in medical records and then as a nursing assistant before going to school to become a nurse.
Miller graduated from nursing school in 1998, and the Duplin County native has worked as a nurse and leader in acute hospital settings in eastern North Carolina for the past 25 years. She was recruited to ECU Health to continue to serve her local community.
David Roberts
David Roberts’ journey to becoming a NICU nurse at ECU Health began when he was just 10 years old. He spent weekends and summers helping his grandmother and cousins care for his grandfather. When his grandfather later transitioned to a nursing home, David witnessed the compassion of nurses — an experience that left a lasting impression and planted the seed for a future in health care.
David joined the Health Sciences Academy (HSA) in middle school, where he explored various medical careers through hands-on experiences. He volunteered at the same nursing home where his grandfather had received care, shadowed in the emergency department and connected with medical students.
“The variety helped me see the full picture of health care and figure out what I wanted to pursue,” he said.
Great 100 Nurses 2025
Since 1989, The North Carolina Great 100, Inc. has recognized and honored nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence and to promote a positive image of the nursing profession. In 2025, ECU Health had 25 nurses named as part of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina by the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors. The recipients are recognized for their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities.
