Blog

  • Staff Spotlight: Jodi Dickey, MAHEA, CPCS leads team dedicated to helping students prepare for their clinical experiences

    Staff Spotlight: Jodi Dickey, MAHEA, CPCS leads team dedicated to helping students prepare for their clinical experiences

    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 over 12 years, Jodi Dickey has been an essential member of the team at Frontier Nursing University (FNU). Starting out as Clinical Credentialing Coordinator in 2010, Dickey now serves as Director of Clinical Credentialing, a role that is vital to the success of FNU students during their clinical experiences.

    As Director of Clinical Credentialing, Dickey leads Clinical Credentialing services at FNU. Credentialing is in place for the protection of the student, preceptor, clinical site, and the University. Dickey leads a team made up of several clinical credentialing coordinators who are dedicated to helping students navigate the credentialing process as smoothly as possible so they can focus chiefly on learning and growing in their field of nursing.

    “We prepare the legal aspects of the clinical sites where students rotate before they begin,” Dickey explained. “It’s a risk-management service to keep everyone involved protected in our litigious society.”

    Dickey earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Kentucky in 2006 and later went on to work as a media and communications manager for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. Her longtime passion as an equestrian led her to her career at FNU, as she developed an interest in improving childbirth education and options for women after working on a thoroughbred broodmare farm where she foaled mares, which is the equivalent of midwifery in the equestrian field.

    “I came to FNU because I am interested in increasing birth options through midwifery in the U.S. I stay because I love the culture at FNU and having a role in bringing healthcare to rural and underserved populations.”
    – Jodi Dickey, MAHEA, CPCS, Director of Clinical Credentialing

    “I came to FNU because I am interested in increasing birth options through midwifery in the U.S.,” she said. “I stay because I love the culture at FNU and having a role in bringing healthcare to rural and underserved populations.”

    Throughout her time at FNU, Dickey has continued to further her education, earning a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville in 2018 and earning her Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS) certification.

    “I love FNU’s dedication to educational development for their employees” she said.

    In addition to the development opportunities afforded to her, Dickey also appreciates the university’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

    “DEI is a critical part of becoming a better community member, both professionally and personally, so I really appreciate FNU’s commitment to DEI,” she said.

    Dickey said overall, her appreciation for FNU has always felt mutual.

    “I’ve always felt like a person at FNU rather than a number on a badge,” she said.

    Outside of her career at FNU, Dickey, who lives in Lexington, Ky., enjoys taking part in equestrian events with her horse, Jake. She recently ponied international race horses at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington with Jake. She also enjoys spending time with her two cats, two dogs, eight chickens and one pig.

    Thank you, Jodi, for the important work you do at FNU and for your consistent dedication to students.

  • Alumni Spotlight: Liz Carr pursues unique skill set in cardiovascular care and nurse-midwifery

    Alumni Spotlight: Liz Carr pursues unique skill set in cardiovascular care and nurse-midwifery

    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.

    Though some may see the work of a cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse and the work of a nurse-midwife as somewhat disparate, Frontier Nursing University recent graduate Liz Carr is confident that her background working in an ICU translates well to nurse-midwifery. A resident of Lexington, Ky., Carr currently works at the University of Kentucky (UK) Healthcare Albert B Chandler Hospital Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and recently earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nurse-Midwifery from FNU.

    “I chose a cardiovascular background very intentionally,” Carr said. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in pregnancy. I chose not to work labor and delivery as an RN, but still wanted to gain skills and knowledge I could apply as a midwife. I am so privileged to do a nursing job I love and also study something I love. While cardiovascular intensive care and midwifery are different, I am hopeful that my unique skill set will be an asset to my future patients and their communities.”

    Originally from Atlanta, Carr earned her BSN from UK in 2017 and has worked at the Albert B Chandler Hospital Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit for approximately five years.

    Carr has dreamed of becoming a nurse-midwife since she was 13 years old.

