Blog

  • 2023 Highlight: FNU Announces Staff DEI Ambassador Program Participants

    2023 Highlight: FNU Announces Staff DEI Ambassador Program Participants

    As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

    In 2023, FNU launched the Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador program. This program mirrors the Nurse Educator DEI Fellowship program initiated by FNU in January. Ten faculty members participated in the 12-week initiative, which was fully funded by Frontier. A total of 15 FNU staff members are participating in the Staff DEI Ambassador program.

    Like the Nurse Educator Fellowship program, the Staff DEI Ambassador program rejects the traditional DEI approach. It uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education.

    The Staff DEI Ambassador program aims to promote the acquisition of DEI-related skills, build DEI capacity within the University, and evaluate a peer-to-peer education model to improve staff knowledge and engagement in anti-racism work. The program includes weekly 2-3 hour sessions culminating in a capstone project. Each ambassador will work with their assigned DEI Faculty Fellow mentor to develop their project. At the end of the program, the ambassadors will present their project to the FNU community.

    “These initiatives came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” said FNU Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training.”

  • 2023 Highlight: FNU Relaunches Summer Courier program

    2023 Highlight: FNU Relaunches Summer Courier program

    As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

    After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of Frontier Nursing University’s oldest programs relaunched this summer behind the leadership of the Director of Annual Giving and Courier Program, Lisa Colletti-Jones. The Courier Program, which was operated from the Versailles campus for the first time, provided an opportunity for two college students to participate in an eight-week service learning internship within Woodford County, which is home to the city of Versailles and the FNU campus.


    The Couriers Rebecca Kouvei and Echioma Onyemaobi with Lisa Colletti-Jones, Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs.

    Courier Rebecca Kouvei

    As a senior public health major at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rebecca Kouevi is passionate about connecting with patients to understand their problems better and collaborate with them to find effective solutions. Her studies include epidemiology and disease control concentrations, and she is minoring in sociology.

    “I chose (sociology) because I wanted to bring that patient-centered and cultural sensitivity aspect to care,” Rebecca said. “First of all, let’s treat the person in front of us. It is about more than just the medicine prescription or their presenting disease. Different factors – economic, social, health, and diet – contribute to their health and wellbeing as a whole person.”

    Rebecca, who resides in Richardson, Texas, just outside of Dallas, is a first-generation college student and is on track to graduate next spring. She hopes to become a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and later plans to do medical missions and work with underserved populations, hoping to work for World Health Orginization (WHO).

    “I love how versatile a physician assistant’s career pathway can be, the freedom to jump from one specialty to another – like surgery, primary care, and pediatrics. However, nurse practitioners’ practice independence is a big draw also,” Rebecca said. “Whether I become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, I do not think I can go wrong either way. They are both helping people. Whatever I decide, I hope to make a difference in my patients’ lives and positively impact the community I serve.”

    Rebecca has worked with the Woodford County EMS and The Midway Center for Integrative Health during the Courier program. She has gone on calls with the EMS, which has given her a first-hand perspective of how the EMS personnel interact with patients in the most stressful of times.

    “One call I was on was with an elderly patient,” Rebecca said. “She had fallen on her head. When the EMS arrived, I saw so much more than just bandaging someone up. Her daughter was there and in disarray. One of the EMS people was over there calming her down, offering to let her ride with us while at the same time taking care of the mom who fell. It’s just nice to see the interaction between providers, patients, and families. The tender care, empathy, and compassion displayed left an imprint on me.”

    At The Midway Center for Integrative Health, Rebecca has worked with Dr. Jim Roach, M.D., ABIHM, ABOIM. “One of the first two questions he asks is about their spiritual and mental health, followed by their diet inquiry,” Rebecca said. “He is really thorough, and I like how he is able to take time with each patient to conduct a comprehensive assessment and determine root problems. I continue to learn about the importance of humanizing healthcare delivery and providing care for that patient right in front of me and value them. It is paramount to collaborate with patients, to put yourself in their shoes, seeking to understand the buy-in for patients, and considering their lifestyle to formulate an effective and comprehensive care plan that they can adhere to for optimal outcomes.”

