Meet Our Nurse Practitioner, Lisa!

I began working towards my career as a nurse in 2009 as a non-traditional student.   Nursing was a career change for me.  I had always dreamed of taking care of people, but quitting my successful job in sales to go back to school felt irresponsible.  When I was laid off during the downturn in the economy, along with several others, I jumped at the opportunity to fulfill my dream.  With the support of my family, I applied to school at Saint Luke’s College of Nursing.  During nursing school, I took a part-time job as a nurse intern at Saint Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza on the Pulmonary and CVICU floors.  I loved every experience! Upon graduation, I took a full-time job in CVICU taking care of the sickest people in the hospital.  After about a year, I realized how much I missed talking to my patients and developing a relationship with them (as most patients are sedated, on the ventilator and unable to speak in the ICU).   Therefore, I decided to return to the pulmonary floor.  I spent the next 8 years taking care of all types of illnesses: respiratory failure, kidney failure, GI bleeds, diabetes, alcohol and drug addiction, COPD, tuberculosis, flu, pneumonia, and a whole host of other viral and bacterial infections.  It was hard work, but I enjoyed every minute of it because I learned something new every day.  A couple of years after completing nursing school and working at the hospital, I realized I wanted to learn more and do more for my patients, so I decided to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner.

Five long years later, I graduated from Kansas University Medical Center with my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.  Going to graduate school while working and taking care of a family was the most difficult, yet most rewarding, challenge I have ever taken on.  I could never have accomplished it without the support of my loving husband and stepson pushing me every step of the way.  My experience at the hospital gave me the opportunity to work with and get to know Dr. Haseeb Ahmed. I remember the day he told me about LiveActive Primary Care and his direct primary care practice. I was intrigued and followed his blogs over the years.  When he called me after graduation, I was so excited for the opportunity to work with him and care for people in a way that allows providers to truly care for their patients. It reminded me of the way medicine used to be, where you get to know your patients and their families, and you spend more than 10 minutes in the exam room with them because you do not have insurance dictating how much your time is worth.  I get to make old-fashioned house calls if they are needed. I have spent years working towards a career to care for people in a way all people deserve to be treated.  I am so excited to be part of LiveActive Primary Care and I look forward to meeting you, my future patients. 

Wishing You Health and Happiness,
Lisa N.