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  • Student Spotlight: Emily Tubbs hopes to help others improve quality of life as an FNP

    Student Spotlight: Emily Tubbs hopes to help others improve quality of life as an FNP

    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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

    Through her role as a registered nurse, FNU student Emily Tubbs works every day to help underserved patients in her community. A resident of Hooper, Utah, Tubbs works as a referral triage nurse for a local Rheumatology clinic.

    The specialty clinic is in the Intermountain healthcare system, where Tubbs has worked since 2009. She started as a patient service representative in Radiation Therapy and then as a CNA while attending nursing school. She also worked with Applegate HomeCare & Hospice and Heritage Park Care Center. She has served as a registered nurse with Intermountain for six years now.

    Intermountain is made up of nearly 60,000 caregivers who serve the healthcare needs of people across the Intermountain West, primarily in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Kansas. It is a not-for-profit organization providing care to all individuals in the community regardless of their ability to pay, including low-income, uninsured, and minority populations.

    Inspired by her own experience as a patient

    Tubbs said her decision to pursue a career in healthcare was inspired by her own experiences as a patient. She said she experiences symptoms that affect her daily life, but has not yet been diagnosed with any condition.

    “I know a lot of people in the same boat as me, where our lab work and assessment findings leave us undiagnosed,” she said. “I want to help anyone looking for the underlying cause of their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.”

    Tubbs is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at FNU to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She said she was inspired to enroll at FNU due to the flexibility afforded by online courses and the university’s highly-reputable Nurse Practitioner program.

    A member of FNU Class 205, Tubbs is set to graduate in 2025.

    Outside of her work and studies, Tubbs enjoys spending time with her family, friends and pets; spending time outside on walks, runs and hikes; going to the gym and going out to eat. She is married and has three children, along with eight horses, 15 cattle, a goat, a dog and three cats.

    Thank you, Emily, for choosing FNU in your healthcare journey and for providing quality care to underserved populations in your community.

    Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University, including our Family Nurse Practitioner program. 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!

  • Celebrating Women’s History Month with FNU Staff 

    Celebrating Women’s History Month with FNU Staff 

    March is Women’s History Month. During this time, we aim to celebrate and recognize women’s achievements in history, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality. To celebrate, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will highlight some of our female staff members. We asked them who they look up to and for advice and encouragement.

    Read Last Years Women’s History Month Blogs:


    Megan Cadwell with her family

    Megan Cadwell, Assistant Director of Clinical Credentialing

    Read Megan’s spotlight story

    1. Who is a woman you look up to and why? 
    My grandmother was the cornerstone in my life. The values I hold to this day come from her and the barriers she overcame to have an opportunity for her 3 girls to have a better life. I want to also say I look up to all women I work with, not only in our Credentialing Unit but each colleague at FNU. I feel any woman at FNU has been a pioneer for their department, unit, and our students; They are leading the way for a better tomorrow for healthcare in the United States.  It’s a blessing to see every member, faculty and staff, who work to make a better tomorrow for our students and the communities across the U.S.

    2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?  

    How we treat one another impacts someone else’s experiences. Strive to do your best. For each genuine ounce of compassion and positivity, you provide, you are making the world a better place one interaction at a time. A little compassion goes a long way.

    3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

    Look at what we’ve overcome.  Even when something feels unattainable or mistakes or made, we can always learn from the experience and reach for another goal.  Reflecting on the progress you’ve made and what work is ahead is key to helping achieve your goals.  Never give up, just pivot.

    Samana Upadhyaya

    Samana Upadhyaya, Process & Application Developer

    Read Samana’s spotlight story

    1. Who is a woman you look up to and why? 

    I always look up to my mom. She is my role model. I came from a family of only daughters. My mom was always there to support her daughter’s education and teach us to be strong during difficult times and work for the goal. She always taught us to never give up. She says “It’s ok if you fall but don’t give up; stand back and try again. The person who rides the horse the first time might fall down but can get up and ride back again to reach the destination.”

    2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

    As I am a proud woman in Technology who graduated with a Computer Engineering major, I would like to encourage all those women who are interested in this field to come forward, enjoy it and face the challenge, and do their best. When I used to take computer engineering courses in college, there used to be just a couple of girls to study and take the challenge, but I never stepped back, and never gave up on my dream. I always felt supported by my friends and coworkers. Just believe in yourself and your dream, and work for it.

