The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives and the world around us. For Anna Norton, it shifted the course of her career, and she found her calling by answering the call to help.

After earning her master’s degree, Norton worked as a speech therapist in Atlanta-area schools, but when the world came to a screeching halt in 2020, she left her speech therapy position to take care of her grandmother in Mississippi.

“I saw the importance of the nursing profession while being a caregiver to my grandmother,” Norton says. “People often overlook nurses, but they are the ones who provide the most care and dignity to patients.”

Answering the call

Amplified by the pandemic, insufficient staffing raised the stress level of nurses, which negatively affected their well-being and care delivery, according to the American Nurses Foundation and American Nurses Association. Approximately 100,000 registered nurses left the workforce during the pandemic because of stress, burnout, and retirements (NCSBN).

The nation needed nurses more than ever. “There was an urgent need for compassion in health care, and I felt compelled to help,” shares Norton.

In 2023, she enrolled in the Master of Nursing (MN) Pathway to Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP) at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

“I chose Emory because they offer a unique, fast track MN program for students like me with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline,” explains Norton. Generous financial support was another reason for choosing Emory as she receives the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, an annual award given primarily to women in health care.

Joining a collaborative community

When she arrived at Emory, Norton joined a collaborative community of diverse, visionary nurse leaders. “We have intentionally built a culture for our learners to flourish and thrive,” says Lisa Muirhead, DNP, APRN-BC, ANP, FAANP, FAAN, interim dean and senior associate dean for Enrollment, Student Affairs, and Organizational Engagement. “Emory’s nurse leaders are valued, respected, and prepared to take care of patients from all walks of life.”

Norton expects to graduate from Emory University with her DNP in December 2026 and plans to practice in a hospital setting while also beginning work in private practice.