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  • Alumni Spotlight: Jan Stalder, APRN, FNP-C

    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.

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) was proud to recognize alumnus Jan Stalder, FNP with The Distinguished Service to Society award at this year’s Homecoming event. The award recognizes an alumnus who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service in his or her community.  

    As a family nurse practitioner (FNP), paramedic and firefighter, Jan serves her community in multiple ways. Her formal education includes a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas-Arlington and a post-graduate certification as part of FNP Class 65 at Frontier. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas System School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

    Jan’s career includes experience in hospital orthopedics, intensive care and clinical genetics. She has nearly 20 years of experience in disaster response and preparedness. She holds current certifications as a paramedic and a structural firefighter through the state of Texas. Jan was honored to have been appointed by the governor to serve as a state commissioner on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. As a founding member of Texas 4 DMAT (federal disaster medical assistance team), Jan also works with a group of professional and paraprofessional medical personnel designed to provide emergency medical care during a disaster or other unusual event.

    During Jan’s 14 years of service, she has held the positions of supervisory nurse manager, training officer and operations chief. Jan was again honored when selected as a charter member of Texas Task Force 1 (TXTF1), a federal urban search and rescue team. TXTF1 is one of 28 federal teams comprised of the fire service elite for the purpose of responding to catastrophic incidents in the United States.

    Jan’s experiences include serving in New Orleans during the immediate aftermath of Katrina, at ground zero in New York City, in East Texas during the recovery efforts for the Shuttle Columbia, in the outback of Australia searching for a missing American and countless other missions.

    Jan currently is the owner of Frontier Family Health in McKinney, Texas. She established Frontier Family Health to provide personalized healthcare for individuals, families and business entities in and around the Collin County area.

    The FNU family is honored to present Jan with the 2016 Distinguished Service to Society Award. Thank you, Jan, for your contribution to advanced nursing!

  • Celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week with FNU

    National Nurse Practitioner Week is just a few days away and one of the ways Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is celebrating is by hosting an exciting virtual event dedicated to nursing. We hope you’ll join us!

    From November 13-19, the “Stories that Inspire: A Call to Action for Nurse Practitioners” virtual event will explore the experiences and stories of nurse practitioners who are passionate leaders committed to better care for women and families. All sessions are free and easy to join at Frontier.edu/NPWeek. You can participate from anywhere as long as you have Internet access.

    The FNU virtual event will include one to two sessions per day and cover topics such as:

    Click here to view the full schedule.

    As part of our virtual event, we are looking for stories about nurse practitioners. Are you an NP? Is your health care provider an NP? What compelling stories do you have about your experience? We want to hear them and share them with our Frontier Nursing University community as part of our celebration! Share your story here.

    Please provide your email address here, and we’ll keep you updated on FNU’s National Nurse Practitioner Week celebration! To learn more about FNU’s distance education programs and degrees, visit us here.

  • Courier Program 2016 Wrap-Up

    By: Mandy Hancock, Courier Program Coordinator

    The Courier Program has officially wrapped up another successful summer! I can say these amazing young men and women left an incredible impact on the communities in which they served. So what projects did the Couriers do this year? Here are a few!

    • A community economic summit taking place in Hyden, KY on November 17, 2016

    • Research on clinics in Kentucky who accept patients who do not vaccinate

    • STI information booth for a homeless shelter

    • Running a summer camp

    • Planning a health fair

    This summer, Couriers worked with a total of 13 different organizations to round out their Courier experience. In addition to completing service work, Couriers completed comprehensive community health profiles of their respective areas to learn more about the complexities and health problems facing these counties. Through their service, Couriers learn more about rural health and communities, while assisting these organizations and clinics with special projects.  

    In their own words: Hear from the Couriers themselves about the impact of their experience.

    “My knowledge of healthcare as a whole in rural and underserved populations has grown exponentially. I learned so much about the struggles that people face day to day in a rural environment with little resources.”

    “Through this internship I learned that quality health care does not start when a patient walks into the practitioner’s office. Instead, quality health care has everything to do with the daily living and the daily health challenges of local residents who see local practitioners.”

    “I will absolutely recommend the courier program, along with Frontier Nursing University, to friends and family. It was very well organized and fills me with a proud spirit, that people are here in the world doing good things and inspiring others to give back. The world needs to know Appalachia better… I gained so much and I think it’ll influence the rest of my career in healthcare…”

    “I learned that a passion for service and love for fellow people is the common thread among the healthcare providers and other employees I worked with; in these communities, no matter what significant challenges come up, they are always faced with fierce love and creative solutions. I learned so much! It is hard to encapsulate it all.”