    3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

    As a woman, do not think that you can’t do some job, always go for the work you like. Always speak up for the things that you think are right, always lift yourself up and believe you can do it. Bring the change from within yourself, inspire others with your great work and support others who want to rise. You can be a great leader.


    Samana’s Mother
    Sarah Juett

    Sarah Juett, Academic Advisor

    Read Sarah’s spotlight story

    1. Who is a woman you look up to and why? 
    One of my biggest role models has always been my maternal grandmother and the matriarch of our family.  She overcame many difficult circumstances while maintaining this incredible warmth and fun-loving spirit. I was always in awe of her strength, kindness, and gender norm-defying skills. 

    2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

    It’s okay to not have it all figured out or to find your passions changing/shifting. The average person changes careers several times throughout their working life. Everything you learn and everyone you meet will be valuable along your journey!


    Bobbi Silver

    Bobbi Silver, Chief Advancement Officer

    Read Bobbi’s spotlight story

    “About a decade ago, I was in a class setting and the instructor asked the group to write down how each of us identify ourselves, then to rank the list. My list focused on being a mother, a wife, a leader, etc. I am all of those things and they are important to me, but nowhere on my list did I emphasize myself as a priority. I always think about that when describing myself. I am ME, first and foremost. I am a woman. I am a mother to two amazing young men, one in college and one in high school. It brings me so much joy to watch them doing the things they love most. I have been married for 23 years and my husband is a police sergeant overseeing a special victims unit. (Bum Bum….I know you heard the music, just like I do every time it’s said.) I am a staunch ally and accomplice to the LGBTQIA+ community. I am a mama to two dogs and a cat, all from the shelter. (#adoptdontshop) I am an Army brat and Army spouse (retired).

    1. Who is a woman you look up to and why? 
    I don’t have a specific woman I look up to but appreciate all women who are courageous to say “I am not going to participate in the comparison game” that so often is put upon women. There’s so much pressure to look a certain way, achieve certain things, and behave in certain ways. I tend to eschew that and instead try to invest time in being and identifying as I truly want to be. That’s not easy but I am dedicated to that work. Don’t be afraid to champion yourself and pat yourself on the back because YOU are the one working so hard to make life work, whether you are juggling work, the home, kids, hobbies or all of those combined. Don’t be afraid to say “today, I thank ME.”

    2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

    Advancement and philanthropy has been historically dominated by male leaders but that has been changing in recent years.  Fundraising is an industry where I think women thrive because of the attributes required that women tend to be really great at. Attributes like attention to detail, the ability to juggle multiple priorities, and an innate ability to establish caring relationships. Women have great success at building quality relationships between donors and the organizations they work for. If you are a woman and want a seat at a table, any table, don’t be afraid to ask questions, to ask for a mentor, and to ask about how you can learn. If you aren’t given those opportunities, don’t be afraid to make decisions to put yourself first.

    3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

    As more and more women get into fundraising as a career, I find it imperative that women leaders like myself make an intentional effort to recruit, help develop, and retain diverse women into our fold. We need to do more to recruit diverse women into the fundraising profession. The richness of having diverse voices working in philanthropy helps inform better decision-making and is invaluable in how we reach our diverse donors. 

  • FNU’s 2023 Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Fellows

    FNU’s 2023 Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Fellows

    Diversity Equity and Inclusion Graphic

    In January, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced the ten FNU faculty members to participate in the University’s inaugural Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Fellowship program. Through this initiative, which is fully funded by FNU, the faculty members attend a 12-week DEI training. This program rejects the traditional DEI approach and uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate faculty development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education. Upon completion of the program, each fellow will then be assigned to coach other members of the FNU faculty for 12 weeks. This was a competitive process, and the application was open to all faculty at FNU.

    We recently interviewed DEI Faculty Fellow Dr. Kevin Scalf to learn more about his experience as a fellow so far and about the process of becoming a fellow.

    “My experience as a DEI Faculty Fellow has been wonderful! I have not only gained essential knowledge of DEI concepts but have also been able to more effectively evaluate my own personal biases and consider the impact of implicit bias on individuals, families, and community,” Scalf said. “I feel so privileged to belong to a group that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. I always look forward to our weekly meetings.”

