This study is an autoethnographic investigation reflecting the personal narrative of being a nurse before and during the COVID–19 pandemic. Everyday life experiences as a nurse comprised the data generated. The self- narrative story was analyzed using Leininger’s phases of “Ethnonursing” data analysis for qualitative data. The experiences and stories of a nurse, entailing challenges, ways of coping and the impact of personal biographies, included behavioral, emotional, social, and spiritual factors. Four main themes were revealed: personal, professional, social and cultural, with subthemes in each. For personal, there were six (6) subthemes, professional, four (4), social, five (5), and spiritual, three (3). The life-journey of a nurse impacts personality development including love of God, neighbor, and oneself. The autoethnographic journey shows windows to understand the complex world of health, suffering, and dying. Revealing the self through personal experiences, exploring culture by careful use of deep self-reflection, and story craft of narration with analysis and cultural interpretation helped one to better understand oneself and one’s culture. The cultural insights help us to understand the deep sense of connectedness to each other in society and to our history. It is hard to find a silver lining to this pandemic. But, with the Filipino’s “Bahala Na” (God-willing) outlook in life, together with their deep reliance on Divine providence, they find God’s hands amid chaos and find something to smile about. And what we will discover is that, we still have each other with our stories to share. This autoethnographic study is fundamental to the community.

Keywords: COVID–19, Nurse, autoethnography, life experiences, culture, pandemic