Veteran Army Nurse Comes Full Circle

It must have felt surreal to be back, standing in the heart of a campus that had witnessed the birth of her professional journey. Fifty years ago, she was one of the first graduates of USF’s nursing program, a pioneering spirit ready to tackle the world of healthcare.

At the reunion, fellow Nurse trailblazers embraced each other with warmth and laughter. Eleven members of their cohort had found each other once more, sharing stories that sparked nostalgia and joy. Each tale spoke of struggles, triumphs, and the indelible bonds formed during those formative years, laying the foundation for their remarkable careers. Esther reminisced about her first days as a nurse—a time filled with uncertainty but also vibrant with promise and ambition.

"This is where it all began," she remarked, her voice tinged with emotion. " Back when USF was a commuter school.  It was so small that the only space for the College of Nursing were portable classrooms. I can’t believe how far we’ve come."

As part of the two-day celebration, the group enjoyed a guided tour around the USF’s expanding campus, which now boasted state-of-the-art facilities and a well-respected nursing and medical program that was a stark contrast to the modest beginnings of their own education. They marveled at the advancements, discussing how they had paved the way for future generations of nurses who would follow in their footsteps, inspired by the trail they blazed. The celebratory dinner was a highlight, filled with laughter, anecdotes, and an awards ceremony that recognized the contributions of her fellow trailblazers. Everyone in the graduating class received a medal to mark the occasion.

Esther’s heart swelled with pride as she recalled her journey. After graduating, she had answered the call to serve her country, enlisting in the Army in February 1977. She began as a Med-Surg nurse at a small hospital in Fort Eustis, Virginia, where she learned the importance of resilience and adaptability. Her commitment and passion for healthcare propelled her to Monterey, California, where she trained to become an adult nurse practitioner. She later served at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before concluding her military career in Hawaii at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Life had thrown Esther a curveball after her military service. A back injury, stemming from years of physical demands in the Army, ultimately led her to step away from nursing in 2000. Following major surgery and a diagnosis that reframed her reality as a spinal cord injury patient, she found herself residing at the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa. 

Though the journey had been challenging and rewarding, Esther's spirit remained unbroken. Esther felt a profound sense of satisfaction. “I have come full circle. I started my adult life at USF directly across the street from James A. Haley and I’m ending my adult life here at the Tampa VA, though my ending may take a while.”

"A wheelchair might be my present," she told her friends at the reunion, “but I am still me. In my heart remains a passion for helping others.” Her experiences only deepened her understanding of compassion and advocacy, fortifying the lessons she had learned early in her career. 

Esther still uses her nursing knowledge. “I was talking to one of my therapists the other day and we were discussing that feeling that you’re not worth anything sometimes, and she said I was still doing nursing here today. I advocate for those around me and look out for them. When my therapist expressed that thought, it made me feel there is still a place for me.”