From Hospital to Homestead:Part 1:The Nurse Before COVID & My First Pandemic Assignment–Boston, 2020

For the last 10 years, nursing has shaped every part of my life. From graduating nursing school in Oklahoma in 2016, to working in intensive care, moving across the country, serving at Duke University Hospital, and answering the call as a travel nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve witnessed some of the most challenging moments in modern healthcare. This series isn’t about politics or debating the pandemic. It’s about my real experience. The patients I’ll never forget. The hospitals that pushed us beyond what we thought was possible. The friendships built in the middle of crisis. The lessons that forever changed how I see life. Today, you’ll usually find me in my garden, raising animals, preserving food, and building a homestead with my family. But this peaceful life didn’t happen overnight—it was shaped by years spent caring for others. “From Hospital to Homestead” is the story of how one journey led to another. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, someone who lived through the pandemic, or simply curious about the path that brought me here, I hope these stories remind us of the strength, resilience, and humanity we share. Thank you for joining me on this journey. -Amy