Family Nurse Practitioner Kerri Fjeld: ‘I like to connect with people’
Family Nurse Practitioner Kerri Fjeld is committed to her patients, the community – and her profession.
“I’ve always worked at Federally Qualified Health Centers, that’s why I went into nursing,” says Fjeld, who joined Western Sierra in January 2023. “I love working with the patient population. It’s the most rewarding type of health care.”
And that’s why Fjeld entered the health care profession. She was on a trip with her future husband in Southeast Asia when she experienced the far-reaching effect of health care and helping others.
“I was searching for a meaningful career,” says Fjeld who earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Occidental College in Southern California. “I’ve always had a mind for science, but I really like people and rocks don’t offer a lot of interaction.”
So, Fjeld decided to change careers and returned to school. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville. Tenn.
“I like to connect with people,” says Fjeld, who has almost a decade of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner. “I want to help people from different backgrounds.”
Federally Qualified Centers, like Western Sierra Medical Clinic, offer the perfect opportunity. They provide greatly needed and much-appreciated health care to a wide range of patients regardless of their ability to pay for the treatment.
Fjeld was most recently with CommuniCare Health Centers’ Salud Clinic in West Sacramento, and has also been with FQHCs in Pittsburg and Oakland in the Bay Area.
Now, Fjeld will provide primary care services, pediatrics and women’s health services – including gynecology check-ups, family planning and menopausal symptom management – to Western Sierra patients in Grass Valley and nearby Penn Valley.
“I practice everything, from newborns to geriatrics,” says Fjeld. “I want to give all patients access to care and have them share in the decision making.”
She works closely with other primary-care providers and specialists, including an obstetrician-gynecologist, at Western Sierra.
“I’m enjoying the vibe of the clinics,” she says.
And the change of pace in Nevada County, which similar to where Fjeld was raised in central Washington State.
“It was a good opportunity for a rural lifestyle,” Fjeld says of the decision for her family to move from Sacramento to Nevada County in summer 2022. Fjeld’s husband, a physician, grew up in Nevada County. The couple have three children – two boys and a toddler daughter. “It’s busy.”
But the family of five – plus their energetic dog – find time for backpacking, hiking and traveling.