    Learn more about the 2016 Couriers:

    Meet our 2016 Couriers (Part 1 of 2)

    Meet our 2016 Couriers (Part 2 of 2)

     

    View this graphic to learn more about the Courier Program 2014-2016.

    Learn more about the Courier Program and how Mary Breckinridge’s legacy continues today: 

    [embedded content]

     

  • Answer the Call: #GivingTuesday

    Answer the Call: #GivingTuesday

     

    #GivingTuesday is an international day of giving. How will you ‘Answer the Call’ on November 29?

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has experienced remarkable growth over the past few years, with nearly 1,900 students currently enrolled. But with increased growth comes increased need, and many of our students need your help! Education can put a financial strain on some students, especially when they begin clinical practicums and can no longer work. #GivingTuesday is your opportunity to get involved.

    One FNU student who has benefited from the generous support of scholarships is Tess Anna Interlicchia, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student. Tess is a single mother to two small children, and thanks to financial assistance, she is able to spend time with her children every weekend instead of working.

    “After graduation, I plan to work as a homecare FNP in my hometown, an underserved rural area of Steuben County, N.Y. The elderly have always been my first love, and I will be honored to serve them in their homes,” said Tess. “I feel that serving the truly underserved honors the spirit of Frontier.”

    Many students like Tess are earning degrees with the intent to use their expertise and knowledge to serve underprivileged members of their home communities. These students have witnessed the need in their areas first-hand and are committed to improving health care where they serve.

    The education provided by FNU gives graduates a measure of respect that comes with the title they earn with their degree, whether it be Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice, or any other title. Kyle Farmer, an FNP student and scholarship recipient, knows that his education will help him to gain the trust of people in his hometown of Leslie County, Ky.

    “As I witness in my community’s hospital,” said Kyle, “many people in my area don’t seek medical attention when it is needed. This is due not only to a lack of providers, but also to a lack of trust in present providers. Appalachia has possessed a culture of self-sufficiency throughout history, but I feel that through the trusting relationships I will establish as an FNP, more people in my community will promptly seek health care.”

    Currently, only 2 percent of FNU students receive scholarship support. Most Frontier students are employed full-time and are responsible for supporting their families. The need for financial support for our students is great: when a new scholarship for students with financial hardships became available, FNU received 64 applications within 48 hours.

    Giving to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund is investing in the education of FNU students, but beyond that, it is empowering these students to make a difference where they serve and to improve the overall healthcare situation in underprivileged communities.

    Please answer the call, as so many of our students have, and consider a gift to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund on #GivingTuesday, November 29!  For more information on #GivingTuesday, check out https://frontier.edu/answerthecall. You can give directly to the cause here.

  • Let Our Stories Move You to Answer the Call

    By: Dr. Susan Stone

     

    In celebration of National Midwifery Week in October, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) hosted our second annual Digital Summit focused on nurse-midwifery. This year also marked a special occasion for the FNU community as Kitty Ernst, FNU’s Mary Breckinridge Chair of Midwifery, celebrated her 90th birthday.

     

    Kitty has been a leader in the field of midwifery for more than 60 years and an incredible mentor to many of us at FNU. As we advocate for advancing nurse-midwifery care and education, Kitty has always encouraged us to share our stories to get our message across. And so we did.

     

    The theme of FNU’s Digital Summit was “Let Our Stories Move You to Answer the Call.” We spent an exciting week exploring the experiences and stories of Certified Nurse-Midwives who are passionate leaders committed to better care for women and families.

     

    According to the American Midwifery Certification Board, there are more than 11,000 Certified Nurse-Midwives and the number of midwife-attended births in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1991. FNU’s goal, and one of the reasons we host the Digital Summit, is to be a leading educator for the 100,000 nurse-midwives needed as we move forward in reform of our health care system.

     

    Nurse-midwives are focused on the needs of the women they serve.

     

    When Mary Breckinridge founded Frontier Nursing University more than 75 years ago, her vision was to provide nurse-midwifery care to serve the needs of women and families in rural and underserved areas. A study from the American College of Nurse-Midwives in 2012 found that women receiving midwifery care reported higher levels of patient satisfaction and lower costs due to fewer unnecessary, invasive and expensive interventions.

     

    Nurse-midwives reach more mothers and increase care options for women and families through birth centers. During the Digital Summit, we heard heartwarming stories from families who chose birth center care and nurse-midwives who provide safe environments for women to have their babies. The number of midwifery-led birth centers has increased 65 percent in the past eight years, and our hope is that this model of care will continue to grow.

