10 Questions with Vicki Beaton
From corporate America to compassionate care, the clinical nurse manager at Falmouth Outpatient Surgery Center shares her unexpected journey into healthcare.
For Vicki Beaton, RN, nursing was a second act. After 14 years in the corporate world at Fidelity Investments, a post-9/11 layoff and a family move to Cape Cod led her to an entirely new career.
“My husband and I bought a bicycle shop in Provincetown in 2000 and moved from Boston to the Cape,” Vicki recalls. “The following year, I was laid off from Fidelity and decided to pursue nursing. I love helping people and knew it was something I could do while raising my children.”
She began in 2005 as a float nurse on night shifts at Falmouth Hospital, later transitioning to endoscopy—where she found her true niche.
Now the Clinical Nurse Manager at the Falmouth Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center, Vicki brings nearly two decades of experience to a role that blends clinical care, leadership and a deep commitment to patient well-being. She manages schedules, trains staff, assists with procedures and oversees teams at both Falmouth Hospital and the surgery center, splitting her time between locations.
With Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Vicki is passionate about encouraging early screenings. “When I hear someone hasn’t had a colonoscopy, it really upsets me,” she says. “Early detection saves lives.”
She shares a personal story about her 55-year-old sister-in-law, who delayed screening until Vicki convinced her to go—only to discover a large precancerous polyp that could have turned cancerous.
Current guidelines recommend colorectal cancer screening at age 45 for adults at average risk, yet many mistakenly believe it’s only necessary with a family history or symptoms.
“That’s a common misconception,” says Vicki. “You don’t have to wait for symptoms. By then, it may be too late.” She also emphasizes that lifestyle choices—such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, maintaining a good weight and avoiding smoking—can all help reduce risk.
At Falmouth Hospital, Vicki and her team perform colonoscopies, endoscopies, and soon capsule endoscopies—a minimally invasive diagnostic tool using a swallowable camera capsule. Thanks to innovations like CO₂ insufflation, which minimizes discomfort, and enhanced pre-op processes, patients now experience smoother, more comfortable procedures.
“We directly impact a patient’s experience during a stressful time and what I find rewarding is that as a group, we ensure high-quality patient care.”
We recently caught up with Vicki to learn more about her—both in and out of scrubs.
1. What is your favorite way to start the day?
A cup of coffee and a FaceTime call each morning with my daughter and my one-year-old grandson.
2. What is your mantra or quote you live by?
“Everything happens for a reason.” We may not know it at the time, but eventually we figure it out.
3. What is something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
I was born in Italy and I’m fluent in Italian.
4. When was your last moment of self-care?
We recently celebrated my husband’s 60th birthday, part of which entailed going to a spa. I usually don’t like massages, but I enjoyed the adventure.
5. What was your most interesting first job—and what did it teach you?
After college, I worked as a Private Investigator. I even went undercover on a few assignments! It taught me to be observant, think critically and read people well—skills I still use in nursing.
6. What’s on the horizon that you’re most excited about?
Visiting Italy this summer to see family—and also heading to Portugal for the first time.
7. What is your favorite movie?
“The Sound of Music.”
8. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
The Amalfi Coast. I love the laid-back lifestyle and being near the ocean.
9. Last time you danced?
Last Friday. My husband and I went to a concert in Boston.
10. If you could have any superpower, what would it be—and why?
Time travel—both to the future and past. I would love to see what the future holds, not just in my personal life, but also in medicine. And if I could go back in time, I would really love to spend time with my grandparents. We were very close, and I lost my grandfather just eight years ago at the age of 102. So, I really miss him.