    Rebecca said the Courier experience has been fun, educational and has sharpened her healthcare delivery vision.

    “Everyone is super friendly, and I have enjoyed meeting various people from diverse backgrounds and disciples,” she said. “Each week, we have discussions with different practitioners and professionals who are experts in their fields. It has been amazing getting everyone’s knowledge and insight, and advice on how to improve the healthcare system. It is easy to focus on all the things that are wrong with healthcare, but we have physicians and nurse practitioners who are there because they want to be there. They care about their patients and seek to help them attain a quality life amidst their health challenges. Focusing on people will make a difference for everyone.”

    Rebecca said that the Frontier community, led by the Annual Giving and Courier Program Director, Lisa Colletti-Jones, has gone above and beyond and made her Courier experience positive.

    “I am just impressed by the staff members,” she said. “They are passionate and caring people who do their work well. They are dedicated to ensuring an impactful and hands-on experience for us to explore our individual interests. I am so thankful for Lisa and everyone here who made the program successful. It has been a great time, and I am so grateful for this experience and all the ways it has enriched my professional development.”

    Courier Echioma Onyemaobi

    Completing his freshman year at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Echi Onyemaobi is taking the time to learn what he wants to do after his college days are over. He is already enrolled in UT Permian Basin’s nursing program and embraced the opportunity to learn more about healthcare as an FNU Courier this summer.

    With most summer internships tagged for juniors and seniors, Echi was prepared to work through the summer. But an advisor suggested he look into courier service and helped him set up his profile on Handshake. Not long after, he came across the Courier program and realized it was the opportunity he was looking for.

    “When I came across the Courier program, I saw it was more like community service,” Echi said. “That’s what really caught my interest. I’m a freshman, so I’m here to explore.”

    Echi, who was born in Nigeria, moved to Odessa, Texas, with his family when he was young. Along with his mother, he has an older brother and older sister. His father passed away when Echi was little.

    He has already immersed himself in college life, enjoying the small atmosphere. He is active in student government, having recently been elected as treasurer.

    “It’s been a good experience so far,” Echi said of college life. “My teachers have been really encouraging.”

    Outgoing and eager to learn, Echi enjoys building relationships and helping others.

    “What got me interested in nursing is that you can actually have a more personal relationship with patients,” he said.

    During his time as a Courier this summer, Echi shadowed Patty, a hospice nurse with Bluegrass Care Navigators. He went on patient visits with her and had the chance to watch first-hand how she interacted with her patients.

    “One thing that she made me see is the importance of a personal relationship with your patients,” he said. “She has that. I see I see it in her patient’s eyes. They are excited to see her. It’s not like we can reverse aging or make them feel younger, but I feel these moments are really important in people’s lives. She could just go and check her patients and move along and just walk away. That’s what she’s getting paid for. But she takes the extra step to make sure the patient is actually happy and at ease. That’s what I really like about this experience. It’s important to do your job, but there’s nothing more important than actually maintaining that relationship that you have with your patient. It can change everything.”

    While the Courier program did not change Echi’s mind about wanting to be a nurse, it did give him a much deeper understanding of the profession.

    “One thing I’ve loved about this experience is that it showed me the true motivation behind my wanting to become a nurse,” he said. “The Courier program was really a good idea for me because this reinforced my decision to pursue nursing. I have more of an understanding of what nursing can actually be, and I want to become a nurse now more than ever.”

  • 2023 Highlight: FNU Holds 13th Annual Diversity Impact Conference

    2023 Highlight: FNU Holds 13th Annual Diversity Impact Conference

    To close out 2023, we will be sharing a series of highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

    On June 8-9, Frontier Nursing University held its 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference. The Diversity Impact Conference brings together renowned thought leaders and speakers to increase awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the healthcare workforce, particularly for those working in underserved and rural communities. This year, for the first time, the conference was made available for attendees outside of FNU. Students attending any institution were allowed to register for the conference for free. A total of 134 attended the conference, including 39 students.

    “This event is all about collaboration, learning, and growing,” said FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I’m confident that this event benefits any university, department, or individual.”

