Amanda Barnett
Amanda Barnett, Author, is a seasoned aesthetician, nurse educator, and writer. With over 32 years of experience as a nurse educator and family resource nurse, Amanda’s lifelong passion has been supporting babies, children, and families. She became a Registered Nurse Certified (RNC) in maternal newborn nursing and played a pivotal role in advancing quality improvement initiatives in patient care, advocating for inclusive teams that involved everyone from housekeeping staff to management. In parallel with her nursing career, Amanda earned her esthetician license and owned her own spa in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she provided holistic facials focused on natural, chemical-free skincare.
After retiring from nursing due to physical lifting restrictions, Amanda has spent the past seven years working as a nanny, dedicating herself to individual families and providing consistent, nurturing care until her lifting limits require transitioning to a new assignment. Alongside her professional work, Amanda has nurtured a lifelong creative passion for writing. On her 60th birthday, she fulfilled a long-held dream by publishing Sunflower, Sunflower in December 2024, a whimsical, lyrical poem inspired by a cherished memory with her children. She continues to explore her creativity through poetry, children’s books, blogs, and her upcoming Substack account, sharing stories and reflections that inspire joy, resilience, and mindfulness.
Amanda’s career is a unique blend of healthcare, wellness, and creative expression. At Amanda’s Facial Spa, she specializes in natural skincare services that encourage clients to embrace their skin with confidence and care. Beyond her professional and creative endeavors, Amanda is deeply committed to community and military support, leading Team Forever Dever, a walking and fundraising initiative in memory of her son, Blake. Through this work, she raises awareness, donations, and prayers for military families, embodying a lifelong dedication to kindness, service, and holistic well-being.
• RNC (Registered Nurse Certified) in Maternal Newborn Nursing
• Licensed Esthetician
• Microdermabrasion
• East Tennessee State University - BSN
• Top Educator
• Top Childbirth Educator
• Employee of the Year
• Team Red
• White
• And Blue
• Team Red
• White
• And Blue (supporting veterans and their families through movement activities)
• Congregational Nurse for Georgia Baptist
• Wounded Warriors Support
What do you attribute your success to?
Persistence, standing firm in values and integrity, and working collaboratively to improve systems (for example, pushing for inclusive representation on quality-improvement teams).
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be willing to stand up for quality and for others, be compassionate but firm, and push for inclusive representation and standards rather than accepting the status quo.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: production quality issues with printers (art printing darker than intended), high publishing and marketing costs, and the need to build visibility and branding as a new author. Opportunities: leveraging community and family networks, careful selection of collaborators (artists, editors), and platforms that increase visibility for new authors.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are putting family first, standing firm in my integrity, and delivering excellent care and quality in everything I do. I've always believed in standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult - whether that was pushing hospital administration to include housekeeping staff on quality improvement teams or refusing to accept dark printing that didn't match my book's message about light. I like to say I'm old-fashioned on purpose, and I try to impart the wisdom of my grandparents to help families have a simpler, less chaotic life. I believe in nurturing families and making sure every point of contact is meaningful and safe. The values of love and the things we stand tall and stand firm for are eternal, which is why I made sure my book reflected my values and faith in a subtle, timeless way. I also believe strongly in hand-crafted work over AI and in supporting others to speak up and not just accept things the way they've always been done.
Locations
Amanda Barnett, Author
Aurora, CO 80014