“There’s nothing more reassuring than hearing from a patient that you are in the right field.”

Shannon Moore, RN, BSN, Assistant Nurse Manager in the emergency department at ECU Health Medical Center, shares her reason for choosing nursing as a career and why she loves working with patients.

“It started in the first grade—I became citizen of the week and I had to write a report about myself. I wrote that I wanted to be a nurse. From that moment in time, it stuck with me. I grew up watching several medical shows on television and I loved to watch the episodes with babies. I don’t have any nurses in my immediate family but watching the shows on TV ignited my passion. I can’t imagine working in another field—this is my calling. My journey started in 2006 when I moved from a small town in Beaufort County to Greenville, North Carolina to attend East Carolina University. The plan was to study nursing but my path shifted. I became a nursing assistant and after several years, I decided to pursue a nursing degree at Edgecombe Community College.

I worked as a nursing assistant in the emergency department at ECU Health Medical Center while I completed my degree in nursing. Once I graduated from nursing school, I transitioned to a registered nurse role. As a new graduate nurse I learned so much in the nurse residency program. The classes we took and the experience from working in the emergency department prepared me to be a well-rounded nurse. I would encourage new graduate nurses to never give up. Separate your work life from your personal life and manage your stress by doing the things you love. I manage my stress by spending time with my family and friends. I also love listening to music, traveling and spending time with my son. As I think of my career, there’s nothing more reassuring than hearing from a patient that you are in the right field, especially when you are working in a fast-paced emergency department.”