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  • Alumni Spotlight: Hélène A. Nau: Providing Care to Those Who Need it Most.

    Alumni Spotlight: Hélène A. Nau: Providing Care to Those Who Need it Most.

    Dr. Hélène Nau, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, graduated with her doctor of nursing practice (DNP) from Frontier Nursing University (FNU) in March of this year. Originally from Haiti, Nau built and ran the only emergency room in her home country and was the only trained emergency provider on the island when the devastating earthquake hit in January of 2010. 

    When the earthquake occurred, Nau was already an emergency RN, first responder, and medical reserve corps for Broward County and Miami-Dade. She is also advanced trauma, acute care and basic life support certified and has served in many critical environments and natural disaster-affected communities.

    Following the earthquake recovery process, Nau moved to the United States to further her medical education. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) Magna Cum Laude from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2015, then pursued her master of science in nursing (MSN) with a concentration in family medicine at Chamberlain University and graduated in 2017 with distinction. 

    Nau said she chose to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP) so that she could better provide a broad spectrum of care to those in need.

    “I didn’t want to find myself limited to one population,” Nau said. “I wanted to be able to serve families, geriatric, women and pediatric, to provide as much care as possible. I believe in hands-on holistic care and enjoy the possibility of treating whole families.”

    Nau first heard about Frontier while doing online research to find the best DNP program for her lifestyle. She chose FNU for the low tuition, flexibility and time frame offered for completing the DNP program. Although, once she enrolled, Nau found her favorite part of the program to be the Frontier Bound and Clinical Bound sessions. Nau loved connecting and building community with fellow students. 

    “I am incredibly thankful for all of the close friends I made through the FNU Bound sessions, and for the support I received from the wonderful faculty throughout my journey,” Nau said.

     

    Nau completed her DNP at FNU with a 4.0 GPA.

    In  2014 and 2015, Nau was the Volunteer of the Year Award recipient in Broward County. Additionally, this year she received the Pearl Of Nursing Award from Pearls of Life Women Foundation. She also is a Board Member for CapraCare, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing sustainable health programs for Haitian children and their families.

    Because of her background working with those dealing with devastation, Nau’s focus is to deliver care to individuals and families who might otherwise go without access due to their immigration or financial status. For this reason, Nau opened her practice, HEALTH360, a direct primary care facility in Pembroke Pines, Fla. Her practice was created with the mission to deliver affordable and accessible quality care to those in her community. Through the direct primary care model, Nau can treat those without insurance or with high deductible plans more personally, with an obtainable cost for the patient. 

    Celebrating Dr. Nau’s 50th birthday at Neurofit360

    In her spare time, Nau volunteers at NeuroFit360, a neurological recovery facility dedicated to spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, where she dons multiple hats. She is in charge of human resources, health maintenance monitoring, X-ray and MRI reading. She also administers IV therapy at NeuroFit360 to neurologically injured clients and high-performance athletes.

    Nau is also an outspoken cancer fighter who promotes early detection. Her DNP project was titled Implementation of Screening and Effective Care for Cancer Prevention at GetMed Urgent Care and worked to implement cancer screenings at an urgent care center that had not previously offered this service. Her results showed how easy and vital adding these types of programs to new environments can be.

    To round off her many accomplishments, Nau is also a member of the Emergency Nurses Association, Haitian-American Nurses Association, Black Nurse Practitioners of Palm Beach County, AANP and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

    Although she is a board-certified family practitioner, runs her own practice and has won multiple awards, Nau likes to say that the most important people in her life just call her “Mom”.

    Thank you, Hélène, for all you do to provide quality care to those in need. FNU is proud to have you as a part of our community!

    To find out more about other compassionate and driven FNU alumni, visit the alumni news page.

  • Featured Preceptor: Gabrielle Morgan Scharp

    Featured Preceptor: Gabrielle Morgan Scharp

    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 (FNU) preceptor Gabrielle Morgan Scharp is being honored as FNU’s Featured Preceptor for the 2020 fall term due to her outstanding dedication to healthcare, service and building up new nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners.

    A registered nurse and certified nurse-midwife, Morgan Scharp began her career in 1998 after experiencing her labor and delivery nurses’ compassion throughout her pregnancy and son’s birth.

    “I was 18 at the time and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” Morgan Scharp said. “When I watched those wonderful women work, though, it was like a lightbulb went off. I thought I could do that, and so I did.”

    After working as an RN for 10 years, Morgan Scharp returned to school to get her nurse-midwifery certification through FNU in 2008, graduating in 2011.

    “When I was working as a labor and delivery nurse, I just wanted to do more. I was frustrated working with women for hours only to have the doctor swoop in at the end to catch the baby. I wanted to help the mother through the whole process,” Morgan Scharp said.

