After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, having her own baby 
at home with a certified nurse-midwife, and working for ten years in Labor and Delivery, Jeannine Tate knew something about birthing could be different. That was when she decided to go back to school and get a master’s degree in nurse-midwifery at Frontier Nursing University (FNU).
In a life-changing moment on FNU’s campus in 2012, Jeannine heard Kitty Ernst, Mary Breckinridge Chair of Midwifery, address her class at Frontier Bound. Kitty challenged someone in the room to be the person on
e day that incorporates more freestanding birthing centers in the community. Immediately, Jeannine saw herself in that very role.
After graduating from FNU, Jeannine opened her own birthing center, Plano Birthplace, keeping Kitty’s message her goal. Plano Birthplace’s doors opened on June 2, 2017, and the center is already booked through March 2018.
“I’m the primary nurse-midwife,” said Jeannine. “We take it back to the original nurse-midwifery philosophy built on a trusting relationship. They know I’m going to be there for their birth and twelve weeks postpartum.”
When Jeannine opened the facility, she thought its modern, spa-like design would be what women liked most about the atmosphere. Instead, she found many of her patients most valued having a safe space for their births.
“The women really just want a place they feel supported and for someone to really believe they can do it. That’s been the most rewarding part; it’s very easy to sell something you totally believe in.”
Jeannine is proud of her FNU degree and the skills she obtained through the program.
“The best thing FNU taught me is that the mom is the one that is ultimately in charge of her care. When she’s the leader of the ship, things tend to go better. FNU gave me the skills and the knowledge to be able to do this.”
Jeannine has five children and loves meeting with other nurse-midwives in her area to encourage, empower and support one another in their profession. You can read more about Plano Birthplace here.
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 that 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).