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BeaufortLifestyle.com | January 2026 17When Beaufort Memorial Chief Nursing Officer Karen Carroll thinks back on her early dreams, she laughs at how wide-ranging they once were. At age 10, she imagined herself as a nun in South America, caring for people and specializing in braiding hair. By 16, she was convinced she would become either a model or an airline stewardess. But her mother, Yvonne, a nurse herself, gently offered a different direction: %u201cI think you should go to nursing school.%u201d Karen grew up in southern West Virginia before moving with her family to Beaufort in 1973. She spent her high school years working at the Burger King on Ribaut Road, still unsure of her future. When she looks back now, she realizes her childhood instincts were pointing her toward the right calling all along. %u201cIn that totally misguided 10-year-old mind was the seed of caring,%u201d she said. %u201cIt was wanting to take care of people, wanting to make a difference for them.%u201d With her mother%u2019s encouragement, Karen pursued college and nursing school, beginning what would become a remarkable 46-year journey at Beaufort Memorial %u2014 one that has shaped not only her own life, but also the life of the entire community.A CHANGING PROFESSION Nursing in 2025 bears little resemblance to the field Karen entered in 1979. %u201cThey give nurses 12 weeks of orientation now,%u201d she said with a smile. %u201cI think I had one day, and the next day I was out on the floor.%u201d Her first shift remains unforgettable, she said. %u201cMy prayer that morning was: %u2018Lord, please let me do OK. Don%u2019t let me hurt anybody, don%u2019t let anybody die, and please let me be able to take care of these patients.%u2019%u201d Over the decades, she has witnessed technology revolutionize the profession. %u201cBack then, nursing relied heavily on a sharp mind, a strong memory, and a deep understanding of protocols,%u201d she said. %u201cToday, nurses are supported by technology that puts vital information at their fingertips. It elevates the care we provide.%u201dKaren and her husband Lowell are at the center of a growing family, with six %u2014 soon to be seven %u2014 grandchildren. Karen, pictured with Barbara Meriwether %u201cway back when.%u201d Karen, pictured with her mother Yvonne as she is honored with a Beaufort Memorial employee service award.