“I am blessed beyond measure to be able to bring my creativity, enthusiasm, and naturally optimistic personality to work every day.” With these words, Britt Edwards Abernathy expresses her love for and pride in her work as Quality Education and Development Coordinator at AMOREM, formerly known as Burke Hospice and Palliative Care and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care. The mission of AMOREM is to provide quality, thoughtful, loving care to their patients; to support their families; and to offer education and grief support to the communities served.

“I love being an educator as well as developing curriculums that help our team members perform with excellence to ensure that each patient and family member receives the best care possible. In my past position as Director of Learning and Engagement, I provided the curriculum for all our clinical education, organizational learning management, professional development, and staff engagement programs. I was responsible for educating our clinical and non-clinical teams on various topics ranging from excellent clinical documentation to how to enter the time into our payroll system. I coordinated new hire orientation and taught the lesson plan for the new hires every two weeks. Some of my engagement responsibilities included planning, preparing, and performing special events for team members. A few of these special events included National Hospice and Palliative Month as well as seasonal events and national holidays like Bubblegum Day and Rubber Ducky Day.

“In my present position, I develop new hire and continuing education curriculums while providing training for our clinical teams, manage the organization’s professional development and required continuing education, and support our teams within the field to ensure the delivery of quality service. The job requires that I travel with the teams to be sure that they are properly trained and follow procedures to give each patient the best care. I am both their coach and their cheerleader.

“I have always been tender-hearted with a commitment to helping others. Nursing was a career in which I had, and still do have, many opportunities and the comfort of job security. I have always enjoyed education and curriculum development, putting a humorous spin on most of the learning that I provide. I was a school nurse with Catawba County for 16 years, and this public health background is where I learned to champion outstanding customer service with a lighthearted approach. I have also been a pediatric case manager, but I am now proud to represent the hospice nursing community.

“The rewards in my current position are a smile, a laugh, a hug, or an unexpected email that says, ‘Thank you so much for your words today.’ The primary reward as a hospice service provider is knowing I am a small part of a team that helps patients and families live the best supported life as they journey through various stages.”

Britt is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse and a Certified Case Manager. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Lenoir Rhyne University and currently holds a license as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina. She is an American Heart Association-certified CPR instructor and has previously been a certified School Nurse. She plans to continue studying nursing education so she can be an even better trainer.

“Much of my perspective came from growing up in Drexel. I loved being a Wolverine! To this day, I always joke with my husband by saying that I’m Drexel Strong and that Wolverines can tear up Tigers. One of my fondest memories of elementary school is the support I received as a young first grader when my father passed away. The school planted a weeping willow tree right in front of the building dedicated to his memory.

“I also have so many amazing memories of what is now a concept of the past …. Junior High School. I smile a little each time I ride past the building and can picture all of us in our shorts and t-shirts running the sidewalk block for PE class. Can you imagine that now? Wow! We were safe, we all returned as expected, and we actually got amazing EXERCISE! I also cherish the memories of cheering in the gym on that hard concrete floor. We had to make sure no stunts failed or else the ambulance was going to be called.

“Drexel is in my blood. I moved back to raise my family with plans to carry on the traditions of taking my kids to the Drexel Fair every summer, walking that same block for exercise, and watching them run the football field across from my favorite community center. It was there where I developed my love for sugar, buying Cherry, Pepsi, and Mt. Dew mixes with a side of chocolate at the concession stand. Drexel will always be home in my mind, my heart, and my soul. Growing up here made me the woman I am today, and I have to add that we Drexel Girls know how to Live, Laugh, Love, and – more importantly – Survive.

“I have many people who helped shape who I wanted to be. Quite often these came in the form of watching and vowing who NOT to be like. The staff member from East Burke who I can say meant the most to me was Mrs. Betty Pennell. Although she was never my classroom teacher, she was the teacher who supervised the Anchor Club, an organization for teenage girls that specializes in service projects. Mrs. Pennell accepted me for my loud personality and always encouraged me to be graceful and ladylike and to conduct myself with class and dignity. She encouraged her club to have fun while being helpful. The Anchor Club was a time to help others and have a few laughs along the way. I later became Mrs. Pennell’s neighbor and adored the years I was able to spend with her.

“I was a cheerleader and tennis player at East Burke. Cheerleading is not about the stunts, routines, pom poms, making or getting cut from a team, but rather about encouraging others. I will forever be a cheerleader… now I cheer for my staff, our patients, families, the community at AMOREM, my family, and my friends. As the youth leader at my church, I am cheering for those teens constantly.

“AMOREM has an excellent Volunteer and VolunTeen program. If anyone is interested in learning more about AMOREM or discussing internships or nursing opportunities, I will be happy to advise.”

Oruginally Published April 2023
Revised February 14, 2026

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