Denise Briggs, RN, has more than just a job at Beaufort Memorial – she has had a journey that has spanned over two decades, bringing her to her current position as a nurse in the hospital’s dialysis unit.
She has been around Beaufort Memorial for her entire life, and in 2002 decided to join the organization. After 23 years, she has never looked back.
Growing with the Organization
Denise joined Beaufort Memorial in 2002, working in materials management as a stock clerk.
“I have literally worked my way up at Beaufort Memorial!” she laughed.
After working there for two years, she decided to pursue a nursing career. She had the opportunity to move to the hospital’s fourth floor as a unit secretary, which she did until 2012.
That same year, she graduated nursing school.
Her nursing career began there on the fourth floor, and she moved up to night shift charge nurse leader for a few years, and then in 2018 was faced with an opportunity for a position in the dialysis unit.
It really has been a journey with the organization, she said.
“Being from Beaufort, Beaufort Memorial was always talked about as a good place to work,” Denise explained. “There are lots of people working here who have been here a long time – aside from me – people who have been here 30, 40 years. I think that is a draw, too.”
While she has worn a Beaufort Memorial badge since 2002, Denise said her first exposure to Beaufort Memorial was actually even earlier, during her elementary school days at Mossy Oaks Elementary School. Beaufort Memorial held an art competition for area students, who were tasked with drawing a picture of something that “promoted health.”
“I drew a girl playing basketball, to show the importance of playing outdoor sports,” Denise recalled, chuckling. “I got third place and won a $50 savings bond!”
More Than Dialysis
Denise describes herself as a “natural introvert,” and said that it took her some practice to come out of her shell when she first began in a patient care role at the hospital.
“I used to stand outside a patient’s door for three seconds and just take a deep breath, saying ‘you got this,’” she said. “Now it’s just second nature, but that was a personal thing I had to overcome in this line of work.”
As a nurse in the dialysis unit, Denise sees patients who are often new to the treatment process. Educating those patients is her favorite part of her job, and it’s critical.
“These patients often have lots of fears and questions, and I like addressing those and connecting them to the right people,” she said. “With dialysis, it’s not just going through the treatments. It’s watching what you eat and making sure you’re not doing anything to put you in the hospital or cause any distress.”
A Team Effort
Denise grew up with Beaufort Memorial and has seen the impact that the organization has on the community – her community, which includes her daughter, Marie (who works in the Beaufort Memorial gift shop) and her granddaughter Aurora.
“I like being able to give back,” she said. “I feel like I’m serving my community.”
It’s not just about the external impact, either, but the innerworkings of the organization and how the departments are interconnected.
“I think we have very good teams here, and not just the nurses working together, but the ancillary departments, dieticians, physical therapists, the physicians. All those things come together, and I feel like it’s a really good team effort at this organization.”
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