New Nurse Practitioner Minji Na begins seeing patients at Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon and Postville Clinics
Nurse Practitioner Minji Na ... Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon and Postville Clinics welcome Nurse Practitioner Minji Na, who is now seeing patients in both locations, working a couple of days a week in each clinic. To make an appointment to meet with her at the Waukon Clinic call 563-568-5530 or for an appointment with her at the Postville Clinic call 563-864-7221. Submitted photo.
Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Waukon and Postville Clinics welcome Nurse Practitioner Minji Na, who joined the practice January 8. Minji is now seeing patients in both the Waukon and Postville Clinics spending a couple of days each week at each location. Postville provider Michelle Crary is now also spending a couple of days each week seeing patients in both clinics as well.
Minji had been practicing as a family nurse practitioner for Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Albert Lea and Austin, MN, in family medicine and urgent care the last two years.
“I am excited to become a part of the VMH family here in Waukon and Postville and I look forward to meeting patients and building a comfortable patient/provider relationship,” states Minji. “Taking the time to listen and understand their concerns will help us work together as a team to make meaningful changes to improve their health and overall well-being.”
When Minji was in Nurse Practitioner school, she did her clinical rotations with Dr. Dave Schwartz in Waukon. She states, “I really appreciated him and the staff and especially the atmosphere at Veterans Memorial Hospital. I knew I wanted to be a part of their team someday!”
Minji was born in South Korea, moving to the United States when she was five years old. After living in New Jersey and Virginia, her family settled in Decorah. Minji attended Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) for her RN degree, Western Governors University for her Bachelors degree in Nursing and the Family Nurse Practitioner Program with Purdue University Global.
“Ever since I was a young girl, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the health care field, but I wasn’t sure which one,” explains Minji. “When I moved to Decorah, my grandmother had stroke paralysis and needed much help with her activities of daily living. She was receiving care from home health staff and I was amazed with the staff helping her and I knew that is what I wanted to do… I wanted to help people.”
Minji has many years of related health care experience working as a certified nurse aide for four years, a licensed practical nurse for one year and a registered nurse for six years before achieving her family nurse practitioner degree.
“The best part about being a medical provider is going through life with my patients,” adds Minji. “Being there for sad times due to a medical illness but also the joyous times by conquering those illnesses and watching them bounce back to their good health.”
To make an appointment to meet with Nurse Practitioner Minji Na at the Waukon Clinic call 563-568-5530, or at the Postville Clinic call 563-864-7221.
