Stuart and K-9 Murphy

I joined the Minnesota Army National Guard as a medic in 2005, and that decision laid the
groundwork for everything that’s followed in my healthcare career. In 2007, I completed my
Army medic training and earned my EMT-B certification. That same year, in November, I started
my first EMS job, and I was hooked right away. I loved the fast pace, the unpredictability, and the opportunity to help people in some of their most vulnerable moments. By the fall of 2008, I
had enrolled in paramedic school, graduating in the spring of 2010.
I spent the next 12 years working as a paramedic, building experience and confidence with
every shift. But after nearly a decade in the field, I knew it was time for something different.
Nursing felt like the most natural next step. I began nursing school in 2020 and graduated in
2022, stepping directly into a role as a registered nurse in an emergency department. The ER
feels like a perfect fit — it’s fast-moving, team-driven, and keeps me on my toes, just like EMS
and military medicine always did.
Throughout this whole journey, I’ve continued to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. I
bounced between a few units early on, but eventually found my true passion as a flight medic. I
served as both a Flight Paramedic and later as an Air Ambulance NCO for nearly 10 years. That
role gave me the chance to deploy twice to the Middle East, where I provided critical care in the
air during medevac missions. I also supported hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, helping
deliver food and water to communities in need. My time in uniform has been one of the most
meaningful parts of my life, and I’m set to retire from the Guard in just a few months.
Looking back, every phase of my career — from ground EMS to flight medicine to nursing —
has built on the last. I’ve learned to stay calm in chaos, work tightly with a team, and always
keep the patient at the center of what I do. Whether it’s on the street, in the air, or at the
bedside, I’m grateful to have spent my career doing work that matters.