Empathy and Advocacy in Nursing: A Conversation with Padla Yang

As the child of immigrants, and as a nurse practitioner working with underserved patient populations, Psychiatric Mental Health student Padla Yang understands intimately what culturally-relevant nurse-led care can bring to a community. In this conversation, Yang shared some of the pivotal moments that brought her to Duke and reflects on what nursing has meant to her.

What initially made you want to become a nurse?

I am a first-generation American college graduate. Growing up, my Hmong parents only knew the hills of Laos as home, where they would labor before sunrise and farm until dusk. Later they crossed in the dark of the night by way of the Mekong River into Thailand as refugees. Being an immigrant came with so much fear and uncertainty, and that didn't change when they sought asylum in the US in 1979. Growing up in America in an impoverished home where English was not my native language, I refused to let my disadvantaged upbringing and social determinants of health define my future. Education was a cherished value in my household, seen as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. I held onto this belief, always knowing that my path to success was through education.

My introduction to healthcare began as a child, when I interpreted for my parents at the clinic. That was in the 1990s, when interpreter services were not as robust as they are now. My passion for nursing was cemented after my car accident in my young adulthood, during which I was subjected to humiliation as a patient due to the color of my skin. The shame that was thrust upon me by insensitive healthcare members inspired me to imagine a different kind of impressionable nursing—one where frontline caregivers were guided by empathy and understanding. I strive to transform negative experiences into positive ones, and this philosophy guides how I live my life.

What did your nursing career look like before you came to Duke?

I graduated with my BSN in late 2007 and have been in the healthcare field for about 17 years now. In my time as a registered nurse, I have worked on telemetry units, progressive care units, and in ICUs in the Midwest. I continued to work part time as an RN while obtaining my BSN-DNP. I graduated with my DNP through UW-Madison in 2017 as an Adult-Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and have worked in outpatient Internal Medicine since.

I currently work at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, Minnesota as an Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner. It is a safety net healthcare organization—my patients are largely marginalized, underinsured/uninsured, socially complex populations who have multiple medical co-morbidities and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

I routinely volunteer for Hennepin Healthcare’s Talent Garden, which is an innovative community program designed to support and nurture the professional growth of youth from underrepresented communities who are interested in a healthcare career. The hands-on experience enhances my empathy and compassion and helps me gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and barriers my community faces. Engaging in such community service significantly enhances my ability to provide compassionate, comprehensive, and culturally sensitive care as a nurse practitioner.

My activism also plays a key role in advancing human rights, particularly in the realm of mental health care. Having worked as a nurse practitioner in the same community where George Floyd was killed and on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed firsthand the physical and mental toll these events took on individuals and families. These experiences fuel my dedication to advocating for wellness and human rights and being a well-rounded doctorally prepared NP. 

Why did you choose Duke?

In 7^th grade I received a “Certificate of Recognition: Duke Talent Search” certificate, and that event forever marked my interest in Duke University. After receiving my DNP, I thought I obtained my terminal degree and even said I would never go back to school. My career as a primary care NP opened my eyes to the challenges of accessing mental health care, which was one of the many reasons I decided to return to school to specialize in psychiatry.

During my PGC application process, I focused primarily on in-state schools. However, the allure of attending Duke was irresistible. The memory of the certificate I received in 7th grade kept resurfacing, compelling me to apply. I submitted my application at the last minute, and I never imagined I would be accepted into such a prestigious institution.

What has the Duke experience been like for you thus far?

As a woman of color, I had never experienced the level of support and encouragement needed to succeed in life and in my profession until I began my transformative journey with Duke University. In my brief time at Duke, I have been awarded a substantial scholarship for my PGC education, a significant opportunity given that PGC students are typically ineligible for degree-seeking scholarships and financial resources are limited for PGC students. I have traveled to Montana to work with Indigenous populations, enhancing my psychiatric clinical skills and cultural intelligence, and I have traveled to Alaska to further expand my learning. These are opportunities I would never have imagined possible, and they have profoundly enriched my educational journey and professional growth. I couldn’t have had these same opportunities if I’d attended another program.

Duke has equipped me with the essential skills and knowledge to become a nurse clinician leader dedicated to advancing health equity. Through a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes both clinical excellence and social determinants of health, and through immersive clinical opportunities outside my home community in Montana and Alaska, I have gained a deep understanding of the complexities of healthcare disparities. The hands-on experiences in diverse clinical settings, combined with mentorship from experienced faculty, have honed my leadership abilities and commitment to advocacy.

What’s next for you?

After graduating, I aspire to build a career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. While my immediate passion lies in clinical practice and patient care, my long-term ambition is to leverage my doctoral education to educate and mentor future nurses and nurse practitioners. I also aim to drive transformative changes in the field, ensuring that advanced practice providers have equitable opportunities to excel in research, professional practice, and leadership. By doing so, I hope to enable nursing to thrive and make meaningful contributions beyond bedside care.