Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Christa Salling, FNP, CLC credits her education for allowing her to enter a fulfilling career.
As a Registered Nurse, Christa worked in a local hospital on various units and she soon found it wasn’t satisfying her professionally. She decided to expand her education and graduated with her Family Nurse Practitioner certification (Class 110) in 2015. With her advanced practice degree, Christa moved into a family practice residency clinic with St. Anthony’s North. However, she longed to return to her original passion in Women’s Health. She took a position in Perinatal Home Care, but unfortunately, the company restructured and could not offer the hours Christa needed. She was grateful to accept a position in an OB/GYN office with a company she had spent much of her nursing career with.
In her role, Christa serves urban, rural and underserved women as she cares for their obstetrical or gynecological needs including all forms of birth control. She can spend an extended amount of time getting to know her patients and their families, teaching healthy habits, and tailoring care to their needs. She has also expanded her care into the inpatient setting, rounding, teaching and discharging newly postpartum mothers.
Also, as a Certified Lactation Counselor, Christa is able to help with breastfeeding challenges.
Christa finds her new work satisfying because she gets to serve the women in her community. Regardless of whether a woman has private insurance, Medicaid, or self pay, Christa feels she is able to make positive changes in her patients’ lives.
“This work has fulfilled my dream when I decided to be a NP,” she said. “I get to care for women and see them through some of their best times and some of their worst times!”
She chose to study at FNU because of its history and reputation. Through helping these women, Christa feels that she is continuing the work and vision of Mary Breckinridge.
“Frontier’s vision has become my dream, and now it feels fulfilled,” said Christa.
Thank you for your dedication to underserved mothers and babies, Christa! We are proud to have you as part of the FNU community.
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 health care to underserved and rural populations.
Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives, including the development of a TRHT-focused campus climate toolkit. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016 and August 2022 Second edition).