Kourtney Buhler, DNP, FNP-C

I’m Kourtney Buhler, DNP, FNP-C, and I joined Phelps Health as a certified family nurse practitioner in August 2023. I see adult patients (ages 18 and up) and my collaborating physician is Phelps Health Internal Medicine Physician Chadwell Vail, DO, FACOI.

I offer wellness visits and can help patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and more.

I originally wanted to be a teacher. As I grew older, however, I became fascinated by the inner workings of the human body. Seeing this, my father suggested I mix my two passions and pursue nursing. My grandmother’s cancer journey also played a big role in my career path. I remember helping my parents take care of her. In addition, I observed the nurses and how well they cared for not only my grandma, but for my grieving mother as well. Watching this end-of-life process firsthand gave me the desire to comfort others in similar situations.

As an undergrad student, I completed an eye-opening study abroad nursing program in Fiji and Tonga, allowing me to be better informed on cultural and health equity issues.

While I loved working as a nurse, I decided to become a family nurse practitioner to be able to diagnose and treat patients. Specifically, I like the diversity of internal medicine, where I can care for a wide variety of patients with different conditions.

I’m passionate about preventive health. If I see a health problem arise, I will work with my patient to set achievable goals to hopefully prevent future problems. Involving patients in their care is critical to improving health outcomes. Patients should feel empowered to speak up for themselves. I also believe that loved ones are an important part of healing and should always be welcomed during appointments. After seeing me, I hope that my patients feel better physically and mentally.

I am originally from American Fork, Utah, but now live in Rolla with my husband (who is a dentist) and our two rescue cats, Kimba and Catero. Outside of work, I enjoy reading and hiking. I also like to paint; I’m not necessarily good at it, but I do enjoy it! My husband and I love visiting antique stores. We don’t actually buy anything; we just like looking at old finds. Ghost tours are another hobby of ours, with a trip to the Missouri State Penitentiary on our bucket list.

I love Phelps Health’s environment and believe the employees genuinely care about their work and want the best for their patients. As soon as I interviewed, I was convinced this was the right place for me.