    “In my middle school sex education class, we watched a video of an unmedicated vaginal birth. All of the other students were horrified, but I was riveted. I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a birth worker and usher people through that powerful experience,” she said.

    Throughout her time studying at FNU, Carr said she has particularly appreciated the strong sense of community among students and faculty members. This was illustrated for her when former faculty member Dr. Kendra Faucett sent her a list of all of the midwives in the area to assist in her search for preceptors.

    “It was the moment that I felt like I was really in the right place with an amazing community of people who will always champion my success,” she said.

    Carr worked at four clinical sites throughout her time at FNU, the last of which was with FNU alumni Paula Brandt at the recommendation of FNU clinical advisor Carisa Lipp.

    “There was never anywhere else I would want to be. Frontier is the home of nurse-midwifery.”
    – Liz Carr, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNM, FNU Alumni

    “My rotation with Paula was not only what I needed to finish my clinical requirements, it was exactly what I needed to feel ready to go into practice,” she said. “It’s all thanks to the amazing Frontier network.”

    Throughout her clinical experience at FNU, Carr said one of her proudest moments was when she was present for a patient’s first Pap smear. Using training she acquired from FNU, Carr said she was able to ease the patient’s anxiety about the procedure.

    “As a student, it felt like such an important moment,” Carr said. “I had the chance to introduce someone to speculum exams in a way that was comfortable for her, and which will hopefully ensure she seeks out her routine health screenings without fear of pain. There was never anywhere else I would want to be. Frontier is the home of nurse-midwifery.”

    Over the years, Carr has received several recognitions for her work in healthcare, including the University of Kentucky Healthcare Commitment to Nursing Excellence Award in 2017 and the University of Kentucky Healthcare Bronze Award for Innovation in 2020. She also is a three-time Daisy Award nominee and a 2022 participant in the Training in Abortion Care Residency.

    In her free time, Carr enjoys reading, spending time with her dog, Cooper, and visiting her family in Atlanta.

    Thank you, Liz, for choosing FNU to achieve your goal of earning your MSN in Nurse-Midwifery. We are proud to have had you as a student and wish you continued success in your next endeavors.

  • Grant Funds Help Send FNU Students to National Conference

    Grant Funds Help Send FNU Students to National Conference

    In October, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) held its annual conference in Long Beach, California. Among the attendees at the three-day conference were 20 Frontier Nursing University (FNU) psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students and three FNU faculty members.

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    The unique opportunity for FNU students to attend the conference was made possible by funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant. HRSA, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded the $1,920,000 grant to FNU in 2021. The project period extends from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.
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    The BHWET grant project is led by Dr. Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNU’s Department Chair for the Department of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The goal of the project is to increase the number of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners who are diverse in race, ethnicity, and other underrepresented populations serving in rural and medically underserved communities through collaboration with clinical Experiential Training Site partners. The grant project supports curriculum development related to child/adolescent care, interprofessional team-based trauma-informed care, and additional telehealth simulations. The grant also provides $290,000 annually in scholarships for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students.


    Dr. April Philllips, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
    Clinical Director of the PMHNP program at FNU

    In addition to scholarships, the grant provides travel funding for educational opportunities such as the APNA Conference. Travel to conferences provides invaluable networking opportunities for students and enhances their knowledge of the psychiatric-mental healthcare field.

    “We were able to utilize the grant funding not only to provide for the tuition for the conference itself, but it also covered much of the travel expenses for the students as well,” said Dr. April Philllips, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, Clinical Director of the PMHNP program at FNU.

    Students interested in attending the conference completed an application, including an essay outlining why they would like to attend the conference, what they hoped to gain from it, and how they planned to work with underserved populations, which is the focus of the BHWET grant.

    “The location of the conference in California was a deterrent. I know the cost of living there is higher than where I am in Charlotte,” said PMHNP student Esenam Dankwa. “As a full-time student and part-time worker, having extra money to pay for this conference was out of the question. Having the grant was a huge relief. It offered me the opportunity to be part of this conference.”

