At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.
After many years of compassionately serving patients as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and educating nursing students and new nurses, FNU graduate Alneader (Neada) Kenner-Woodard recently started precepting nurse-midwifery students. Her first was FNU student Valrie Haye-Smith.
As a registered nurse, Kenner-Woodard has had the opportunity to precept new nurses in the labor and delivery department. Later, as a nursing professor, she guided and supported nursing students as they pursued their licenses. When she was approached by Haye-Smith, she realized that precepting nurse-midwifery students was the next logical step in her nursing journey.
“A deep passion for nursing education and mentorship has consistently driven me,” she said. “I am committed to sharing my knowledge, empowering others, and contributing to advancing the nursing profession.”
Kenner-Woodard works with Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Virginia. In her role, she provides patient-centered, holistic care for women throughout all stages of life. After earning a Bachelor of Science in biology from Old Dominion University and her Associate of Applied Science in nursing from Riverside College of Health Careers, Neada went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nurse-Midwifery from FNU. She is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
Although Kenner-Woodard has been a midwife since 2016, she said she was initially unsure about her ability to serve as a preceptor for student nurse-midwives. However, she said her education from FNU provided her with the motivation to mentor Haye-Smith.
“Throughout my midwifery education, Frontier emphasized the importance of fostering midwifery excellence and contributing to the growth of the profession,” she said. “I am glad that I was able to do my part in upholding that mission and I look forward to serving again in the future.”
As a preceptor, Kenner-Woodard said she derives great pleasure from understanding her students and helping them grow into who they aspire to be. This mutually beneficial connection fosters personal and professional development for both parties, she said.
“By assisting Valrie in honing her midwifery abilities and clinical judgment, I was able to make a lasting impact on her midwifery philosophy that will influence how she interacts with and cares for her patients,” she said. “Simultaneously, I enhanced my leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills by determining the best ways to support her.”
Kenner-Woodard said precepting is not just about helping one student, but the entire future of the midwifery profession.
“Each student you guide will carry a piece of your philosophy with them, which means that your unique approach to midwifery is reaching more women who need it,” she said. “Although it can be challenging at times, the impact you have on both your students and the families they serve makes it all worthwhile.”
While serving as a preceptor for Haye-Smith, Kenner-Woodard said she received invaluable support from FNU faculty member Liz Niederegger. According to Niederegger, Kenner-Woodard strives to form respectful, therapeutic relationships with her patients, and she effectively passed on these values in precepting her first nurse-midwifery student.
“This student needed a dedicated, driven, kind, compassionate, and persistent preceptor that could meet her where she was and allow her to truly find herself and blossom into the midwife she will be,” Niederegger said. “The transformation of this student has been miraculous, and I believe Neada deserves credit and recognition for every moment of effort.”
Thank you, Neada, for your unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of nurse-midwives and for your remarkable contributions to the field of midwifery.
Interested in becoming a preceptor? Complete our Preceptor Inquiry Form today!