    The group meets weekly with Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech. During these meetings, the faculty fellows learn about important and relevant DEI topics and concepts and host a discussion with each other.


    DEI Faculty Fellow Dr. Kevin Scalf

    “Even though we sometimes engage in difficult conversations, the sense of support from my colleagues is very strong, one might even say tangible,” Scalf said. “We recognize our diversity, place value on our unique characteristics, and actively work to learn more about the lived experience of other members.”

    In addition to meeting weekly as a group to learn more about essential DEI concepts, they also have had the opportunity to participate in weekly training sessions that increase their ability to hold brave conversations.

    “This is such an important part of our mission,” Scalf said. “Having and encouraging brave conversations is a very empowering experience. In fact, that is an overarching mission of the group; to help empower individuals.”

    The fellows will also have the opportunity to plan and implement a capstone project related to the DEI initiative. This capstone project will allow them to integrate the DEI initiative into regular activity at FNU.

    “Everyone benefits when a community places value on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Scalf said.

    Program Purpose

    One of the aims of this program is to develop an innovative approach to increase health equity through faculty development strategies. As a university, FNU strives to create an anti-racist culture and environment.

    “Everyone has different lived experiences and offers valuable perspective and insight,” Scalf said. “When we value, appreciate, and celebrate our unique experiences and perspectives, our lives are enriched. There is no limit to what we can do if we work to value, understand, and respect each other. We want to create a culture of respect and belonging here at FNU while preparing the APRN student to go forth and effectively deliver culturally appropriate healthcare.”

    As a national as well as university leader, FNU’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, presented “The Development of A Faculty DEI Fellows Program” at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Diversity Leadership Institute last June.

    “This initiative came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” Alexander-Delpech said. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training for our faculty, who can then lead and learn from one another.”

    DEI Faculty Fellows Application Process

    As part of the application process, each faculty member was required to submit a letter of support from their respective department chair. Additionally, each applicant had to develop an essay that illustrated why they wanted to become part of this DEI initiative.

    “It’s so important to know our ‘why’. The ‘why’ drives our actions and governs our ambitions. Our ‘why’ reflects our personal mission,” Scalf said. “I want to be a better ally. I acknowledge that I have a lot to learn in this process, but I want to play an active part in creating and fostering our mission of becoming an anti-racist university. I want to help promote equity for all.”

    The 10 2023 Nurse Educator Faculty Fellows are Drs. Tia Andrighetti, Joshua Barnes, Joanne Keefe, Heidi Loomis, Rebecca Lopez, Doreen Thomas-Payne, Audrey Perry, April Phillips, Kevin Scalf, and Erin Tenney.

    FNU will replicate the DEI Faculty Fellow program for the Staff DEI Ambassador Program, which will be open to all staff, including supervisors.

  • Women’s History Month: Celebrating healthcare heroes 

    Women’s History Month: Celebrating healthcare heroes 

    March is Women’s History Month, a time to commemorate and celebrate the vital role of women in American history. To mark the occasion, let’s observe influential women in nursing and midwifery who have made or are continuing to make a lasting impact.

    Beverly Malone (1948 – Present) 

    Dr. Beverly Malone is a distinguished leader in nursing education, administration, policy, and clinical practice. Born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Dr. Malone serves as CEO of the National League for Nursing. She has made significant contributions to advancing the science of nursing education, promoting collaboration among stakeholders, increasing diversity in nursing and nursing education, and championing evidence-based practice. Dr. Malone’s impressive career includes serving as Federal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health under President Bill Clinton, two terms as president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), and as the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom.

    Dr. Malone has received numerous awards and honors, including over 20 honorary doctorates, the Nursing Outlook Excellence in Research Award, and the Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award. She has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and 70 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know by Modern Healthcare, and has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. Dr. Malone has also contributed to policy-making by serving on the Minority Health Federal Advisory Committee and as a reviewer for the Institute of Medicine’s groundbreaking report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”

    Dr. Malone remains committed to promoting nursing education and addressing the shortage of nurses, regularly offering her expertise and testimony to congressional leaders and policymakers. She currently serves as Vice Chair at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Board of Directors, co-leads the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Health Professional Education and Communication Working Group, and is a member of ecoAmerica’s Leadership Circle Executive Committee, among other roles.