    “Without the BHWET grant, I would not have been able to attend the APNA Conference,” added PMHNP student Cayo Alba said. “The financial impact of being a student is not insignificant, and while I saved money to be able to attend Frontier, there isn’t much left for extra things. Receiving this grant made it possible for me to attend the conference without worrying about how it would affect my family’s finances. I had the opportunity to meet other FNU students and make connections with people who share my interests and are excited about the field of psychiatry. I especially enjoyed that the conference attendees represented all facets of the psychiatric care spectrum. Being able to learn the unique perspectives of inpatient providers, therapists, psych-RNs, and others was immensely valuable and will contribute to my overall success as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.”

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    “The financial impact of being a student is not insignificant, and while I saved money to be able to attend Frontier, there isn’t much left for extra things. Receiving this grant made it possible for me to attend the conference without worrying about how it would affect my family’s finances.”
    – Cayo Alba, PMHNP Student

    Though the application process required time and effort, it was well worth it for those who were awarded the travel funding.

    “What an unforgettable experience, great location, food, friends, and a wealth of information,’” said PMHNP student Treena Adams. “The takeaways were that there are so many of us trying to do right for the field of psychiatric nursing. We just want to be the best and do the best for this population of patients who struggle with so much. This conference gives so much in so many ways to equip us to do that.”

    “The great thing about this conference is that it provided students with one more interactive process that they wouldn’t get with any other online experience,” Dr. Phillips said. “We had a very proactive group of students at the conference. They were able not only to attend some very informative sessions, but there was also a lot of interaction between the students where they could discuss what they were learning.”

    During the conference, FNU’s marketing and advancement team hosted a breakfast for the university’s attendees, offering an additional opportunity to connect with fellow students and FNU faculty.

    “The interaction (at the conference) increased my self-esteem as a psychiatric nurse, and I felt proud to be a part of this field,” Dankwa said. “The conference’s educational experience helped me better understand novel interventions for treating psychiatric disorders. I collaborated with other conference attendees and developed long-term professional relationships. This experience has inspired me to be a part of the change in improving care for psychiatric patients.”

    While the conference funding is just one of many ways in which the BHWET grant funding is being utilized, it is a prime example of how increasing access to education and training can ultimately lead to better access to psychiatric care.

    “This is one of the things that makes Frontier different, really unique,” Dr. Phillips said. “We are able to bring community-based education to our students that we hope they will take back to their rural and urban underserved areas. That’s at the heart of Frontier.”

    “This is one of the things that makes Frontier different, really unique. We are able to bring community-based education to our students that we hope they will take back to their rural and urban underserved areas. That’s at the heart of Frontier.”
    – Dr. April Philllips, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, Clinical Director of the PMHNP program

    The 2023 APNA Conference will be held October 4-7 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

    Student Attendees:
    1. Angela Betters
    2. Elizabeth Quill
    3. Melissa Knutson
    4. Cayo Alba
    5. Kimberly Arnold
    6. Katie Dahlstrom
    7. Treena Adams
    8. Amanda Jackson
    9. Mckisa Fryer
    10. Sarah Munn
    11. Jason Bennett
    12. Ashley Phillips
    13. Jacob Knox
    14. Lauren Nguyen
    15. Sujata Kunwar
    16. Kristy Gonzales
    17. Mishell Ellis
    18. Esenam Dankwa
    19. Trevor Runge
    20. Terra Edwards
    21. Lynn Henderson

    Faculty Attendees:
    1. Dr. April Phillips
    2. Dr. Laura Lewis
    3. Dr. Jeff Dobbins

  • Virtual Event Recorded Sessions Now Available for Nurse-Midwives and Nurse Practitioners; Free CE Sessions

    Virtual Event Recorded Sessions Now Available for Nurse-Midwives and Nurse Practitioners; Free CE Sessions

