Welcome To FMDH FNP Toennis

Since the beginning of December, Kris Toennis has been seeing patients in the Glasgow Clinic as the facility's newest family nurse practitioner (FNP). Though she was born and raised in Miles City, Glasgow and the surrounding area is very familiar to her. "Growing up, Glasgow and Miles City were Class C rivals. I came to the area for sports and loved spending time at Fort Peck during the summer," said Toennis.

Prior to coming to Glasgow, Toeness had been a registered nurse for 31 years, working mostly in the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency room departments in eastern Montana and Wyoming. She most recently worked in Plentywood for the past three years. It was always a dream of hers to become an FNP as she always wanted to do more for her patients, but life got in the way. She vowed to herself that when her youngest graduated, she would go for it and make the dream a reality. "My husband and family have helped and supported me through this journey. It has been a real group effort," Toennis explained.

She received her bachelor of science in nursing at Mayville State University, in Mayville, N.D., and graduated from Mount Marty College, in Yankton, S.D., as an FNP. "I'm the world's longest student. I first attended the University of Wyoming, transferred to Miles City Community College. Started at Mayvile in 2015, graduated with my bachelor's in 2017, and then started at Marty in 2021," reflected Toennis.

She has affiliations with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, Montana Nurses Association and Nursing Council Vice-Chair. She has also received a recognition of service letter from Governor Steve Bullock in 2016, the Montana Nurses Association's 2009 Economic and General Welfare Achievement Nurse of the Year Award as well as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Toennis admits being a registered nurse and then an FNP wasn't always her first choice. "At first I picked to be a lab tech. Then I decided to change to be an RN. It fit all of the courses that I took at Miles City. My mother always worked around healthcare and so I was familiar with extended care and nursing home. One summer before nursing school, I was a nursing assistant, and just loved it. At that moment, I decided to go back to school because as a nursing assistant you don't get paid enough for the hard work you do," explained Toennis on her career choice. It was also personal due to her own experience with a nurse at the age of 12. "I had knee surgery when I was 12 years old and then also had other sporting injuries. Being in the hospital gave me inspiration to choose this path. I had a nurse at the Billings Clinic that really took care of me, did that something extra," she explained.

Having a part in the medical field has continued through the generations as Toennis' oldest daughter is also a nurse, and her youngest daughter is a lab tech. Her mother-in-law is also a nurse practitioner. "I also have friends who have went on and they have motivated me to achieve this dream of mine," stated Toennis.

When deciding where to practice as a FNP, Glasgow just made sense. Not only due to it's location to Miles City, but also the atmosphere the facility and the area provides. "Glasgow is just perfect. It's a family, not just an institution. There is a lot of support here among everybody and other places in rural settings don't have the services Glasgow has to offer. It's a true blessing for the community," Toennis stated. She also expressed how FMDH and the Glasgow Clinic have long-term employees and such a huge presence in the community which is important to her, stressing, "I like to work in places that make the commitment to their community. Glasgow has been at the forefront with education and quality care in eastern Montana. Glasgow has long-term employees and great leadership. The commitment to community is hard to do and that spoke volumes to me."

As a family nurse practitioner in Glasgow, she sees a wide variety of patients in age, ability and medical conditions, mostly helping patients with acute care as well as those who have to be seen in the respiratory care clinic. "I enjoy seeing people of all ages. I just like helping people manage their own healthcare and regain their health. I like a wide range of things and I am trained in critical care. I love treating patients with diabetes, heart conditions and kids," she said.

When she is not taking care of patients or keeping tabs on her three children, five grandchildren and the many pets between all of them, she enjoys snowmobiling, painting, crafting and remodeling. Her husband's family owns land on the Boulder River in Big Timber, so she enjoys spending time there with her family, boating on the Yellowstone in Miles City and riding her Harley. "If I'm having a bad day, I just try to ride," she exclaimed.

Kris Toennis – FNP is seeing patients for acute needs and does assists in the respiratory care clinic. To make an appointment call the Glasgow Clinic at 406-228-3400.