Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Kelsey Everson is in it for the Snuggles

The opportunity to build long and strong relationships with patients and families is one of the things Gillette Children’s craniofacial and plastic surgery pediatric nurse practitioner, Kelsey Everson, loves about her job.

“In my previous experience, working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at other hospitals, I saw babies for a relatively short time when they were very ill,” Everson says. “At Gillette I get to see babies over several months as they get craniofacial care. I enjoy getting to help families on their journey.”

Everson’s experience working as a nurse practitioner in the emergency room and in the NICU helped her hone her critical thinking skills and time management. “Starting my career as an intensive care nurse was a great way to launch my career,” Everson recalls.

Everson says she’s glad to work at a place that has a strong mission and a devotion to its special patient population.

In her work on the craniofacial team, she especially finds it rewarding to help families with any feeding issues they might have when a child has a cleft lip or palate. “Feeding is so crucial for newborns and helping these families with feeding is really close to my heart,” Everson says.

Everson is board certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board and is also a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

“I really enjoy interacting with babies,” Everson says. “Babies literally make my day. When a family comes in for care I jokingly warn the parents that I will grab their baby. I’m grateful when I can get a baby snuggle.”

Everson and her husband grew up just outside of the Twin Cities and both graduated from Lakeville High School. Her nursing career took her to Rochester, New York and several other hospitals before landing at Gillette in 2024.

“Both my husband and I have families in Minnesota,” Everson says. She feels lucky that her two daughters have the opportunity to grow up close to their grandparents and will get to enjoy Minnesota’s lakes.

“When I was a girl growing up in Minnesota I was in the water as much as possible,” Everson recalls. “My family loves water sports.”

Everson says she’s at the stage in life where her time away from work revolves around her children. She’s coached her daughters in track and basketball and is a big supporter of their horse riding. “We are a big horse family,” she exclaims. She accompanies her daughters as they spend a lot of time at the barn and competing in horse jumping shows.

Everson is proud Gillette has one of the largest craniofacial programs in the country. This team is led by Jo Barta, MD, a certified, fellowship trained, craniofacial pediatric plastic surgeon. The team includes pediatric plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, orthotists, pediatric nurse practitioners, a PhD trained speech and language pathologist, audiologists and fellowship trained orthodontists specializing in nasoalveolar molding and cleft orthodontia.

“Our team is very personable and knowledgeable,” Everson adds. “Everyone on our team is just nice and they go above and beyond to help our patients.”

Everson and other members of the craniofacial team see patients at the Gillette clinics in Maple Grove, Burnsville, and St. Paul. Appointments can also be made for patients in Greater Minnesota.

The Gillette craniofacial team is focused on improving both the function and appearance of children and has the resources to provide the most optimal treatment possible.