Aquina Clarke, RN, Director of Emergency and Acute Care Services at Memorial Regional Hospital South, has dedicated 14 years to emergency nursing and leadership. Inspired by her grandmother, who worked in the field for more than 30 years, Clarke felt the pull toward the energy, teamwork and purpose of the ER early on.
Her approach to patient care is to treat every patient like family. “It allows me to connect with patients, understand their challenges and work toward the best possible outcome,” she said.
One defining experience in her career involved helping deliver a baby born at just 24 weeks in the emergency department. After immediate resuscitation efforts, the infant survived and is now a thriving 6-year-old.
Clarke says moments like these continue to reinforce why emergency nursing means so much to her – the opportunity to care for patients and families through every stage of life while serving her community.
