From the Old Hospital Halls to a New Era of Care
Ashley Otte Returns Home to Build on the Foundation That Started Her Nursing Journey
Quality & Infection Control Manager of Long Term Care
For Ashley Otte, returning to Saunders Medical Center brought her nursing journey full circle.
Nearly two decades ago, Ashley was a CNA at the old hospital in Wahoo while attending nursing school. Those early experiences became some of her favorite memories of healthcare—and helped shape the kind of nurse she would become.
“It was by far my favorite job,” Ashley remembers. “My favorite memories were when patients and residents were leaving with family, just to get out for a little bit or for the holidays. We would help them pick out their clothes, do their hair. You were able to get to know them and their stories. Those were my fondest memories.”
Those simple moments of connection stayed with Ashley. Even as her career took her in different directions, she knew that someday she wanted to return.
It took 17 years, but she came home.
Ashley moved back to Wahoo about 10 years ago, and her connection to the community continued to grow. Coaching summer and high school softball gave her another way to stay involved and do the things she loves close to home.
When the opportunity to return to Saunders Medical Center came along, it felt like the right time for something different.
“I loved what I did, but knew it was time to make a change,” Ashley says. “Different—it was going to be different. You don’t grow doing the same thing.”
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
One of the things Ashley appreciates most about returning to a small community is the personal connection.
“It’s like Cheers—where everybody knows your name,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes that can be a curse or a blessing.”
For Ashley, it’s mostly a blessing.
A shared last name. The school you attended. A familiar hometown story. A connection through sports. These simple things can open the door to meaningful conversations.
“When you can find common ground with a patient or resident, you have the opportunity to learn so much about a person just by having a conversation.”
That familiarity extends to her coworkers, too. Returning to SMC means seeing familiar faces—people she worked alongside as a CNA and nurses who supported and encouraged her while she was in nursing school.
“It is reassuring to see faces of people that I was a CNA with or nurses that helped support me or encourage me during nursing school.”
A Foundation Built in the Old Hospital
While Ashley says returning home hasn't changed her approach to patient care, she recognizes that her earliest experiences at the old hospital gave her an important foundation.
“I would not say returning home changed my approach with patient care. I do believe I built a solid foundation of the meaning of care when I worked here 18 years ago as an aide. That I have been able to build on since becoming a nurse.”
Today, Ashley serves as Quality & Infection Control Manager of Long Term Care, bringing years of nursing experience and a perspective shaped by both where she started and how far she has come.
Her role in the community is still unfolding, but Ashley keeps her goal simple.
“Honestly, I’m not sure yet. But if I can make someone laugh or smile, then I’m good.”
Sometimes Growth Means Coming Home
For Ashley, growth meant being willing to make a change—and returning to a place that helped shape her career in the first place.
Her advice to other healthcare professionals considering a return to their hometown?
“Do what you feel is right. But there is something nice about driving five minutes to work.”
For Ashley, that five-minute drive represents more than convenience. It means being close to home, close to the community she loves, and close to the roots of the nursing journey that began all those years ago in the old hospital.
Sometimes the next chapter in your career starts by returning to where it all began.
