Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Tracey Wiese, DNP, FNP, PMHNP is representing our mission of caring for vulnerable and rural populations in the far reaches of our country: Alaska.
Tracey was one of FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates published in the recently-released 5th edition of Caring for the Vulnerable. Her chapter entitled Trauma-informed primary care: Promoting change among patients with early life adversity draws from her experience working in child abuse medicine in Anchorage, Alaska.
In November 2017, Tracey opened her own practice in Anchorage. Full Spectrum Health is the only clinic in Alaska that openly markets to the LGBTQ2IA+ community. Tracey’s clinic specializes in primary care and behavioral health services for this vulnerable population as well as patients with complex trauma histories.
Full Spectrum Health has made strides in the area of telemedicine with the goal of increasing their scope of care. Suicide rates are highest among rural Alaska Native populations; telemedicine allows Tracey the ability to care for these patients’ physical and mental health remotely.
“We strive every day to provide primary and behavioral health care to the most vulnerable people of Alaska. We are succeeding!” said Tracey.
Tracey also provides education and consultation for other providers to help them improve their practices in serving the rural native and LGBTQ2IA+ communities.
Tracey chose FNU first for her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s degree and then her DNP because she needed a quality distance education that would allow her to work full-time and complete her practicum in Anchorage. She was also drawn to FNU’s emphasis on serving vulnerable populations.
Her DNP has allowed Tracey to increase her leadership in her community and use her influence to make a difference for the communities she is passionate about serving. She learned how to translate academic research into the clinical environment, bridging the gap between knowledge and service.
“I utilize my skills as a DNP every day. It was worth every tear, drop of sweat and penny!” said Tracey.
To learn more about FNU’s DNP program, visit Frontier.edu/DNP.