    Loretta C. Ford (1920 – Present) 

    An internationally-revered leader in nursing, Dr. Loretta Ford has proven to be an innovator throughout her career as a nurse and educator. Dr. Ford, in collaboration with Dr. Henry Silver at the University of Colorado, founded the first Nurse Practitioner Program in 1965. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program focused on well-child care in community settings, reflecting Dr. Ford’s expertise in public health and Dr. Silver’s experience as a Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Ford moved to the University of Rochester in 1972, where she founded the university’s School of Nursing and led a “Unification model in Nursing” at the Medical Center. She believed educators should work at the bedside while teaching and identifying research opportunities. Dr. Ford has authored over 200 publications and presentations on the history of the Nurse Practitioner, Unification of Practice, Education and Research, and Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice and Health Care.

    Dr. Ford’s model of Advanced Nursing Practice has expanded into many fields of nursing, with over 355,000 nurse practitioners licensed in the U.S. in 2022. She has served as a visiting professor and keynote speaker at nursing schools in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Ford has earned multiple honorary doctorates and awards, including the Gustav O. Lienhard award from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the Living Legend Award from the American Academy of Nursing. Currently, Dr. Ford consults and lectures on the history of the Nurse Practitioner and issues in Advanced Nursing Practice and Health Care Policy.

    Virginia Sneed Dixon (1919 – 2021)

    Virginia Sneed Dixon was an Indigenous American who displayed heroism in both the military and healthcare field. She was a Cherokee nurse who joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II. Despite facing racial discrimination, she volunteered for overseas duty in both World War II and the Korean conflict. Dixon became the first Cherokee nurse to serve overseas in WWII, where she was assigned to a field hospital on the Burma Road in China. She then volunteered for a dangerous assignment working for the 8063rd Mobile Army Surgical Hospital near Korea’s demilitarized zone, where she provided emergency care for soldiers with brain and spinal cord injuries until they could be transported to a hospital.

    After returning to the U.S., Dixon married in 1953 and raised her children. She later returned to work as a nurse at a rehabilitation center in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Dixon died in 2021 at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Black Mountain.

    Henrieta Villaescusa (1920 – 2005) 

    Henrieta Villaescusa was a trailblazing Hispanic nurse who was defined as being a “first” in so many important positions. Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Immaculate Heart College and her Master’s degree from UCLA, Villaescusa went on to become the only Hispanic Public Health Supervisor at the time of her employment at the Los Angeles Public Health Department. During her long and varied career, she served as the first Hispanic Health Administrator in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the first Mexican American Chief Nurse Consultant in the Office of Maternal & Child Health, Bureau of Community Health Services, where she identified needs, trends, and priorities in nursing research and training. She also worked for California congressmen George Miller and Edward Roybal.

    Villaescusa was a social justice advocate, developing health policies on the local, state, national, and international level. She also advocated for the role of nurses in health policies and partnerships. She was associated with many organizations, including the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organization and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, where she served as president from 1984 to 1988. Villaescusa died in 2005, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy and innovation.

    Margaret Charles Smith (1906 – 2004)

    Margaret Charles Smith was a midwife who dedicated her life to delivering babies and caring for mothers in rural Alabama. Raised by her grandmother, Margaret Charles, who was a former slave, Smith unexpectedly began her career as a midwife at just five years old when she caught an early arriving baby. Despite completing only the third grade in a one-room rural grammar school, Smith never stopped learning and continued to read and study throughout her life. In 1949, she obtained a permit from the Greene County Public Health Team to practice midwifery, becoming one of the first official midwives in Greene County, Alabama.

    As a Black midwife in rural Alabama during the time of segregation, Smith faced many challenges. She often had to make her way through fields and wade through water to deliver babies, and the mothers she attended were often malnourished and overworked. Despite the difficulties, Smith delivered over 3,500 babies and never lost a mother, losing very few babies. In 1976, Alabama passed a law outlawing midwives, and Smith and about 150 other Black traditional midwives were told they would be jailed if they continued to work as midwives. Despite the law, Smith continued to attend to mothers and babies in need until her retirement.

