In celebration of Nurses Week, we are proud to highlight Amanda Lodoza, RN, Lead RN of the Surgical Services department at Artesia General Hospital. Amanda has spent her entire nursing career at AGH, eight years of commitment to this community, this team, and every patient who comes through our surgical department. She is the kind of nurse who leads from the front, advocates without hesitation, and makes everyone around her better. Throughout this week, we are honored to share stories like hers and celebrate the nurses who make AGH the place it is.
Eight Years. One Hospital. One Community.
“Amanda is the kind of nurse every surgical department needs and very few are lucky enough to have. She holds her team to an exceptional standard because she holds herself to that standard first. Her patients feel it, her colleagues feel it, and it shows in the culture she has helped build in that department.”
Rebecca S. Nesse,
Director, Perioperative Services
Amanda began her nursing career at AGH in 2018 as a Preoperative and PACU RN, and she has never left. That kind of loyalty is rare in any profession. In healthcare, it says something specific: she chose this community, and she keeps choosing it.
In 2021, she was named Lead RN for the surgical department, a role she has grown into with the same steady commitment that has defined her career from day one. For Amanda, surgical nursing has never been just about the procedure. It is about what that procedure means for the person on the table.
“Working in the surgery department allows me to contribute directly to resolving patients’ health issues and improving their overall functionality and quality of life,” she says. “Although long-term results are not always visible, I take pride in playing a meaningful role in each patient’s intervention and recovery.”
A Leader Who Means It
As Lead RN, Amanda works alongside her staff rather than above them. She mentors nursing students and new employees, holds herself and her colleagues to a high standard, and is not afraid to speak up when a patient or staff member needs an advocate. Her approach is direct: lead by example, hold everyone accountable, and build a culture where collaboration is not a talking point but a daily practice.
Rebecca S. Nesse, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director of Perioperative Services, Pre-Admission Testing, Infusion Center, and Bone and Joint Center at AGH, has worked closely with Amanda throughout her tenure.
“Amanda is the kind of nurse every surgical department needs and very few are lucky enough to have,” says Nesse. “She holds her team to an exceptional standard because she holds herself to that standard first. Her patients feel it, her colleagues feel it, and it shows in the culture she has helped build in that department.”
That leadership has earned recognition across the organization. Amanda has been nominated for the DAISY Award, the AGH Nursing Excellence Award, and multiple AGH Excellence Awards, a reflection of the respect she has earned from patients and peers alike.
What Nursing Means to Her
Ask Amanda what nursing means to her and she does not hesitate.
“To me, nursing means being a great patient advocate,” she says. “To act as the voice for patients, ensuring they are heard, respected, and cared for in the most appropriate way. It’s caring for patients in their most vulnerable time, giving them your time and attention to make the best decisions you can for and with them.”
That philosophy shapes everything about how she leads her department and how her team shows up for patients every single day.
Rural Care, Real Teamwork
Amanda understands what it means to practice nursing in a rural hospital. Resources are limited. The margin for error is narrow. And the team around you is everything.
“Working at Artesia General has truly been special to me,” she says. “Everyone is kind, helpful, and willing to jump in wherever it is needed. We work in a very rural area where resources are limited. We have to work collaboratively and closely to ensure each patient is receiving the best care, and AGH is definitely that place.”
That belief in the people around her has shaped how she leads, and it shows in the surgical department she has helped build over eight years.
Thank You, Amanda
Eight years. Thousands of patients cared for at their most vulnerable. A team made stronger by her presence every shift. Amanda Lodoza represents the best of what community nursing looks like, and AGH is better for having her.
Thank you, Amanda, for your advocacy, your leadership, and for choosing this community, year after year.
Learn more about Surgical Services at Artesia General Hospital.