Esther Paulson was born in New Westminster on April 9, 1906 the daughter of pioneer citizens Peter and Hilda Paulson. After graduation from the Royal Columbian Hospital School of Nursing in 1928, her first position was as a staff nurse in the Tuberculosis building at the Royal Columbian Hospital. Soon after, she was promoted to ward supervisor.
In 1930 she earned a post-graduate certificate in obstetrical nursing from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and, in 1934, a diploma in public health nursing from UBC. During the early 1930s, Esther was employed in private duty nursing. In 1935, she was appointed to the Welfare Field Service (Provincial Government) which combined the services of public health nursing and social welfare. She was stationed in Cranbrook, but covered a much more extensive area encompassing the East Kootenays. She was transferred to the Cariboo District with headquarters in Kamloops in November 1938.

In 1940, she joined the Metropolitan Health Committee in Vancouver, and in 1942 was on loan to the Division of Tuberculosis Control. One year later, she was appointed Director of Nursing for the province, overseeing nursing care for patients in Vancouver, Victoria, and Tranquille. Thus began her career in the field of TB nursing that was to continue until she retired in 1966 from Director of Nursing at Pearson Hospital.

In 1944, Esther was instrumental in developing the first Canadian TB affiliation course for nursing students in BC, which became compulsory. When a new TB hospital opened in Vancouver in 1952, Paulson was appointed Director of Nursing while continuing to act as Nursing Consultant for the Division of TB Control.
Esther’s involvement in professional nursing throughout her career continued following her retirement. She was an active member of the Registered Nurses Association of BC, holding offices of secretary, Vice president and President (1951-1953). She received the Centennial medal in 1967 for her contributions to the control of tuberculosis in Canada, and an Honourary Life Membership in the Canadian Lung Association for her leadership in the advancement of TB nursing in Canada. She was an honorary member of the BC History of Nursing Group

Esther was a writer of note, having published numerous articles on TB nursing and professional issues in journals such as The Canadian Nurse and RNABC News. During her retirement she continued to write and to publish historical articles, such as the history of the Royal Columbian Hospital School of Nursing, and biographies on many prominent BC nurses. Esther Paulson passed away January 2, 2004 in Vancouver, BC.