As a registered nurse, Murphy worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in spinal cord and head injury rehabilitation and women’s surgical service, then in family practice and OB/GYN in Colorado. She became a staff nurse and patient care coordinator for Hospice of Bozeman Health, earning hospice nurse certification, and later nursing coordinator and then director of nursing for Walgreens/Optioncare Montana. Murphy then earned her Master in Nursing from Montana State University. She is certified as a family nurse practitioner.