Prevatte named 2021 Baker Nurse of Excellence
UNC Health Southeastern's Samela "Dee" Prevatte was honored as UNC Health Southeastern’s 2021 Baker Nurse of Excellence. Prevatte was named as this year’s honoree on May 11 during a virtual ceremony hosted by the organization’s Professional Growth Council as part of National Nurses Week.
Prevatte is a Robeson County native who lives in Lumberton with her husband, Matthew, and son, Nathen. She completed licensed practical nursing and associate degree in nursing degrees from Bladen Community College and completed a bachelor's degree in nursing from Fayetteville State University in May 2021. She has worked for the health system for nine years and currently works on the 7-Bed Tower at UNC Health Southeastern.
In addition to Prevatte, the other 2021 finalist nominees were: Mel McKee, Toni Campbell and Emilou Lao. The winner was selected by a panel based on nomination applications submitted by peers as well as interviews.
Past Baker winners are Tess McNeill, 2020; Don “Jake” Jacobs, 2019; Deborah Peterson, 2018; Sharon Smith, 2017; Cynthia Kinlaw, 2016; Tammy McDuffie, 2015; Elizabeth Moore, 2014; and Melissa Britt, 2013.
The Baker Nurse of Excellence Award was established in 2014 through an endowed gift by Stephanie and Wil Bass of Clayton, NC. The award is named in honor of Stephanie’s late grandparents, Dr. Horace Baker, Jr., a surgeon who was a member of the medical staff at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, and his wife Dorothy, a former Army nurse. Dr. Horace Baker Sr., Bass’ great-grandfather, was founder of the Baker Sanatorium in 1921 which later merged with Thompson Hospital to form what was known as the Baker-Thompson Memorial Hospital in Lumberton in 1946. These two older facilities were replaced by a new hospital known as Robeson County Memorial Hospital in 1953 which later became UNC Health Southeastern.
