Ekiuwa Igbinigie
October 2025
Ekiuwa
Igbinigie
,
RN
7 East
UNC Health Rex
Raleigh
,
NC
United States
One of the brightest lights of my hospital stay was getting to know and laugh with Ekiuwa.
Ekiuwa poured so much compassion and care into my time at UNC Rex that I truly believe she played a role in making my recovery possible. In the blink of an eye, I went from being a healthy 26-year-old to needing an NG tube and no longer being able to walk or go to the bathroom on my own. To say it was a devastating shift in my reality would be an understatement.
One of the brightest lights of my hospital stay was getting to know and laugh with Ekiuwa. I am notoriously difficult when it comes to IVs and blood draws, and my first interaction with her was when she came to draw my blood on my second day in the hospital. She was one of the first people to make me smile since the tube had been inserted in my nose, and her skill and compassion truly sped up my healing and made my recovery easier.
Ekiuwa spoke healing over me at every step of the way and is truly walking in her gift as a member of the UNC Health nursing team. Every shift she worked with me, I found myself both challenged and inspired to push myself toward recovery. Her encouragement when I took my first walk down the hallway, her comfort when my pain was difficult to manage, and her laughter and kindness when interacting with my family and friends who visited me. She quickly became part of my support system and will always hold a special place in my heart from this hospital stay.
In addition to her attitude of kindness, Ekiuwa is also incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. She made sure I understood my health and progress at every step, never hesitating to share my concerns with the physician team and answering every question with patience and ease. When I moved to a liquid diet, she celebrated with me as I took my first sips of broth. As I transitioned back to a normal diet, she made sure I felt confident about what symptoms to look for and how to avoid pushing my body too hard.
After knowing and interacting with Ekiuwa, I do not doubt that she brings this same joy and light to every patient she encounters. If others haven’t had the chance to share their experiences, I hope my story shows just how deserving she is of this recognition. I will never forget how, in one of the lowest times of my life, I found such a shining light among the medical team. She demonstrates hard work, compassion and has a lasting impact on her patients and community.
One of the brightest lights of my hospital stay was getting to know and laugh with Ekiuwa. I am notoriously difficult when it comes to IVs and blood draws, and my first interaction with her was when she came to draw my blood on my second day in the hospital. She was one of the first people to make me smile since the tube had been inserted in my nose, and her skill and compassion truly sped up my healing and made my recovery easier.
Ekiuwa spoke healing over me at every step of the way and is truly walking in her gift as a member of the UNC Health nursing team. Every shift she worked with me, I found myself both challenged and inspired to push myself toward recovery. Her encouragement when I took my first walk down the hallway, her comfort when my pain was difficult to manage, and her laughter and kindness when interacting with my family and friends who visited me. She quickly became part of my support system and will always hold a special place in my heart from this hospital stay.
In addition to her attitude of kindness, Ekiuwa is also incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. She made sure I understood my health and progress at every step, never hesitating to share my concerns with the physician team and answering every question with patience and ease. When I moved to a liquid diet, she celebrated with me as I took my first sips of broth. As I transitioned back to a normal diet, she made sure I felt confident about what symptoms to look for and how to avoid pushing my body too hard.
After knowing and interacting with Ekiuwa, I do not doubt that she brings this same joy and light to every patient she encounters. If others haven’t had the chance to share their experiences, I hope my story shows just how deserving she is of this recognition. I will never forget how, in one of the lowest times of my life, I found such a shining light among the medical team. She demonstrates hard work, compassion and has a lasting impact on her patients and community.