    The 2023 Diversity Impact Conference was conducted via Zoom with the overarching theme: “Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare.” The two-day event featured keynote presentations on both days from nationally recognized leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additional sessions included panel discussions, breakout sessions, and time for reflection.

    The opening keynote address was given by Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Vice President of 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, D.C. Dr. McNair is the lead author of “From Equity Talk to Equity Walk.”

    On the second day of the conference, the keynote speaker was Rebekka Eshler, National President of the Transgender American Veterans Association in Washington, D.C. She spoke about pronouns and why they matter, and the importance of using a person’s correct name rather than their “dead” name. She shared data demonstrating that utilizing the correct pronouns reduces suicide rates by two-thirds among transgender individuals.

    Among the other presentations throughout the conference was a panel discussion with DEI officers from other universities and organizations, discussing the challenges and successes of offices of DEI throughout the country. Marisa Hamamoto, the founder of Infinite Flow, an award-winning nonprofit dance company that employs disabled and nondisabled artists with diverse, intersectional identities with a mission to use dance as a catalyst to dismantle biases and promote inclusion., spoke on the importance of accessibility and inclusivity.

    Dr. Patricia Bradley, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Associate Professor and the Inaugural Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence at the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN) at Villanova University, presented on “Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging in Nursing Education.” FNU Regional Clinical Faculty Dr. Heidi Loomis, DM, CRNP, CNM, presented “Graduate Midwifery Students’ Experiences of Bias in the Clinical Setting.”

    On day two of the event, FNU President Dr. Susan Stone gave a presentation, “FNU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts: Past, Present, Future.” In her presentation, Dr. Stone shared FNU’s history and acknowledgment statement, how and why FNU chose to make DEI a priority focus, and the results of those efforts to date. In addition to steadily improving diversity enrollment since the DEI efforts began, Dr. Stone shared the importance of the entire FNU community supporting these initiatives and gave the example of the FNU Board of Directors, who created their own DEI Committee and established a $2 million dollar endowed fund for scholarships for underrepresented students.

    “When Frontier Nursing University first held the ‘Diversity Impact Conference’ over a decade ago, we chose the name carefully. ‘Diversity’ and ‘conference’ were obvious choices, but the word that truly describes what this conference is all about is ‘impact’,” Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, said. “Diversity is more than a concept or a pie chart. Whether in an organization, a neighborhood, a business, or a school, diversity has an impact. That impact comes in many forms. In Frontier’s particular area of preparing advanced practice nurses and nurse-midwives, the impact of a diverse student body, diverse faculty, and diverse staff results in diverse graduates who are equipped to answer the call to serve in the communities in which they live all over the country.”

    FNU has already begun making plans for the 14th annual Diversity Impact Conference to be held in 2024. With the addition of external attendees, this signature event continues to grow and widen its important message and reach.

    “Advancing a culture of identity and belonging is a hallmark of FNU,” said FNU Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley. “We aim to continue breaking down barriers by engaging stakeholders and impacting every community we touch.

  • Frontier Nursing University offers four specialty tracks for nurses

    Frontier Nursing University offers four specialty tracks for nurses

    In the field of healthcare, everyone has their own unique passions and interests. That’s why at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) we offer four specialty tracks with paths for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC), depending on the student’s educational background and career goals. A Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is also offered as a degree option for those who have completed the MSN. Our specialty tracks are Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. All of our specialties share an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

    What sets FNU apart? 

    Students can attend full or part-time, while completing 100 percent of coursework online and a clinical practicum in their home community. Students also enjoy one or two brief on-campus immersion experiences where they meet and connect with the FNU community, including faculty, alumni, staff and peers. FNU students earning an MSN can continue on to complete their DNP with 30 additional credit hours.

    Four Specialty Tracks for Advanced Nursing Degrees

    Let’s take a look at each specialty offered at FNU.

    Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)

    As the university with the oldest and largest continually operating nurse-midwifery education program in the U.S., FNU’s alumni population is made up of many passionate Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM). In fact, FNU graduates more than 40 percent of the nation’s nurse-midwives, and more than half of FNU’s faculty members are CNMs.

    CNMs are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in the care of women throughout their lives including pregnancy and childbirth. They offer primary care for women throughout their lifespan, including routine gynecological exams, family planning services, and menopause management.