    Frontier Nursing University celebrated National Midwifery Week and National Nurse Practitioner Week by hosting Empower 2022, a virtual event that explored the latest practices and topics influencing Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and (Nurse Practitioners (NPs). All sessions, including free CE sessions, are now available on YouTube. Click the links below to view:

    NATIONAL MIDWIFERY WEEK

    KEYNOTE SESSION – First Do No Harm: Advancing Reproductive and Maternal Health Equity
    Presenter: Dr. Crystal Pirtle Tyler
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    FREE CE SESSION – The Sixth Vital Sign: Strategies to Integrate, Standardize and Normalize Depression Care
    Presenter: FNU faculty member Dr. Ann Schaeffer
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    Complete Post-Test Evaluation

    This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 0.25 hour(s) of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®. Activity ID# 22095744. This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies. This activity has been approved through September 30, 2023.

    So…You Want to be a Nurse-Midwife?
    Presenters: FNU faculty members Dr. Eileen Thrower, Dr. Noelle Jacobsen and Dr. Jeneen A. Lomax
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    National Midwifery Week was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care. ACNM and its 6,500+ midwife members, physicians and women’s health organizations observe National Midwifery Week each year.

    NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK

    KEYNOTE SESSION – The Best Place to Work: Creating Safe and Equitable Work Environments for All
    Presenter: Dr. Tiffany Love, founder of the Love Leadership Foundation
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    FREE CE Session – Demystifying Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Clinical Setting
    Presenter: FNU faculty member Dr. Kevin Scalf
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    Complete Post-Test Evaluation

    This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 0.25 hour of pharmacology) by Frontier Nursing University. Activity ID # 22110001P. This activity was planned in accordance with ANCC Commission on Accreditation Standards and Policies. This activity has been approved through 11/15/23.

    FREE CE SESSION – The Second Victim Experience: Caring for our Own
    Presenter: Adjunct Associate Professor Dr. Susan Scott
    Sponsor: FNU’s Chi Pi chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

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    Complete Post-Test Evaluation

    This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®. Activity ID# 22095744. This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies. This activity has been approved through October 31, 2023.

    PANEL DISCUSSION – Nurse Practitioner Community Connection: Building Communities Through NP Care
    A panel discussion with FNU students, alumni and faculty.
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    National Nurse Practitioner Week is held annually to celebrate NPs as exceptional health care providers and to remind lawmakers of the importance of removing outdated barriers to practice so nurse practitioners will be allowed to practice to the full extent of their experience and education.

    Empower 2022 was presented by Southern Cross Insurance Solutions. Sign-up to receive updates on our 2023 events!

    Frontier Nursing University has more than 80 years of experience in delivering graduate nursing and midwifery programs. FNU specialty tracks include certified nurse-midwife, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and women’s health care nurse practitioner. Frontier Nursing University’s FNP program is ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

  • Student Spotlight: Lori Verostick enhances midwifery skill set with PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate

    Student Spotlight: Lori Verostick enhances midwifery skill set with PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate

    At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

    As a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) serving residents in her community, Lori Verostick has consistently pursued higher education and training to enhance her knowledge and skill set for patients. In her current pursuit, Verostick is earning her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate (PGC) from Frontier Nursing University.

    “I am really hoping to be able to expand my nurse-midwifery mindset to behavioral and mental health,” Verostick said. “COVID really highlighted the mental health needs in my area. The people in my area working in this field are working hard and are great. I feel we need more trained providers to try to meet the need. Currently, there can be a six-month wait for medication appointments. In pregnancy, this can be catastrophic.”

    A resident of Windber, Pennsylvania, Verostick served as a CNM with Women’s Care Partners in Altoona, Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2010 and has worked at Conemaugh Ob/Gyn Associates in Johnstown, Pa. since 2010. since 2001. Verostick is an FNU nurse-midwifery graduate (class 27) from 2021. She also has a Master of Science with a concentration in midwifery from Thomas Jefferson University, which she received in 2002. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2020 at FNU. She also precepts Advanced Practice Registered Nurse students. 

