Top nurse chosen at medical school
Susan DeAntonio
GREENVILLE, N.C. — A cardiovascular nurse has been named the best in her field for 2010 at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and its medical group practice, ECU Physicians.
Susan DeAntonio, a nurse manager in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, is the 2010 ECU Physicians Nurse of the Year. She has worked at the medical school since 2003.
A native of Williamston and a graduate of Bear Grass High School, DeAntonio described her job as “kind of like air traffic control for the day”: getting patients where they need to go, making sure physician orders are handled correctly and helping where help is needed.
Two of her cardiovascular co-workers were also nominated, and DeAntonio said all nominees were excellent nurses. “I was pulling for them, hoping they would win,” she said. “It’s quite an honor to be chosen.”
DeAntonio routinely asks patients what the staff can do to improve patient visits. She takes this information and works with other clinical and administrative managers to incorporate new customer service strategies in an effort to meet customer expectations.
“One of Susan’s primary goals for her staff is to provide outstanding quality patient care and be proud of the fact that patients we treat are getting the best nursing care possible,” said Drillious Gay, nursing administrator in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. “It is not uncommon to find Susan working side-by-side with her staff assisting and teaching them on a daily basis. She rolls her sleeves up and jumps in, especially when her staff is dealing with difficult situations. ”
In addition to her nursing duties, DeAntonio helped organize this year’s Wear Red for Women event – an effort that won her and her team a 2010 ECU Centennial Award for Excellence.
“I work with such great people every day and learn something new every day,” she said.
DeAntonio is the daughter of Betsy and Ralph Holliday of Williamston and Aubrey and Myra Gibbs of Washington. She is a graduate of Pitt Community College and ECU. Six other nurses were also finalists for the award, which was announced at a June 3 banquet.