    Smith’s dedication to midwifery earned her numerous honors and recognition throughout her life. She became the first Black American to be given the keys to Eutaw, Alabama, her hometown, in 1983. In 1996, she co-authored a book with Linda Janet Holmes entitled Listen to Me Good: The Life Story of an Alabama Midwife. She was also the keynote speaker at the New Orleans Rural Health Initiative in 1997, and in 2003, she was honored by the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. Smith died in 2004 at the age of 98 in Eutaw.

    Estelle Massey Osborne (1901 – 1981) 

    A significant force in the nursing profession in the 20th Century, Estelle Massey Osborne broke down racial barriers throughout her successful career. Born in the small town of Palestine, Texas, Osborne became the first Black nurse to receive a Master’s Degree when she graduated from Columbia University in 1931. While studying, Osborne taught at two nursing schools, including as the first Black instructor at the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing. She later served as the first Black superintendent of nurses at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, which was the largest exclusively Black, city-operated general hospital in the world.

    During World War II, Osborne served as a consultant to the Coordinating Committee on Negro Nursing for the National Council for War Service. Through this role, she was influential in expanding the number of nursing schools that accepted Black students and convincing the U.S. Navy to lift its color ban in 1945. After the war, Osborne served in several national leadership capacities, including the ANA Board of Directors, the National League for Nursing, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Urban League and more. Osborne died in 1980 at the age of 80.

    Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845 – 1926)

    Noted for being the first Black licensed nurse, Mary Eliza Mahoney was not only a healthcare professional but also a champion for women’s rights and racial equality. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Mahoney was raised in a family that emphasized education, and she attended the Phillips School, one of the first integrated schools in the country. After completing her education, Mahoney began working with New England Hospital for Women and Children, which was notable for having an all-women staff of physicians. She took on a variety of roles at the hospital, including janitor, cook, washer women and nurse’s aid. In 1878, Mahoney was accepted into the hospital’s nursing program, and she graduated one year later.

    After graduation, Mahoney worked for several years as a private-duty nurse before serving as the director of the Howard Colored Orphanage Asylum in Kings Park, Long Island in New York City in 1911. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908 and served as the national chaplain of the organization. After retirement, Mahoney continued to be a champion for women’s rights and racial equality, and was among the first women who registered to vote in Boston after the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. Mahoney died in 1926 at the age of 80. 


    Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) on engraving from 1873. Celebrated English social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing. Engraved by unknown artist and published in “Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women with Biographies”, USA,1873.

    Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910)

    Considered the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale’s work in nursing, statistics and social reform have had a profound impact on healthcare over a century after her death. Born into an affluent British family, Nightingale’s early work in philanthropy inspired her to take on a career in nursing. Despite her parents’ expectations that she would marry and lead a conventional life in Victorian England, Nightingale was determined to become a nurse and devote her life to serving others. She received training as a nurse in Germany and later worked in hospitals in London, where she quickly gained a reputation as an expert in her field.

    Nightingale came to prominence during the Crimean War, during which she was tasked with leading a corps of nurses to tend to the sick and fallen soldiers at a British base hospital in Constantinople. Nightingale immediately set to work, organizing the hospitals, training the staff, and implementing sanitary measures. Her efforts resulted in a significant decrease in the mortality rate among wounded soldiers, and she became known as the “Lady with the Lamp” for her nightly rounds to check on patients. Nightingale’s work in the Crimea transformed the way nursing was perceived and taught, and she became a prominent advocate for healthcare reform.

    In 1860, Nightingale funded the establishment of St. Thomas’ Hospital, and within it, the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. By the time she was 38, Nightingale was permanently bedridden due to an illness she contracted in Crimea. Despite this, she remained an authority and advocate of health care reform and in 1859, she published Notes on Hospitals, which focused on proper protocols for operating civilian hospitals. Nightingale died in her London home in 1910 at the age of 90. 

    Mary Seacole (1805 – 1881) 

    A Jamaican nurse and businesswoman, Mary Seacole is remembered as a pioneering figure in healthcare and as a celebrated adventurer. Born in 1805 in Kingston, Jamaica, Seacole learned about herbal medicine and nursing from her mother, who was a user of traditional herbal remedies. She later set up a boarding house in Panama, where she provided care to travelers who were sick or injured, including those who suffered from a massive cholera outbreak.