     

    Nurse-midwives are expanding their roles by adding other certifications.

     

    At Frontier, we encourage nurse-midwives to think broadly about the needs of the communities they serve. Mary Breckinridge and pioneers like Kitty Ernst who have carried her legacy forward have demonstrated that nurse-midwives who care for the family benefit the entire community.

     

    Many nurse-midwives are taking their careers a step further to ensure they are prepared to be change agents in their communities by focusing on evidence-based care, quality improvement and leadership. One example is Frontier Nursing University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). We developed this degree program to meet the demand for advanced practice nursing leaders in an increasingly complex health care system. With a DNP education our graduates can directly implement evidence-based practices that lead to improved care in their communities.

     

    FNU DNP graduates shared during the Digital Summit how their advanced degrees are essential to improving the healthcare of their communities. We hope that more nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners with a mission and vision for the future will choose to advance their education and clinical leadership.

     

    Additionally, many nurse-midwives are going beyond primary and maternity care to address the mental health of the women they serve. New in 2017, FNU will offer a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program with an option to complete a companion DNP degree. Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 classes.

     

    We need more nurses to answer the call.

     

    During the Digital Summit, I also shared my story. As a head nurse in an obstetrical ward, I found my passion for improving the childbirth experience for women. I knew that only through compassionate, humanistic and women-centered care could health outcomes be improved for mothers, babies and families. So, I answered the call.

     

    My journey at FNU started as a nurse-midwifery student in the school’s first distance education class. I later joined FNU as a faculty member, which eventually led to my current role as president. I’ve had the opportunity to advocate for advanced nursing and midwifery education, as well as the care of women throughout their lives in underserved communities around the world.

     

    Nurse-midwives don’t just provide maternity care and attend births. The modern nurse-midwife plays a larger role in women’s healthcare and health of the entire family. We hope our stories inspired more nurses to answer the call, whether that’s pursuing a certification in nurse-midwifery, expanding their roles as nurse-midwives or mentoring and precepting to shape the future of midwifery care.

     

    We invite you to learn more about the FNU Digital Summit and view the 2016 sessions and videos at www.FNUDigitalSummit.com.

     

    Dr. Susan Stone

    President, Frontier Nursing University

  • Faculty Spotlight: Tia Andrighetti DNP, CNM

    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.

    Tia Andrighetti DNP, CNM had her first encounter with Frontier Nursing University (FNU) during her collegiate days at Pennsylvania State University. It was there that she worked with a Frontier pioneer providing maternity care. She knew from that point on she wanted to train at FNU and become a nurse-midwife.

    Tia decided to attend FNU, Class 9,  and completed the Certified Nurse-Midwifery program. Part of her clinical rotation took place at Boca Community Hospital in Boca Raton, Fla. Her experience there led her to become a Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) member at FNU where she advises students and guides them through the nurse-midwifery program process. Tia also worked at East Pasco Medical Center in Zephyrhills, Fla.

    In addition to her time at Penn State and FNU, Tia studied at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She returned to FNU to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Class 2. Tia says this is where she really came to apply all of her previously acquired knowledge in a practical manner. Her DNP project included simulations to emulate real situations and challenges faced in birth settings

    Tia’s first job as a CNM was at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn. She lived in Florida at the time but sought a job in the New England area. Tia turned down several jobs before accepting her position at L&M, which was a full scope midwifery practice employed by physicians. Tia and her fellow nurse-midwife had a daily “midwife tea” where they compared professional opinions and experiences, reported on patients in their service, all while growing closer on a personal level.

    Tia left her job at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital to work at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, N.H., working with one OB/GYN running the hospital’s clinic .

    Along with her extensive nursing and midwifery experience, Tia has taught in the nursing world for quite some time. She taught BSN OB clinicals  at the University of New Hampshire before arriving at FNU. For her work as an RCF, Tia has received the Student Choice Award twice. She says the most rewarding aspects of teaching are the “aha moments” when students come to an understanding of the concepts being taught, as well as “midwifing the student.” Her advice to incoming students is to “realize the seriousness of what you are undertaking – and enjoy the ride!”

    Tia is a member of several professional organizations. She was an American College of Nurse-Midwives-affiliate vice president, and previously served as secretary and treasurer. She is also involved in these organizations: , the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Networks. In addition, Tia reviews articles for the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health and was named Reviewer of the Year in 2015.

    When she’s not working, Tia enjoys spending time with her children and family, traveling, gardening and reading.

  • Faculty Spotlight: Beki Asti, FNP-BC

    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.