    At Frontier Nursing University, our goal is to educate more certified nurse-midwives so that midwifery care is available to all women who seek it. To learn more, visit frontier.edu/nurse-midwife.

    Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

    Home of the nation’s first Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, FNU has been an innovator in family nursing education for over 50 years. With a strong academic and clinical basis, FNU strives to equip students with the tools to be a successful FNP and a leader in healthcare.

    An FNP is an advanced practice nurse who manages the healthcare of individuals and their families by providing preventive and primary care, promoting health and wellbeing, and helping their patients manage chronic conditions. FNPs conduct routine checkups and assessments, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, prescribe medications, and initiate and manage treatment plans for their patients.

    To learn more, visit frontier.edu/family-nurse-practitioner.

    Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

    For nurses seeking advanced education in women’s health, FNU offers a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program. The program provides students with the tools to holistically address the unique needs of women across their lifespans.

    A WHNP is an advanced practice nurse who specializes in continuing and comprehensive health care for women throughout their lives. WHNPs provide well-woman care, reproductive and gynecological care, and prenatal and postpartum care. Additionally, WHNPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education, and helping patients make smart lifestyle choices.

    To learn more, visit frontier.edu/womens-health-care-nurse-practitioner.

    Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

    FNU added a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty track and began accepting students in 2017 for nurses who wish to serve the mental health needs of their communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States.

    A PMHNP is an advanced practice nurse who seeks to improve mental health care and the overall health status of communities. With a focus on lifetime care for individuals, PMHNPs are committed to promoting mental health through assessment, diagnosis and treatment of behavioral problems, mental disorders and comorbid conditions.

    To learn more, visit frontier.edu/psych-mental-health-nurse-practitioner.

    A leader in distance education

    FNU has been a leader in distance education since 1989. We have thousands of alumni who have completed advanced nursing degrees from their home communities. If this sounds like the right path for you, trust that we will be here to support you every step of the way.

    Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news, events and inspiring stories from our alumni, students, faculty, preceptors and staff! If you’re ready to apply, click here.

  • Featured Preceptors: CNMs Frances Sahrphillips and Tricia Heinrich work together to precept FNU students

    Featured Preceptors: CNMs Frances Sahrphillips and Tricia Heinrich work together to precept FNU students

    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 healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

    Frontier Nursing University preceptors Frances Sahrphillips and Tricia Heinrich not only work toward preparing the dedicated healthcare professionals of tomorrow, but they also join forces to make a positive impact on the lives of patients today. Both serving as Certified Nurse- Midwives (CNMs), Sahrphillips and Heinrich contribute their expertise with the Southeast Georgia Health System while collaborating on precepting students.

    In their role as CNMs, Sahrphillips and Heinrich work with women from adolescence to menopause. Their practice serves a high percentage of active duty military members and dependents due to its proximity to a nearby Naval base. They also serve residents of surrounding rural counties where obstetrical services are unavailable. Many of their patients are on Medicaid.

    In addition to her work with the Southeast Georgia Health System, Sahrphillips also serves as a CNM with the Georgia Health Department Coastal Health District Camden County. She is a published author in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health and has provided webinars for the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia. She was inducted into the American College of Nurse-Midwives Fellows earlier this year and has been a board member of the Georgia Perinatal Association.

    “Her patients feel heard and can expect their concerns to be addressed,” said FNU student Elijah Paradee. “If a patient lacks resources or is in need, Frances is adept at guiding them to the proper resource or aid. The high comfort level I see between Frances and her patients is indicative of this.”

    Sahrphillips and Heinrich have jointly precepted numerous FNU students. For Heinrich, an FNU alum, working with FNU students is particularly rewarding.

    “I love watching everything come together and the confidence build,” she said. “It’s so rewarding giving back and shaping the future. I absolutely love being able to be a part of this process and giving back, especially to Frontier being a former student.”

    FNU student Karen Howell, who is earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), said she is the first DNP student Sahrphillips and Heinrich have precepted together. She said throughout the process, they have done everything necessary to make sure she can succeed and have been encouraging in her professional growth.