    When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, Seacole traveled to England with the aim of volunteering as a nurse, but was rejected by officials. Undeterred, Seacole decided to fund her own trip to the Crimea, where she established the British Hotel, which served as an all-in-one store and restaurant for officers and canteen for soldiers. After hostilities ceased, Seacole visited the battlefield to help wounded soldiers and in some cases, comfort the dying.

    At the end of the war, Seacole moved to England and wrote the highly-successful Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, which was one of the first travel memoirs ever published by a Black woman.

    Seacole died in London in 1881 at the age of 76. Her work earned her the respect and admiration of many soldiers and officers, and her memory has been honored through many posthumous awards and dedications both in Jamaica and the United Kingdom.

    ___________________________________________________

    Both midwifery and nursing are professions in which women have been at the forefront, including many women who are associated with the history of FNU. Meet some of FNU’s female leaders in the blogs below.

    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!

  • Alumni Spotlight: April Clyde opens Nevada’s first freestanding birth center

    Alumni Spotlight: April Clyde opens Nevada’s first freestanding birth center

    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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

    Since 2002, FNU graduate April Clyde, CNM has dreamed of opening a birth center in her community of Las Vegas, Nevada. After years of gaining experience, pursuing higher education and advocating for new legislation in Nevada to accommodate midwives, her dream finally came true nearly 10 years later.

    In 2021, Clyde opened Serenity Birth Center, which is Nevada’s first and only freestanding birth center. Clyde said that Serenity Birth Center upholds a woman’s autonomy in making informed choices about her healthcare and her baby’s healthcare, in alignment with her personal values and beliefs. The center also extends an invitation to the woman’s self-defined family to participate in the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum phases.

    “Birth centers are an integrated part of the healthcare system and are guided by principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention and cost-effectiveness,” Clyde said.

    Inspired to Open a Birth Center During Frontier Bound

    Clyde’s journey began in 2000 when she began working as a labor and delivery nurse after earning her Bachelors in Nursing from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

    “I loved the work.” she said. “At the same time, I also craved more autonomy and to be involved from the beginning of pregnancy.”

    Clyde enrolled at FNU to earn her Nurse-Midwifery Post-Graduate Certificate. She was initially inspired to open a birth center while at Frontier Bound in 2002, where she met the late Kitty Ernst, a leader in the nurse-midwifery movement in the U.S.

    “I told her how much our community needed a birth center,” Clyde said. “She took both my hands in hers and looked directly into my eyes and said, ‘then you will need to open one.’ If Kitty thought that I should and that I could open a birth center, then I better get to work!”

    Clyde graduated from FNU in 2004 as a member of CNEP Class 36. She said the university was an ideal choice for obtaining her post-graduate certificate.

    “Frontier has such a rich history,” she said. “I also needed a distance education program as leaving my community wasn’t an option. Frontier was a perfect match.”

    That same year, Clyde began working as a CNM with a group hospital practice. She was the only CNM at the hospital, which she said gave her the opportunity to exemplify the midwifery model of care. In 2006, she began providing care for home births to families who had previously given birth with her in the hospital. The next year, she began serving as a preceptor for FNU and currently employs two FNU alumni that she precepted.

    Advocating for Nurse-Midwives in Nevada

    Clyde opened her own birth practice, Baby’s 1st Day, in 2008. During this time, APRNs initiated efforts to alter the laws in Nevada to permit them to practice at the full extent of their education and without mandatory supervision from a physician. This endeavor proved successful in 2012. Subsequently, Clyde collaborated with fellow FNU graduate Melinda Hoskins to bring about modifications to the birth center laws in Nevada, allowing midwives to establish and manage them. The legislation was passed in 2018, and the following year, they commenced the construction of Serenity Birth Center.

    Since opening, Serenity Birth Center has offered pre-conception, pregnancy care, and labor and delivery/postpartum care, along with women’s care services.

    “We offer another choice in childbirth for Las Vegas,” Clyde said.

    To this day, Clyde said she continues to stay in contact with many of her former classmates at FNU.

    “Midwives are a generous bunch,” she said. “I have had lots of help from other CNEP grads.”