    Verostick and her midwifery partners at Conemaugh Ob/Gyne all live in the Johnstown area and attend over 800 births per year. She said the area is made up of many uninsured and underinsured residents with chronic illness and substance abuse issues.

    “The midwifery model provides the respect and support that our community responds to,” she said. “I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

    A member of FNU Class 203, Verostick is set to earn her post-graduate certificate in 2023.

    “I wanted to work on quality improvement for my practice so that individuals in our community were able to receive equitable health care, including behavioral health care during pregnancy,” Verostick said. “I am currently in the PMHNP post-graduate certificate program because of the need for birthing persons in our area to have access to mental health care and medication management.”

    Versotick said most of the CNMs in her practice are graduates of FNU. Her former preceptor, Vivian Boyer (CNEP Class 4), is her current director.

    “She is the best,” Verostick said. “She is and will always be my preceptor.”

    Verostick was also influenced to study at FNU because of the atmosphere and flexibility afforded to students. 

    “It [distance education] works well when you have to work as you pursue your degree,” she said. 

    Verostick has been married for 27 years and has three children. Outside of her career, she enjoys knitting and photography. 

    Thank you, Lori, for choosing FNU to pursue your post-graduate certificate. We are proud to have you as a student and of your commitment to continuously improving your knowledge and skill set for the sake of the rural and underserved patients you care for. 

     

  • 2022: A Year to Remember

    2022: A Year to Remember

    2022 has been a year to remember! We have so much to be proud of, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. From September of 2021 to September of 2022, FNU graduated 215 Family Nurse Practitioner students, 260 Certified Nurse-Midwife students, 64 Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner students, 226 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students, and 148 Doctor of Nursing Practice students. These graduates completed clinicals at more than 1,700 sites in the past year. Those nurse-midwifery graduates attended over 10,400 births during their clinicals.

    We invite you to reflect on this past year at Frontier Nursing University (FNU).

    FNU Accomplishments and Accolades

    FNU and our community has had many significant accomplishments and accolades this year! We were named a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For®. This reflects our commitment to value the contributions of every employee. For the fifth consecutive year, FNU received the INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.

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    We became an AACN-accredited provider for continuing education. This will allow FNU to offer more continuing education sessions for our faculty and community. Our DNP program received reaccreditation through ACEN. They identified strengths in our Mission, our Faculty, and our Organizational Capacity.

    FNU Events and Activities

    In 2022, we were able to utilize our newly remodeled campus for many on-campus events and gatherings. Frontier Bounds and Clinical Bounds returned to being in-person, allowing students to connect with one another and faculty even more.

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    On September 9th, FNU held our ribbon cutting and land acknowledgment ceremony. Over 100 people attended, including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. The land acknowledgment statement is engraved on a sign that has been placed at the trailhead of FNU’s 5K walking path. This will inform visitors of the land’s history.

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    On September 24th, we held our first in-person Commencement ceremony in three years. Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony in Lexington, Ky. From September 2021-September 2022, FNU graduated over 1,060 students.

    The commencement ceremony also included the presentation of the university’s annual leadership awards, honoring the students who provided exceptional leadership to their peers. Here are the 2022 FNU Student Leadership Awards winners:

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    We were active in Woodford County. Drs. Kendra Faucett and Joshua Faucett, as well as Dr. Susan Stone, presented at the Woodford County Health and Wellness Roundtables.
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    FNU held our annual Empower virtual events celebrating National Midwifery Week and National Nurse Practitioner Week. For National Midwifery Week FNU welcomed Dr. Crystal Pirtle Tyler as the keynote presenter. Dr. Pirtle Tyler presented “First Do No Harm: Advancing Reproductive and Maternal Health Equity.” This session provided historical context on reproductive oppression and discuss our role in advancing reproductive and maternal health equity today. For National Nurse Practitioner Week, we welcomed Dr. Tiffany Love as the featured keynote. Dr. Love presented “The Best Place to Work: Creating Safe and Equitable Work Environments for All.”

    Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott, and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton each provided proclamations for both recognition weeks.

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    FNU’S Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Efforts

    FNU started many new initiatives and continued longstanding DEI efforts. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion introduced Student Interest Groups.
    – Students of Color in Nursing
    – LGBTQIA+ Students in Nursing
    – Men in Nursing
    – International Students in Nursing
    – Military/Veterans in Nursing

    Utilizing grant funding, we were able to send students and faculty to in-person national conferences throughout the year with our Professional Organization Mentoring Program (POMP). We sent faculty and students to national conferences across the country with organizations including ACNM, AANP, GLMA, AABC, and NBNA.

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    The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) held its annual conference in Long Beach, California this year. Among the attendees at the three-day conference were 20 FNU psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students and three FNU faculty members. The unique opportunity for FNU students to attend the conference was made possible by funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant. HRSA awarded the $1,920,000 grant to FNU in 2021. The project period extends from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.
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    FNU was selected to participate in AACN’s inclusive learning environments initiative.

    We hosted the 12th annual Diversity Impact Conference. This year’s theme was “Engaging Diverse Voices in Sustained Dialogue to Build Community Trust.” This year’s conference featured many excellent speakers and the film “Apart” plus a panel discussion with the women featured in the film.

    Faces of Frontier

    We have been able to spotlight many students this year for their dedication and service to their communities. Here are a few:

    • FNP student Brandon Locklear, RN, BSN, has been a traveling nurse for the past year. He works in acute hospital environments, assisting underserved communities that are facing nursing shortages. 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.
    • FNP student Robyn Roche-Paull, BSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, is a US Navy veteran who helps breastfeeding mothers. Roche-Paull also wrote a book that helps pregnant people in the military navigate breastfeeding while working through their long shifts, trainings, and deployment.
    • April Haneline was an PMHNP student at FNU this year and recently graduated. Haneline recognized the lack of mental health providers, especially for queer people in Western Kentucky, which is why she chose our PHMNP track.

    We welcomed many to leadership roles in 2022.

    We also welcomed new faces to Frontier:

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    We celebrated many accomplishments of our faculty and staff. We are so proud of them! Here are a few:

    • Dr. Rachel Risner was selected for the National League for Nursing & Walden University College of Nursing Institute for Social Determinants of Health & Social Change.
    • Dr. Cathy Collins-Fulea was inducted as an American Academy of Nursing Fellow.
    • The National Academies of Practice inducted Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale as a Distinguished 2022 Fellow.

    FNU staff members came together in March of 2022 for a retreat and again in October for an in-person full staff meeting.

    In celebration of Earth Day, staff planted trees around campus and by our 5k walking trail.

    It truly has been a year to remember. We are so proud of the FNU community! We look forward to 2023.

    To view our 2022 year in review video, please visit this link.

  • Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Debra Hunt helps students understand importance of healthcare advocacy and policy

    Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Debra Hunt helps students understand importance of healthcare advocacy and policy

    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 she was a child, Dr. Debra Hunt, PhD, FNP-BC, GNP-BC-CNE wanted to pursue a career in nursing. Now, she holds a PhD, has extensive experience in leadership roles on several medical boards and associations, and is an associate professor at Frontier Nursing University (FNU).

    A resident of The Villages in Sumter County, Florida, Dr. Hunt earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Valencia Community College in Orlando in 1991 and finished her undergraduate education at Southern Adventist University in Orlando in 1996. That same year, she enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program (FNP) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and earned her Masters in Nursing in 1998.

    During this timeframe, Dr. Hunt dedicated her time to working in private practice and volunteering in her community. Through these experiences, Dr. Hunt said she became disillusioned with healthcare access in the U.S., especially in regards to those with HIV.

