Video released of Ebola patient Nina Pham in hospital

DALLAS — Nina Pham apparently didn't want to go.

The 26-year-old nurse, who's infected with the Ebola virus, is in good condition and improving, according to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

Federal health officials say the decision to move Pham to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland is in the best interest of the Dallas hospital. The arrangement wasn't made solely because of the trained bio-hazard unit at the NIH, or because of confidence issues regarding Texas Health Presbyterian. Officials say it came down to staffing.

The Chief of Pulmonology at Dallas Presbyterian says, "It was a difficult decision to transfer Nina, a member of our own family and someone who is greatly loved and respected."

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"We felt it would be more prudent to focus on caring for any patients who come in," said Dr. Tom Frieden, to a congressional hearing. "Health care workers or others who come in with symptoms."

Pham left Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in an ambulance Thursday afternoon as a crowd of well-wishers and co-workers gathered with signs to cheer her on in her next step towards recovery. A hospital spokesperson asked for passing cars to honk to show their support.

The 26-year-old was taken to Dallas Love Field where she walked with support from the ambulance to a G-3 jet for Bethesda, Maryland.

She is now at one of a few hospitals with special isolation units for Ebola treatment.

Pham's treating physician, Dr. Gary Weinstein, recorded a video of his patient before she was discharged from Texas Health Presbyterian Thursday and posted it on YouTube with her permission.

In it, Pham asks for her co-workers to come visit her in Maryland with a big laugh before shedding some tears and telling her care staff she loves them.

It was a side of Nina Pham that people close to her had talked about, but on Thursday night everyone got a glimpse. Video taken inside the hospital room of Dallas Presbyterian shows Pham sitting in her hospital bed sharing a laugh with physicians and nurses.

"Come to Maryland everybody!" she said laughing. At one point needing a tissue to wipe away tears. She had few words but it carried a very strong message.

"I love you guys," she said.

Now any worker at Texas Health Presbyterian with even the slightest symptom is now being tested proactively for Ebola.

A statement from Presbyterian Hospital admits that moving her is the right decision.

"Many of the medical professionals who would normally staff the intensive care unit sidelined for continuous monitoring," the statement read.

At least 76 people reportedly cared for Thomas Duncan. No one working on Pham is allowed to care for any other patient, which is a policy that came after Duncan's care.

"What hospital has 76 people that they can pull aside and say, 'You're only taking care of one patient'?'" said Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News Medical editor. "It just doesn't work that way."

Besser says any hospital would be stretched to its staffing limits.

And this one is on stand-by for the possibility that another Ebola patient might walk through the doors.

Ebola patient Nina Pham arrives in Maryland after a warm sendoff from coworkers at Texas Health Presbyterian. WFAA