    “They are a dynamic duo who are always concerned with providing quality care with a patient-centered focus and in a timely manner in a collaborative practice,” she said.

    Thank you, Frances and Tricia, for your dedication to precepting FNU students and for your unwavering commitment to patients through your roles as CNMs.

    To read about previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor, click here.

    Are you interested in becoming a Frontier preceptor? Learn more here.

    Learn more about nurse-midwifery and advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, preceptors, faculty and staff!

  • FNU Awarded $4 Million Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant

    FNU Awarded $4 Million Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant

    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant to Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The current grant period will end on September 29, 2027. FNU will receive $4 million – $1 million per year –  to fund the grant project.

    Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the nurse-midwifery workforce. FNU plans to graduate at least 300 nurse-midwives each year. The grant funds will help broaden the scope and reach of FNU’s marketing campaigns and increase the university’s student support programs. Student support will include a mentoring program and retention strategies.

    “We are honored and thrilled to receive the Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “This grant offers FNU the opportunity to focus on an area of particular need in our country. According to 2022 data from the CDC, more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. from 2017-2019 were preventable by simply providing better care. It is vital that we increase the number of nurse-midwives to combat the tragically high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in our country.”

    As part of the MatCare grant, FNU will provide 100 scholarships ($5,000 each) as well as 100 stipends ($2000 each) for nurse-midwifery students annually. Scholarships and stipends are managed through the university’s Scholarship Committee and the Financial Aid Department.

  • Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month

    Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month

    Throughout history, Native Americans have served as great leaders, healers, political activists, and advocates for their people. We invite the FNU Community to join us in celebration of National Native American Heritage Month.

    Our campus is located in Kentucky, an area that many different tribes once called home, including the Cherokee, the Chickasaw, and the Shawnee. The archeology in Kentucky, such as rock art, cave paintings, arrowheads, and ancient pottery shards, are evidence that Indigenous Americans lived throughout the state prior to European contact (Source: visitlex.com).

    As part of our Versailles, Ky., campus ribbon cutting ceremony in 2022, FNU held a land acknowledgment ceremony. Land acknowledgments recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands we now occupy. Versailles is the traditional territory of the Shawnee and Cherokee people.


    FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMNHP-BC, APRN, with Native American elders Helen Danser and Venus Evans.

    In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to learn more about two Cherokee women and their impact on our country, as well as Brandon Locklear, RN, BSN, a Native American Lumbee and FNU student from Robeson County, North Carolina.

    Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010) was the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation, an Activist, a Writer, and a Professor at Dartmouth College. She also served as an advisor to the U.S. Government on tribal affairs. In 1993, Wilma Mankiller was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. During her tenure as chief, she accomplished the following:

    • Dramatic decline in infant mortality
    • Tribal employment doubled
    • Increased the number of tribal health clinics
    • Development of several programs for Cherokee youth

    Mary Golda Ross (1908-2008) was a Cherokee woman who earned her master’s degree in astronomy and mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado. She later joined Lockheed Martin aircraft corporation in 1942. She helped to design the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter jet that came very close to breaking the sound barrier. She later joined Lockheed Martin Missile Systems Division (Skunk Works), a top-secret division that paved the way for space travel. She also helped to write NASA’s Planetary Flight Handbook.


    FNU Student Brandon Locklear, FNP

    FNU Alumni Brandon Locklear, FNP, works in acute hospital environments, assisting underserved communities that are facing nursing shortages. He graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in May 2023.

    He treats adult and elderly patients, and many suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disorders, diabetes, and lung diseases. Locklear strives to give back to his community by being a light in a dark place for his patients. He educates his patients about their chronic conditions and provides them with the skills they need for a better quality of life.

    Locklear, a Native American Lumbee from Robeson County, North Carolina, provides culturally competent care to help the underprivileged people in his hometown. He says the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is culturally rich and undeniably unique. He notes this region of North Carolina has experienced a significant amount overdoses, suicides, mental illnesses, heart disease and diabetes. Locklear, as a native, hopes to help his people overcome these challenges.

    READ MORE

    We encourage you to learn more about Native American Heritage Month by visit these sites:

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a priority at Frontier Nursing University. Patients are more receptive to care from a health provider who understands their culture and socioeconomic background. We want to build a culture that is inclusive and caring for all.