    In her free time, Clyde enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, practicing yoga and traveling.

    Thank you, April, for your demonstration of the distinctive expertise and enthusiasm possessed by FNU graduates through the care you provide for Nevada families.

    Read more in Why Should I Become a Nurse Midwife?

    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!

  • Student Spotlight: Mara-Joanne Derinor aims to improve clinical education with DNP

    Student Spotlight: Mara-Joanne Derinor aims to improve clinical education with DNP

    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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

    The schedule of a healthcare professional can be challenging to navigate. Yet, Mara-Joanne Derinor manages to work as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) while pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), authoring books and more.

    Derinor, a resident of Kissimmee, Florida, completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in the PMHNP FNU program last year and is a member of DNP Class 48, on track to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice this year.

    Through her work as a PMHNP, Derinor evaluates and assesses patients for mental health conditions, prescribes medications, provides education about mental health, and provides therapy and counseling. She works with an underserved population, and many of her patients do not speak English or are bilingual.

    “I provide culturally competent care for my community,” she said.

    Pursuing a DNP at FNU

    Derinor was motivated to pursue her DNP in an effort to improve clinical education. She feels that too often nursing students are not given adequate encouragement in their education.

    “I want to be the change that I want to see,” she said. “I remember when my very own nursing professor told me I would not pass my NCLEX. That was very discouraging. I passed my NCLEX on the first try. I want to encourage and motivate future clinical students. I also want to make new discoveries in clinical research.”

    Derinor is working on her DNP Quality Initiative which is focused on improving clinical workflow and patient satisfaction.

    “I hope to improve quality care and patient satisfaction,” Derinor said.

    So far, Derinor said her favorite course in the online DNP program has been the Nurse as Educator course (PC711).

    “This is the most interesting course because it was informative and provided opportunities for students to improve their skills as a nurse educator,” she said. “My professor was very supportive of me as a learner. This class allowed me to be creative and explore ways to improve my skills as a nurse educator.”

    Derinor said she initially decided to study at FNU after researching universities and online programs. She was impressed by FNU’s reputation. Since then, she said she has enjoyed a welcoming and engaging experience fostered by FNU faculty and peers.

    “One of the best decisions ever,” she said.

    Outside of her work and studies, Derinor is an author, motivational speaker, dancer, and director.

    She has published four books, including three children’s books and one book of poetry, and has participated in poetry competitions nationwide. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and going to the beach.

     

    “I started a book reading program in 2020 where I partner with schools, after school programs, and summer programs to read to the children and educate the children about mental health and the writing process,” said Derinor.

    Thank you, Mara-Joanne, for choosing FNU in your path to improve clinical education and provide mental health care for underserved populations.

    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!

  • Staff Spotlight: Circle of Caring recipient Sharon Tankersley

    Staff Spotlight: Circle of Caring recipient Sharon Tankersley

    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.

    Through her role as Student Services Coordinator at Frontier Nursing University, Sharon Tankersley has demonstrated a commitment to the success of students at the university. Because of her deep commitment to students, Tankersley was a recent recipient of FNU’s Circle of Caring Award.

    A resident of Versailles, Kentucky, Tankersley has worked at FNU for approximately five years. In her role, she helps onboard incoming students, provides staff support to the FNU Student Council, and coordinates annual commencement ceremonies.

    “It’s very rewarding to welcome new students, ensure they feel supported, and assist as they find their way to resources that support academic goals,” she said. “Secondary to that, I enjoy those spots where my work intersects that of fellow employees, and finding ways to lighten their load when I can.”

    Helping the Helpers

    Before joining the FNU staff, Tankersley worked as a certified prevention specialist with 15 years of experience in youth and family mental health promotion. After working on the front lines in a helping profession, Tankersley said she often witnessed the impact of poor health and lifestyle choices, which began to take a toll on her.

    “I had said goodbye to far too many clients to addiction,” she said. “I was burned out and needed some margin in my life.”

    However, Tankersley said she didn’t want to leave the healthcare profession entirely and wanted to continue the work of fostering healthier communities.

    “I sought a role where I could ‘help the helpers’ and serve in a supportive, behind-the-scenes way,” she said.

