Beginning her nursing career as a general duty staff nurse at Veterans Administration Hospital in Elsmere, DE, Nolan then went to Christiana Health Care Services in Delaware as general duty staff nurse in the Surgical Unit.

During her career, she has worked at various medical facilities in nursing leadership positions including patient care coordinator at Christiana Health Care Services and three years as regional director of nursing and administrator/director of professional services for Addus Health Care in Philadelphia, PA.