  • Giving back through precepting 

    Giving back through precepting 

    Frontier Nursing University’s Clinical Outreach and Placement team is available to help students throughout their clinical program. Clinical Outreach and Placement Director Stephanie Boyd leads a team that includes three clinical advisors and a clinical services coordinator. The unit aids students by providing assistance and resources for locating clinical sites. It also provides support and customer service to preceptors, answering their questions and troubleshooting challenging situations.

    The Clinical Outreach and Placement unit encourages students to be proactive and creative in their search for clinical sites. Sharing tips and success stories, they hope to inspire students to take the initiative and get an early start on identifying a clinical site.

    “Students have a dedicated team of staff and faculty who work with them every step of the way,” Boyd said. “The majority of our students will tell you that talking about the clinical site identification process earlier and more often is such a benefit to them.”

    The success of early planning with students might also be part of the solution to identify and create an even larger network of preceptors. Boyd’s team, which monitors a nationwide preceptor database, is particularly focused on increasing the number of FNU alumni who share their knowledge by precepting Frontier students. The process to do so began by developing the infrastructure, which includes Clinical Services Coordinator Brittany Bachman, who provides one-on-one support to preceptors, helping them navigate the process of precepting.

    FNU preceptors are surveyed annually to gain insight into their experience precepting a Frontier student. Cumulative data, along with individual narrative responses, help Boyd and her team identify areas of improvement. The survey results, which are overwhelmingly positive, also serve as an additional way to promote and encourage potential preceptors who might have reservations about the time, process, or overall experience of precepting.

    In addition to recruiting FNU alumni to become preceptors, the university is also giving added attention to a grassroots effort to encourage students to think about giving back after they graduate. Giving back can take many forms, including monetary gifts or, in the case of precepting, gifts of time and expertise. Graduates are eligible to precept one year after their graduation date.

    “FNU students know the importance of having great preceptors to help train and mentor them,” said FNU alumna Kendra Faucett, DNP, CNM, CNE, FACNM. “As alumni, sharing their time and expertise through precepting is incredibly rewarding.”

    The primary reward comes in the form of helping students learn and develop their skills, of course, but a fun secondary reward is the Featured Preceptor of the Term recognition. Each term, Boyd’s team selects a preceptor to recognize based on nominations from students and faculty.

    Whether assisting students or preceptors, the key element in the work of the Clinical Outreach and Placement team is communication. Team members manage booths at national nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery conferences where they engage and inform potential preceptors. The team also plans to start sending quarterly e-newsletters to active preceptors as a means to keep the lines of communication open and to share key information with those preceptors.

    “The majority of our preceptors tell us they precept because they want to give back to their profession,” Boyd said. “The survey responses indicate preceptors feel very supported by FNU. As we increasingly share this information, I am confident that our alumni will want to pay it forward to the next generation of students by answering the call to precept as soon as they are eligible.”

    Frontier Nursing University’s Department of Clinical Outreach and Placement strives to serve both students and their preceptors. All preceptors are surveyed by FNU to learn about their experience precepting a Frontier student and to learn how to create the best possible experience for all parties involved. A total of 746 preceptors responded to FNU’s 2022 survey.

    This is what they had to say about their experience as preceptors for FNU students:

    • When asked how satisfied they were with their experience serving as a Preceptor for an FNU student, nearly 60 percent of respondents said “very satisfied” and nearly 40 percent said “satisfied.”
    • When asked how well-prepared the FNU student was when they began their clinical experience, over 40 percent of respondents said they “exceeded expectations” and about half of the respondents said they “met expectations.”
    • When asked whether or not they felt supported by FNU if they have concerns or issues while precepting, about 95 percent of respondents said yes.
    • When asked if they found the process of setting up their Preceptor Profile information easy to understand, about 95 percent of respondents said yes.
    • When asked how likely they were to serve as a preceptor for an FNU student again, nearly 80 percent of respondents said “likely.”

    Visit this link on our website to learn more about becoming a preceptor.

    Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty and staff!

Request Information Apply Give Now