Loren Watts is a Family Nurse Practioner at our Winterville Primary Care office. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgetown University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a medical emphasis from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Loren’s career exemplifies leadership, critical thinking, and patient advocacy. Prior to joining Physicians East, she was a Registered Nurse at the Transfer Center of ECU Health Medical Center, where she coordinated patient transfers to and within the ECU Health system. In this role, she collaborated with patient placement facilitators, coordinators, and communication center specialists to ensure appropriate patient placement. Acting as a clinical resource and facilitator for all interfacility transfers, she applied her clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills to assess, triage, and facilitate patient transfers to the appropriate facility and level of care. Previously, Loren worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Vidant Medical Center, providing care for patients with acute and chronic coronary diseases and post-cardiac arrest patients. She was known for her ability to manage invasive support devices and monitor patients with invasive hemodynamic monitoring devices, showcasing her skills in data collection and interpretation. Her leadership as both a Charge Nurse and Preceptor highlighted her ability to guide and mentor her colleagues while ensuring high standards of patient care. Beyond her professional achievements, Loren’s background includes playing collegiate softball and serving as the Assistant Softball Coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she demonstrated her ability to lead and collaborate with a team. In her free time, Loren enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, balancing her career with a fulfilling family life.