Pirate Nurse Notes: Spring 2021
From the Dean
Dear Friends,
As we continue navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to share with you some of my observations about the ways in which the College of Nursing community has responded as true nurse leaders.
Over the past few months, we have adapted and marked some momentous occasions in our history—and on your journeys as Pirate Nurses—with virtual events and celebrations. We graduated classes and welcomed new ones. We enjoyed connecting with Pirate Nurses from classes that span decades as we honored a significant anniversary in the life of our college.
Featured Story
SERVING OUR STATE
ECU Nursing logging thousands of hours to help end COVID-19 pandemic
Alex Yllanes and Eric Japczyk Schuler began their nursing education just a few months ago, but they’re already playing a crucial role in helping to slow the global pandemic that recently marked its first anniversary.
They were among a group of 20 accelerated second-degree BSN students from ECU’s College of Nursing helping to give the life-saving — and what are hoped to be pandemic-ending — vaccines at Vidant Health’s large-scale COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Greenville Convention Center on Monday, March 22.
Combined with faculty’s volunteer efforts across the state, the College of Nursing has provided more than 1,800 hours of COVID-19 related support across the state since the pandemic began, with even more service planned for the future.
News
Hall of Fame
College of Nursing honors 22 new members, 2 Distinguished alumni
More than 20 nurse leaders officially joined the ranks of the ECU College of Nursing’s most esteemed alumni and supporters on Friday, March 5, while two received the honorable Distinguished Alumni title.
Thank you, Pirate Nurses and nurses everywhere
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immeasurable loss and significantly increased the workload and burden on health care professionals, nurses especially. Dean Sylvia Brown recently issued a message of gratitude to Pirate Nurses and nurses everywhere.
Acknowledging the past, advancing the future
6th-annual Black History event addresses disparities
Centuries of misconceptions about and mistreatment of African Americans continue to cause health care disparities among the Black community today.
The ways these issues contribute to inequities and how health care providers can combat them was the focus of our sixth annual Black History Month event.
Welcoming future Pirate Nurses
Lamp of Learning marks 142 students’ entry into profession
Students received a golden lamp pin signifying service and light as part of the twice-annual Lamp of Learning ceremony that serves an official welcome to the college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Preceptors of the Year
13 nurses receive inaugural honor
13 nurses from hospitals and health care agencies throughout the North Carolina and beyond receive the inaugural Preceptor of the Year honors.
Simulation Accreditation
ECU becomes only public university in the state with a fully accredited nursing simulation program
As ECU implements 8-week classes, Dr. Becky Jordan shares how the model has benefited ECU’s RN-BSN program since 2012
Noteworthy
Accolades and Accomplishments
In Memoriam
We recently lost a few Pirate Nurses who were important contributors to the ECU Nursing legacy.
Dr. Robert Yow, or “Dr. Bob,” as he was known to his many friends was the first male Family Nurse Practitioner in North Carolina. A graduate of ECU Nursing, he was employed with ECU Family Medicine as one of its first providers and remained as a mentor at the Brody School of Medicine until his retirement. A scholarship honoring his role as a nurse practitioner was established for future nurses in 2019. Read more about his legacy.
We also remember dedicated former faculty members Sylvene Spickerman and Jo Twilley. Spickerman joined the ECU School of Nursing in 1967 and retired in 1995 with faculty emeritus status. During her 28 years at ECU she taught several courses including Nursing Leadership, Trends and Issues in Nursing, Disaster Nursing and many clinical courses. Twilley was a clinical instructor at the College of Nursing for several years and retired from Vidant Medical Center in 1988.
Let’s Talk
Upcoming Events
Our annual 5K race benefiting ECU College of Nursing student scholarships has gone virtual! Because the race is being held virtually, you can participate wherever you are, at whatever time is most convenient for you between April 1-15.
Show your Pirate Nurse pride on the day you race and use #PirateNurse5K in your caption on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook for a chance to win a prize. Register now.
This online, self-paced series of six modules is designed to advance leadership capacity and competence of nurses currently serving or aspiring to serve in leadership roles. Presented by the East Carolina Consortium for Nursing Leadership and originating from the Eastern AHEC building in Greenville, this series can be webcasted to both agencies and individual nurses across North Carolina. Learn more about the Emerging Leaders Institute Series.