New Gillette Children’s adult nurse practitioner, Pang Vang, says she’s driven to help all patients achieve a better quality of life.

“In my area, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), we can use cutting edge technology and our staff has extensive training to help restore function and independence,” Vang says.

Rehabilitation medicine specialists work with patients to help restore movement and function. They work closely with other specialty areas such as neurology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics to treat patients who have cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders, brain or spinal cord injuries, or other conditions.

Vang is impressed with the values of Gillette and is proud to be part of the team. “I really like Gillette’s focus on putting patients and families first. I also appreciate the collaborative environment and how the staff members work together. We’re all here for patients and families,” Vang says.

Vang has an extensive career in nursing and holds a Doctor of Nursing degree from Augsburg University. She earned her advanced degree while being a mother to five children. Vang’s personal background influences her professional life as she helps families navigate the healthcare system. “I love being part of a care team when you can guide people and hold their hands through the process,” Vang says.

Vang’s philosophy of care centers around building relationships and collaborating with colleagues, patients, and their caregivers. “I want to be respectful and culturally sensitive to meet the health needs and goals of the patient,” Vang adds.

Vang is bilingual and speaks English and Hmong. She says when you can literally speak the same language as your patients it helps to build trust. “From my own experience, and my training at Augsburg, I know how important transcultural nursing can be. It’s important for people to feel comfortable.”

“One of the most important things in nursing is to keep an open mind and be open to learning,” Vang says. “I look forward to building strong relationships with patients and my new colleagues at Gillette Children’s.”

In her time away from Gillette, Vang is focused on her children. She recently returned from a family vacation to Florida and says, “I want to take my kids to see as much of the United States as possible!”