February 14, 2022

Meet Megan Knetzer, NP 

Nurse Practitioner - Spine

Megan treats spine patients at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Center for Advanced Medicine and Center for Advanced Medicine - South County. 

Where are you from? 

I’m from Edwardsville, IL, where I still live. My husband and I were childhood friends and high school sweethearts. We always swore we’d move away from Edwardsville, but we ended up buying my parent’s house and raising our family in the same house I grew up in!

What made you choose orthopedics as a specialty? 

When I graduated nursing school, orthopedics, psych and geriatrics were the only three specialties I didn’t want and wouldn’t apply for. So of course orthopedics pulled my application from the pool and was the first one to offer me a job! I’ve now spent my entire nursing career in orthopedics and it’s hard to imagine myself in any other specialty. 

What brought you to Washington University Orthopedics? How long have you been with the department?

I started off working on the orthopedics floor at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on night shift. I was ready to move off nights and to something with a more stable schedule, and the nurse coordinator job with Dr. Buchowski opened at the same time, so I jumped on it. I’ve now been with his practice almost eight years, seven as nurse coordinator and now as nurse practitioner.

What aspect of your practice do you find most interesting or rewarding?

I love seeing patients through their entire spine journey and the relationships I develop with them. That was something I missed in floor nursing, you never got a chance to see what difference the surgery made in the patients’ lives. My favorite thing is to see them for their last follow up and hear all the things they can do now that they couldn’t before.

What ages do you treat? 

I’m a family nurse practitioner, so I can treat any ages from birth on up, but our practice focuses on adult spine. We have a few pediatric spine tumor patients though, and it’s so rewarding to interact with them in the office.

What is the biggest difference in treating patients of different ages?

It’s always interesting to hear what people’s goals are for their recovery and what they want to achieve at different stages of life.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

I love to travel! My family and I went to St. Lucia for my NP graduation this summer, and I made it to my 50th state, Oregon, in September, which has been a bucket list goal my entire life! We also did a tour of some southwestern National Parks over Christmas and New Year’s. My husband Chris and I have 2 kids, Justin who is 17 and about to graduate high school, and Addison who is 13. We also have a dog Casper and last year adopted a COVID-kitty named Minnie.

If you weren't a nurse practitioner, what would you like to be doing? 

I have trouble picturing myself doing anything else, but it would probably be something in the tourism/travel industry. A travel agent, tour guide, or National Park ranger.