The ECU College of Nursing

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The ECU College of Nursing The Facebook home of ECU Nursing.

10/16/2026

Nursing school can be tough. But there are so many good things that happen to us every day.

What’s a good thing that happened to you this week?

Have a great weekend, Pirates!

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

Introducing the Perinatal Loss Hub from the ECU College of Nursing. 💜This free, centralized resource is for families exp...
10/15/2026

Introducing the Perinatal Loss Hub from the ECU College of Nursing. 💜

This free, centralized resource is for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, their support persons, and the health professionals who care for them.

The hub grew out of research by Dr. Madeline Fernandez, assistant professor of nursing science, with partners at the Pitt County Health Department and Carolina Family Health. Families and providers across eastern North Carolina told her the same thing: it’s hard to know what support exists, where to find it, and how to access it, especially when cost, transportation, or language are barriers.

The hub gathers local, state, national, and international resources, including:

💜 Support groups
💜 Free podcasts and care packages
💜 Remembrance resources
💜 Financial and transportation assistance

Spanish-language services, materials, and interpretation are clearly labeled.

Please share with families, colleagues, and anyone who may benefit. Together, we can make support easier to find.

🔗 https://nursing.ecu.edu/welcome-to-the-perinatal-loss-hub/

On Friday, we celebrated the most recent recipients of our Decade Awards, which were established three years ago by the ...
10/14/2026

On Friday, we celebrated the most recent recipients of our Decade Awards, which were established three years ago by the Pirate Nurse Alumni Council to recognize the education, leadership and clinical practice excellence of Pirate Nurses who are within the first 10 years of graduating from the College of Nursing.

Each of this year’s nominees represent the qualities that define ECU Pirate Nurses: compassion, innovation, leadership, service, and a commitment to making a difference. Our awardees exemplify those traits.

🏴‍☠️🩺 Cesilee Pannaman is our 2026 Pirate Nurse Decade Award recipient for Clinical Practice, recognizing excellence in direct patient care and a commitment to evidence-based nursing practice.

Cesilee exemplifies what it means to be both an expert and a lifelong learner. She continues to practice at ECU Health while also serving as a full-time educator in the ECU College of Nursing. Throughout her career, Cesilee has contributed to meaningful improvements in clinical practice, including quality improvement work to fast-track patient care in the emergency department, development of a hospital-wide ultrasound IV course, and advocacy for updates to sepsis protocols based on current evidence.

🏴‍☠️🩺 Samantha Poe is our 2026 Pirate Nurse Decade Award for Nursing Leadership. An ECU graduate, she earned her BSN in 2018 and returned to ECU to complete a Post Master’s Certificate in Health Systems Leadership in 2025. She continues her doctoral studies while leading a complex emergency department and contributing to nursing at the local, state, and national levels.
Samantha’s leadership journey is an impressive example of what can happen when a nurse is committed not only to her own growth, but to helping others grow alongside her.

Samantha currently leads a 24/7 Emergency Department at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System, providing care to approximately 33,000 Veterans each year.

🏴‍☠️🩺 Samantha Willard is our 2026 Pirate Nurse Decade Award for Regional Impact. She currently serves as Chair of the Coordinating Council, the highest governing body within ECU Health Medical Center’s Nursing Professional Governance structure and the most senior professional governance leadership role available to a clinical nurse.

Samantha was instrumental in the redesign and relaunch of Nursing Professional Governance in 2024. As inaugural Co-Chair and later Chair, she helped transform the structure into a thriving and engaged professional practice model. Under her leadership, council membership doubled between 2024 and 2025.

🏴‍☠️🩺 Teradee Hagan is our inaugural recipient of the Pirate Nurse Decade Award for Nursing Education. This award recognizes an early-career Pirate Nurse who demonstrates innovation, dedication, and an exceptional commitment to educating and supporting the next generation of nurses. She serves as the Coordinator for the ABSN program, a fast-paced program that requires constant adaptability and attention to student needs.

Teradee is currently pursuing her MSN in Nursing Education and is expected to graduate this spring. She represents the qualities we hope to see in a nursing educator: curiosity, innovation, adaptability, dedication, and a genuine belief in the success of students.

On Friday, clinical professor Dr. Mark Hand was inducted as one of only 3,600 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing...
10/13/2026

On Friday, clinical professor Dr. Mark Hand was inducted as one of only 3,600 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, the highest honor that members of the nursing profession can be afforded. Hand is recognized as a national expert in the nursing care of men and LGBTQ patients and is an advocate for men in nursing.

Hand has taught nursing at East Carolina University since 2008. In 2023, he was recognized as the North Carolina Nurses Association Education Nurse of the Year.

