Nurse Practitioner joins FirstHealth Cardiology - Raeford

Rene Anderson, DNP

RAEFORD--Rene Anderson, DNP, has cared for patients in a variety of settings during her 17-year-career in health care. But one field of specialty has always held an added attraction for her.

"I have always seemed to gravitate toward cardiology," says Anderson, who has joined John Brooks, M.D., at FirstHealth Cardiology-Raeford as a cardiology nurse practitioner. She recently completed a doctorate of nurse practitioner at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and wants to help patients battle an all-too-common foe. "Heart disease is so prevalent, and I find it rewarding to help people achieve a better quality of life through health promotion and disease prevention."

Anderson, who also holds an associate's degree in nursing from Richmond Community College and a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, views herself as a partner in her patients' care.

"I rejoice with patients when they stop smoking, modify their diet, add an exercise regimen, or achieve goals such as lowering blood pressure or cholesterol. These are things that will add to their longevity and quality of life."

Anderson has more than 10 years of experience as an intensive care nurse at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond in Rockingham and the former Sandhills Regional Medical Center in Hamlet. She also served as a cardiology nurse at the Sanger Clinic in Hamlet, clinical analyst at Sandhills Regional and nurse case manager with Community HomeCare and Hospice in Rockingham.

Previously, Anderson worked with Dr. Brooks as office charge nurse at Lumber River Cardiology in Laurinburg, and she is excited to work with him once again in Raeford. "Dr. Brooks is very compassionate, intelligent, approachable, humble and his integrity is superb," says Anderson. "He is a wonderful teacher. He treats his patients as he would his own family, and I try to emulate those traits in my practice as a nurse and now as a nurse practitioner."

Anderson also cites another FirstHealth physician, Dr. Luiz Nascimento, as a "mentor, friend, and adopted father. He combines his vast medical knowledge with compassion for his patients. He would not accept mediocrity, and for years he encouraged me to continue my education and work toward my nurse practitioner degree."

Anderson, who lives in Rockingham with her twin sons, Brett and Daulton, enjoys the outdoors, exercising and traveling in her free time. She looks forward to continuing her career and caring for patients in her new role. "FirstHealth is bringing outstanding care to our region, and it is an honor for me to be associated with such a reputable health care system."

FirstHealth Cardiology-Raeford is located on the campus of Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke at 6322 Fayetteville Road. To schedule an appointment with FirstHealth Cardiology-Hoke, call (910) 878-6721.  For more information about FirstHealth’s heart services, visit www.firsthealth.org/heart.