     

    Beki Asti knows how to set goals and live them out. She received her undergraduate degree from Carroll College in Wisconsin and went to work as a nurse in the United States Air Force, but her sights were set on eventually becoming a nurse practitioner.

     

    “I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse practitioner,” said Beki. “To accomplish that, I set a goal to go back to school five years after graduating. It passed by faster than I expected, and when the time came, I went to Frontier Nursing University to get my master’s degree.”

     

    Beki went through the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at FNU, earning her Master of Science in Nursing degree. She found her FNU experience enjoyable and rewarding, and she was impressed by the program’s ability to ease the challenging transition from nurse to advanced practice nurse.

     

    One of Beki’s roles at FNU is Regional Clinical Faculty. In this role she enjoys working with students to make the same transition from nurse to nurse practitioner.

     

    “I’ve been there and I enjoy helping students as they’re going through that change as well.” She spends many hours reading, writing papers, and working on projects. Beki embraces the challenging work as it gives her another means to relate to her students.

     

    Her project focus within her doctoral studies is how to manage obesity in patients with mental illness. She encourages students with interest in this topic to engage in discussion and come to her with questions.

     

    Beki’s nursing career has been full of variety. Her first job after college was in a start-up community clinic where she was the only nurse practitioner.

     

    “Finding where to fit in was challenging, as I first had to educate the physicians on my abilities and scope before I could be a useful addition the team.”

     

    Since then, she has worked on an Army base where her patients were military dependents and active duty. She has also worked in several urgent care clinics. One such clinic was located in Massachusetts, where the clinic saw many primary care issues due to a lack of primary care providers in that area.

     

    Currently, Beki works in Community Mental Health. She also splits her time at FNU between Regional Clinical Faculty for nurse practitioner students and teaching a Principles of Health Promotion course.

     

    Beki’s involvement in the nursing community is widespread and impressive. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She serves as a counselor for FNU’s Chi Pi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, helping with student membership enrollment into the honor society. Beki is also a member of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners.

     

    Beki hopes that through her role at FNU, she can inspire students to follow in her success.

     

    “I want to show students the different settings offered to nurse practitioners as well as the ongoing education that all of us are in pursuit of.”

     

    When she’s not working, Beki loves spending time with her husband and two small children.

  • Alumni Spotlight: Damara Jenkins, CNM

    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.

     

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumni Damara Jenkins (Class 48) first stumbled upon nurse-midwifery after contemplating medical school. She quickly discovered that midwifery fit her personal philosophy, and from that point on she wanted to pursue a career as a Certified Nurse-Midwife.

     

    When looking for the right school, Damara was first drawn to Frontier’s distance education program. As a working mother raising four children, the flexibility offered by FNU was an attractive option. She also had family ties that made FNU appealing. Damara’s grandfather was a surgeon who had volunteered with the Frontier Nursing Service.

     

    Most importantly, Damara felt that her personal passion and goals closely aligned with Frontier’s long-standing mission to serve rural and underserved communities.

     

    “My goal was not just to produce more nurse-midwives in Kentucky, but also to focus on serving women in my local community,” said Damara.

     

    She first practiced as a CNM in July 2011 at Woman Care in Indiana. Many of her patients traveled from Louisville, Ky., to see her because they couldn’t find nurse-midwives with hospital privileges in the Louisville area. Over time, that changed. In November 2014, Damara accepted a position in the Division of Midwifery at the University of Louisville, Center for Women and Infants.

     

    In this role, Damara serves women from Louisville and surrounding areas with diverse economic and educational backgrounds. The Center recently hired two additional nurse-midwives to support the demand for the midwifery model of care.  

     

    “One of the nice things about working in the hospital setting is that I have the opportunity to teach not only nurse-midwives or nurse practitioner students, but also medical students,” said Damara.

     

    According to Damara, she is pleased to see a steady increase of deliveries since arriving to the Center.

     

    Damara is not only carrying out the Frontier mission by providing midwifery care through her regular job duties, but she is also serving as a preceptor for FNU nurse-midwifery students. In addition, she is involved in a local group that is trying to establish a birth center in Louisville. Being a part of the “Friends of the Birth Center” group is a first step to increasing birthing options for women in the area.

     

    “I love my job,” said Damara. “Yes, it’s difficult and you have to have the flexibility to change your plans at any given moment, but it is so rewarding being in a position to witness women’s strength. It’s also amazing just being a part of the midwifery community and connecting with people from all over the world as we support and learn from one another.”

     

    Visit this link to see Damara featured in a news segment on WDRB 41 in Louisville.

     

    Visit this link to see Damara featured on WHAS 11 Great Day Live!

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