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From Dr. Hand:

This prestigious recognition is a meaningful milestone in my nursing career and reflects the collective efforts of the many colleagues, mentors, students, and friends who have inspired and supported me throughout my journey.

I am especially grateful to my sponsors, Dr. Yolanda Van Riel and Dr. Bim Akintade, for their encouragement, support, and belief in me throughout this process. Your support means more than words can express, and I am truly thankful to have you both as colleagues and advocates.

Nursing has given me the opportunity to make a difference through education, leadership, mentorship, and advocacy. I remain committed to advancing the nursing profession, supporting the next generation of nurse leaders, and promoting a stronger, more inclusive future for nursing.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. I share this honor with all of you and look forward to continuing this important work in service to nursing and the communities we serve.

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

Join us in congratulating Dr. Hand for this remarkable achievement.

10/13/2026

Pirate Nurse Night Out.

November 11.

Compass Rose Brewing. Raleigh.

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

A little rain never slowed us down.We had such a great turn out at the Homecoming parade watch party Saturday morning. W...
10/12/2026

A little rain never slowed us down.

We had such a great turn out at the Homecoming parade watch party Saturday morning. We’re not saying that our Pirate pride helped motivate the ECU Football team’s win over Rice on Saturday, or the ECU Soccer team’s important draw against Rice on Sunday, but it surely didn’t hurt.

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather. It was so much fun catching up with you all.

Until our next opportunity to gather together – a Pirate Nurse Night Out Nov. 11 at Compass Rose Brewing in Raleigh.

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

Congratulations, soon-to-be graduates!Your big day is just around the corner, and we look forward to celebrating this ex...
10/12/2026

Congratulations, soon-to-be graduates!

Your big day is just around the corner, and we look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you! Please save the date for the Carolina University College of Nursing Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony.

College of Nursing Ceremony Details:

🏴‍☠️ Friday, December 11, 2026
🏴‍☠️ Main Campus Student Center Ballrooms
🏴‍☠️ Graduate Arrival: 6 pm
🏴‍☠️ Ceremony Begins: 7 pm

Guest Tickets
In early November, you will receive an email from the Central Ticket Office with instructions to reserve up to four tickets for the College of Nursing Ceremony. Tickets will be available in a print-at-home format, and each guest will need a ticket for admission.

Additional viewing areas will be available in the Student Center without tickets. Please note that seating in these areas will be limited.

University-Wide Commencement Information:
For questions about the university-wide commencement ceremony, including caps and gowns or ADA accommodations, please visit commencement.ecu.edu or email [email protected]. We encourage you to review the website FAQs for helpful information before reaching out.

Thank you for your patience as we finalize the details for your special day. Please continue to monitor your ECU email for updates and additional information.

We are proud of all you have accomplished and can't wait to celebrate this milestone with you.

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

Connecting across continents!Today, East Carolina University students in Dr. Alex Hodges’ Theory for the Practice of Adv...
10/09/2026

Connecting across continents!

Today, East Carolina University students in Dr. Alex Hodges’ Theory for the Practice of Advanced Nursing course participated in the kickoff the College of Nursing’s COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) partnership with our colleagues at the Medical University of Gdańsk in Poland. More than 104 students and faculty joined the virtual introduction, led by Hodges and Drs. Ellie Hunt and Anna Michalik.

Participants got to know one another and began building connections on Padlet, the shared space that will support their upcoming collaborative assignment. We’re excited to see our students learn alongside international peers, exchange perspectives on nursing and health care, and grow as globally minded professionals.

The future of healthcare is global and collaborative. Thanks to everyone involved for their leadership.

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

A few days ago we asked the members of Pirate Nurse Nation to share photos of themselves Through the Decades for Homecom...
10/09/2026

A few days ago we asked the members of Pirate Nurse Nation to share photos of themselves Through the Decades for Homecoming and did they ever showed up. In a big way.

These are just a few of the faces of the compassionate, funny and dedicated nursing professionals that we have had the pleasure and privilege of helping to live East Carolina University's mission of . We are so very proud of you all.

Ok, enough with the sappiness. We’ll see you tonight for the Homecoming reception at the CON where we will honor our Decade Awardees and tomorrow at 9 at Howard House on 5th Street for the Homecoming parade watch party.

And then to Dowdy-Ficklen to watch ECU Football run wild? It’s going to be a great weekend, Pirates!

💜💛🏴‍☠️🩺

Voting is still open. You know what to do, Pirate Nurses.
10/08/2026

Voting is still open. You know what to do, Pirate Nurses.

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2100 West 5th Street
Greenville, NC
27834

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