    “I was frustrated and even angry about the way people with HIV were treated by medical professionals,” she said.

    While teaching part-time at UCF in 2004, Dr. Hunt expressed her frustrations with the American healthcare system with a colleague, who challenged her to “put her money where her mouth is.” She accepted this challenge when she was accepted into UCF’s PhD program.

    Through clinical practice, Dr. Hunt met several patients with young-onset dementia. Inspired by these interactions, she conducted a qualitative study to explore the lived experiences of young-onset dementia. The study took three years to complete.

    “The experience changed my life,” Dr. Hunt said. “Being immersed with people my age who were living with dementia and willing to share their experience was an incredible journey.”

    Dr. Hunt’s dissertation resulted in two published articles and inspired her to become an advocate for individuals with dementia. She earned her PhD in 2011.

    “I was told that pursuing a PhD would change my life, and it did,” she said. “My worldview has broadened, and I see opportunities in nearly every life situation, good or bad.”

    In addition to her current work with FNU, Dr. Hunt also volunteers as a primary care provider in the Central Florida area on a PRN basis.

    “Caring for patients at vulnerable times in their lives is a privilege,” she said. “As a nurse practitioner, I can spend more time working with patients and the community on prevention and healthy lifestyles. NPs get to know their patients and spend the time that is needed to really impact the lives of our patients and their families.”

    Over the years, Dr. Hunt has served on several medical boards and associations, and has been recognized for her work. She is the founder and was the inaugural president of the UCF Doctoral Nurses Association; was appointed by then-governor Jeb Bush to serve the South Lake Hospital Board; has served as director and as vice president of the Florida Nurses Association; received the UCF Alumni Achievement Award and participated in the development of new nurse practitioner geriatric certification through the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. She also was heavily involved in emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and regularly advocates for issues central to advanced practice nursing to legislators.

    Dr. Hunt said her passion for advocacy in healthcare carries over into her work with FNU.

    “In my Roles Course at FNU, I try to prepare our students to understand their roles and the importance of ‘having a seat at the table’ when it comes to healthcare advocacy and policy issues,” she said.

    Dr. Hunt said she chose to work with FNU due to its reputation.

    “Frontier’s reputation among other educators is very positive, even at a time when online education was suspect,” she said. “I enjoy working at Frontier because it affords me the opportunity to have more work-life balance.”

    Outside of her work, Dr. Hunt enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and four grandchildren. She also enjoys volunteering, golfing, swimming, cardio drumming, watching local wildlife, fine wine and food.

    Thank you, Dr. Hunt, for the extensive experience you bring as faculty member and for the excellent example you set for students at FNU.

  • Taking In-Person Clinicals Online at FNU During the Pandemic

    Taking In-Person Clinicals Online at FNU During the Pandemic

    This article was originally featured on www.educationandcareernews.com and includes commentary from FNU faculty member Dr. Kevin Scalf.

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU), a leader in graduate nursing distance education, adjusted quickly during the pandemic to make their typical in-person clinicals for Clinical Bound efficient and effective online.

    “Students were already getting didactic information online at our university because that’s what we do,” FNU faculty member Dr. Kevin Scalf said. “But how could we provide good clinical experiences for students in the virtual environment during that transition period? What can we do to really support them as they learn to apply their clinical skills?”

    FNU developed virtual clinics for students with paid actors as patients to simulate the clinic environment. In these simulations, the student acts as the healthcare provider, and afterward, faculty and students come together to debrief about the interaction.

    While the virtual clinics started as a response to a need brought on by COVID, Dr. Scalf says that the ability to include feedback from the actor “patients” has been a new and valuable way to get the perspective of patients.

    To read the full article on how FNU created virtual simulations for students to apply the knowledge the received during the didactic portion of their studies, visit this website. To learn more about FNU’s distance education program, visit our website.

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