    An Inclusive Environment

    Through her work with FNU, Tankersley said answering the call for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is essential. This emphasis is inspired by her own personal experiences as a member of a mixed-race family, as someone who grew up traveling often due to her family’s military status, and as someone who deals with a chronic illness that impacts movement, sensory processing, hearing and vision.

    “We have much work to do to make our communities equally supportive of all types of individuals,” she said. “I’m thankful to be with an institution that seeks to grow more and more inclusive.”

    In addition to FNU’s emphasis on DEI, Tankersley said she also is proud of the university’s Culture of Caring.

    “We truly strive to use it as a guiding compass for how we treat everyone, how we make decisions, how we change and grow in response to the needs of our students,” she said. “I hope that in my small way each day I model the Culture of Caring.”

    Outside of her work with FNU, Tankersley enjoys creative writing and traveling. She has been married to her college sweetheart for 32 years and is a devout Christian.

    Thank you, Sharon, for your unwavering dedication to the students at FNU and your embodiment of the Culture of Caring in your daily work.

    FNU is recognized as a Great College to Work For and a 2022 Honor Roll Institution. Learn more about career opportunities at Frontier Nursing University.

  • Student Spotlight: Advocacy is essential to nurse-midwifery for FNU student Chantel Haynes

    Student Spotlight: Advocacy is essential to nurse-midwifery for FNU student Chantel Haynes

    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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

    For Frontier Nursing University (FNU) student Chantel Haynes, advocacy has always been a critical part of her journey and career in healthcare. A resident of Sedalia, Missouri, Haynes has been a staunch advocate for informed choice and autonomy among birthing people, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), and for acceptable working conditions among nurses and healthcare providers.

    “I have found that advocacy is an essential part of birth work and nursing care,” she said.

    Haynes is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse-Midwifery and is on track to graduate in 2024. She also works as a PRN nurse with a freestanding birth center in Kansas and a substance abuse clinic in Missouri. Throughout her career in nursing, Haynes has worked as a doula, LDRPN nurse and birth center nurse.

    Advocating for Nurses and Better Care

    Before becoming a PRN nurse, Haynes served as an acute bedside nurse in a hospital setting for 12 years. After she left this position in March 2022, she heightened her advocacy work for better acute care through safe staffing ratios, safe work environments, and adequate pay for hospital-based and long-term care nurses. She was one the speakers at the Missouri Chapter of the National Nurse March in May 2022. She also advocates through social media, letters to newspapers, and by engaging with government representatives.

    “Short staffing has created a dangerous patient care environment,” she said. “This is leading to increased provider workload and stress, which is leading to a lack of access to healthcare, especially for the underserved.”

    Haynes also expresses concern for dangerous practice environments for nurses and providers.

    “Nurses are being subjected to high patient ratios, unsafe patient care environments, and increased abuse from patients and family members,” she said. “The number of assaults on hospital staff has risen drastically with the degrading environment. Currently, I advocate for change by using my voice and resources to call attention to these horrendous conditions and support others who don’t feel like they have a voice.”

    Haynes said she has wanted to earn her MSN in Nurse-Midwifery since becoming a doula in 2001. She decided to pursue her dream through FNU after discussing the program with a co-worker who earned her MSN at FNU.

    A Year of Challenges

    Haynes’ path to earning her degree has not been without challenges. In August 2021, she experienced severe complications from COVID-19. She was hospitalized for four days and was on oxygen for a total of four weeks. In November of that year, she tore her ACL and gastrocnemius muscle due to decompensation from the virus. These complications set her back two terms from her initial Clinical Bound date.

    Amid these struggles, Haynes said staff at FNU have helped her navigate these obstacles in her course work every step of the way.

    “My RCF and advisors have been available when I need them, and we have been able to find solutions,” she said. “2021 was a year of frustration between being a bedside nurse caring for COVID patients to becoming one myself. I have found patience at Frontier.”

    Haynes is a wife of 30 years, mother of four adult children and has two grandchildren. Outside of her work, studies, and advocacy, she enjoys tending to her garden, taking care of her backyard flock of chickens and ducks, crafting, crocheting, participating in church activities and volunteering in her community.

    Thank you, Chantel, for choosing FNU in your path toward earning your MSN in Nurse-Midwifery and for your devotion to healthcare advocacy.

    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!

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