Why I Care: Dr. Lisa Western

[MUSIC PLAYING] So I am at my core a nurse. I was a registered nurse for eight years,

and then I went back and got my doctorate to be a DNP. And now I can practice and provide medical care

for all individuals, the whole family. My mom was a nurse, and so from a young age I watched my mother help people.

And I thought, well, I think that's what I want to do. And fortunately, it worked out that I liked it. [LAUGHTER] It is thrilling when you talk with a patient

and spend tons of time with them regarding an issue, and they got better, and they feel better, and not just

from a physical standpoint, but from a mental standpoint. So nurses and nurse practitioners are here to advocate and care for you.

The reason that I did not become an M.D. and went the route of the doctorate of nursing practice is because I've always had my hands on the patients.

And I want to be with the patient, and I want to treat the whole patient, not just the disease.

I think that nurses are uniquely trained to do that. [MUSIC PLAYING]