3 columbushosp.org Empowering and collaborating with patients Meet Christi Mastny, APRN, FNP Christi Mastny, APRN, FNP, is a nurse practitioner who wears two very important hats, as the saying goes: She provides patient care at clinics in Columbus and Humphrey, Nebraska, in the specialty areas of both family medicine and orthopedics. On Mondays and Fridays, Mastny sees patients of all ages at Humphrey Medical Clinic. As a family medicine nurse practitioner, she offers many primary care services, including annual wellness exams, sick-day care and chronic disease maintenance. Then, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Mastny works with hand specialist Dr. Kerri Kulovitz at Columbus Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic. Mastny sees patients alongside Kulovitz and assists in the operating room with treatments ranging from carpal tunnel releases to finger joint replacements. Inspired by her parents Mastny’s path to medicine began many years ago when she was a little girl growing up in Howells, Nebraska. Her parents, Marvin and Deb Indra, were emergency medical technicians for nearly 33 years. “I remember, as a child, hearing that radio go off and knowing they were going to help somebody,” she said. “That was something I wanted to do when I got older.” After high school, Mastny earned a bachelor’s degree in family science from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. She then completed her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by her Master of Science in nursing as a family nurse practitioner at Clarkson College, also in Omaha. Before starting her role at Columbus Community Hospital in 2021, Mastny worked at family practice and pediatric clinics in the SchuylerColumbus area. Earlier in her nursing career, she worked in hospital intensive care units and on patient floors at health systems in Omaha. Although she is trained in family practice nursing, Mastny also welcomed the opportunity to work with Kulovitz in developing care plans for patients. “I have loved orthopedics every step of the way,” Mastny said. “Each day is a new experience. I really enjoy the variety between family practice and orthopedics. I feel that working in both areas has been beneficial for my patients and my career.” Teaming up with patients for the best possible care Mastny believes in empowering her patients and their families through education. She also collaborates with her patients so that, together, they can make the decisions that are right for them. “I want my patients to be comfortable with the care plan,” she said. “It’s important to communicate with them.” She provides individualized care that addresses mind, body and spirit. She does this because “every patient has a unique situation that is important to acknowledge,” she said. Family time When she’s not seeing patients, Mastny enjoys cooking, especially baking. “I make a really good cinnamon roll,” she said. But spending time with her husband and their four children is what she most enjoys on her days off. They have three girls and one boy, ages 11, 9, 6 and 3. “We golf as a family, which is a lot of fun,” Mastny said. “Spending time with my family is the best.”
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