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.
As a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) serving residents in her community, Lori Verostick has consistently pursued higher education and training to enhance her knowledge and skill set for patients. In her current pursuit, Verostick is earning her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate (PGC) from Frontier Nursing University.
“I am really hoping to be able to expand my nurse-midwifery mindset to behavioral and mental health,” Verostick said. “COVID really highlighted the mental health needs in my area. The people in my area working in this field are working hard and are great. I feel we need more trained providers to try to meet the need. Currently, there can be a six-month wait for medication appointments. In pregnancy, this can be catastrophic.”
A resident of Windber, Pennsylvania, Verostick served as a CNM with Women’s Care Partners in Altoona, Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2010 and has worked at Conemaugh Ob/Gyn Associates in Johnstown, Pa. since 2010. since 2001. Verostick is an FNU nurse-midwifery graduate (class 27) from 2021. She also has a Master of Science with a concentration in midwifery from Thomas Jefferson University, which she received in 2002. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2020 at FNU. She also precepts Advanced Practice Registered Nurse students.
Verostick and her midwifery partners at Conemaugh Ob/Gyne all live in the Johnstown area and attend over 800 births per year. She said the area is made up of many uninsured and underinsured residents with chronic illness and substance abuse issues.
“The midwifery model provides the respect and support that our community responds to,” she said. “I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”
A member of FNU Class 203, Verostick is set to earn her post-graduate certificate in 2023.
“I wanted to work on quality improvement for my practice so that individuals in our community were able to receive equitable health care, including behavioral health care during pregnancy,” Verostick said. “I am currently in the PMHNP post-graduate certificate program because of the need for birthing persons in our area to have access to mental health care and medication management.”
Versotick said most of the CNMs in her practice are graduates of FNU. Her former preceptor, Vivian Boyer (CNEP Class 4), is her current director.
“She is the best,” Verostick said. “She is and will always be my preceptor.”
Verostick was also influenced to study at FNU because of the atmosphere and flexibility afforded to students.
“It [distance education] works well when you have to work as you pursue your degree,” she said.
Verostick has been married for 27 years and has three children. Outside of her career, she enjoys knitting and photography.
Thank you, Lori, for choosing FNU to pursue your post-graduate certificate. We are proud to have you as a student and of your commitment to continuously improving your knowledge and skill set for the sake of the rural and underserved patients you care for.