Montana Tech alumna takes the helm as Public Health Director in Sanders County
photo courtesy of Sanders County Ledger
Fifty-one of Montana’s fifty-six counties are designated as “health professional shortage areas,” and in rural areas the need for trained healthcare workers is particularly acute. Kjirsten Mercer, RN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2011) has spent her career serving rural patients. She began her tenure as Sanders County Public Health Director in June 2024.
“I am the oldest of four siblings, so I have always naturally taken on a caretaker type role,” Mercer said. “I am also very compassionate so it seemed like a great way to have a career helping people and use my natural personality. I make a difference by truly caring for people and wanting the best for them. Sometimes it’s as simple as a friendly conversation, but no matter what, I try my absolute hardest to be understanding, invested, and helpful.”
Mercer chose Montana Tech for several reasons.
“I had family members that attended Tech shortly before I started there,” Mercer said. “They loved the school and Tech had the BSN program I wanted to attend. Also, it was in-state and not too far away from home, and seemed like an easy choice.”
Once Mercer arrived on campus, she fell in love with the community.
“I formed lifelong friendships and seeing those nurse friends advance in their careers is amazing,” Mercer said. “Nursing school at Tech was truly hands-on. You had to be willing to give it everything, but I think that helped weed out those who should really be there and those that shouldn’t. There were so many experiences and Ah-Ha moments that helped me to become the nurse I am today. But overall, I am grateful for the study groups, dedicated faculty, and patients willing to ‘let you try.’”
Mercer has worked in many different roles over the years.
“My career path started at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains,” Mercer said. “It’s a small critical access hospital where I did everything from OB to MedSurg to ER. I slowly transitioned into clinic work in Sandpoint, Idaho, and then my local, very rural Bull River Clinic in Noxon, Montana. I did some work at a boarding school then ended up at Noxon Public School as the nurse and safety coordinator. I then did some continuing education to teach CTE (career and technical education) classes relevant to my degree. I taught classes like Health Occupations and Fundamentals of Nursing to high school students in Noxon. Finally, this past June, I started full time as the new Sanders County Public Health Director."
Mercer’s role as public health director encompasses a wide berth of duties.
“In a very broad sense, my current job entails managing, providing, and supporting the health and safety of the Sanders County communities,” Mercer said. “That consists of being the nurse in our WIC clinic, providing immunization clinics, meeting several grant parameters, providing health and safety education throughout the county, and finding as many possible resources that could help our entire population.”
Mercer has advice for students considering a career in nursing.
“Do it! Becoming a nurse has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done,” Mercer said. “There are definitely trying times, but the changes you can make in someone’s life can be unforgettable. On another note, our world will always need nurses in some capacity, so the job security and opportunities for growth are endless.”
Mercer said she’s proud to be an Oredigger.
“I graduated with my RN, BSN more than 13 years ago, and to this day, when I tell people where I got my degree, I still get that look of ‘really?’ Montana Tech was known to be an engineering school, so my nursing degree always comes as a surprise and I kind of like that! It still feels like I am one of the ‘special ones’ because Montana Tech made me a nurse!”