    Morgan Scharp chose Frontier after hearing about it from a co-worker.

    “I went home that night and looked it up. I thought, ‘wow, this sounds amazing, I think this is exactly what I want to do,’ And through Frontier’s unique education model, I was able to meet my goals. Frontier made everything possible for me.”

    Following her graduation from Frontier, Morgan Scharp moved from Wyoming to the Navajo reservation in Navajo County, Ariz.

    “It was definitely a culture shock at first. Many of these people don’t have heat, running water, or electricity; we don’t have 911 or Wal-Mart. I experienced being a minority for the first time in my life. But, I very quickly loved these people and valued their way of life.”

    Although she has moved to various towns within the reservation, Morgan Scharp has been living with and serving the Navajo and Hopi communities since 2011. She enjoys working on the reservation (currently in Tuba City) because of the great sense of community, tradition, and the respect they have for women and elders. 

    “With COVID, things have been different, but usually, we will have around twelve people at a birth. It is such an exciting time for so many. They also have really inspiring traditions such as putting the umbilical cord in a special place to them so that their child will always feel drawn there and have roots in the community,” Morgan Scharp said. 

    Although she was hesitant to become a preceptor at first, she has fully embraced the role in recent years and has found it one of her favorite parts of her job. 

    “I was afraid I wouldn’t be a good teacher, but once I started, it felt natural. I like to step back and give the students I work with room to learn and grow. I know that they have the knowledge from their didactic studies to succeed. I enjoy allowing them to do so.” Morgan Scharp said.

    The students who work with Morgan Scharp appreciate her teaching method, but more than anything, they see her heart for the native women of the reservations, and through that- what it means to truly care for your patients and your community. 

    Student Christy Neese recently worked alongside Morgan Scharp and had this to say about her experience:

    “Gabrielle provides so much strength to the team of midwives in Tuba City. She is full of energy and passion for empowering women through her work as a midwife. Gabrielle sets a beautiful example of how to engage women in their world, their desires, and their culture–and to appreciate all of it. Navajo and Hopi culture values and respects childbirth and motherhood, and Gabrielle can support these values, beliefs, and practices with the midwifery care she provides. Gabrielle has committed so much of her life to these women–she lives 1.5 hours from the nearest ‘big city.’ She is far away from a lot of her family, but she is willing to make these sacrifices to serve the women in this rural community. She taught me so much of what it looks like to serve women, to learn from women, and to appreciate each woman as she allows us to participate in her journey into motherhood.”

    When asked what the most fulfilling part of her job is, Morgan Scharp said, “helping to create a family and watching people grow. I watch pregnancies grow, babies grow, as well as the midwifery students that I precept. It is a beautiful career.”  

    Thank you, Gabrielle, for your continued work in advancing nursing and midwifery education and assisting FNU in reaching underserved populations through a Culture of Caring!

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

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

  • FNU’s 2020 Diversity Events in Review

    FNU’s 2020 Diversity Events in Review

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is built on a Culture of Caring with a mission to educate nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives who will go out and care for diverse and underserved communities. In 2010, FNU took a step further in defining goals of expanding diversity and inclusion throughout the university and the greater healthcare community by implementing the Diversity Impact Program.

    FNU leadership designed the Diversity Impact Program to promote an inclusive learning and workforce environment at FNU with the goal of increasing diversity in the nursing and midwifery professions by recruiting and retaining underrepresented students and employees. 

    In alignment with the Diversity Impact Program, FNU launched the first annual Diversity Impact Conference in 2010. This year celebrated the 10th year of the event. Although it moved to a virtual platform due to COVID-19, it was still a wonderful time dedicated to spreading awareness and understanding minority identities. This year’s conference took place June 11-13 and carried the theme ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020: Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’. Some of this year’s topics were: “What is Race Literacy – 4 Dimensions of Racial Conditioning,” “Addressing Health Disparities: The Role of Healthcare Providers & Educators,” and “Microaggressions in Nursing Education and Health: Why They Matter and What We Can Do About Them.”

    Other virtual events hosted by FNU throughout the year also highlighted diversity within the nursing community, including, Racial Disparities in Maternity Care: Where Do We Go From Here? during National Midwifery Week, and Dismantling Implicit Bias to Promote Optimal Health Outcomes during National Nurse Practitioner Week.

    Additionally, prior to COVID-19 and the turn to virtual events, FNU student Shamekia Wilson volunteered to host an exhibit at The 41st Minority Health Conference in Chapel Hill, NC. During the show, potential students visited the FNU booth to learn more about their various educational programs and diversity initiatives. Wilson said the event helped her further understand the importance of diversity in healthcare education for ensuring that patients from diverse backgrounds receive quality care. 

    This year, Frontier’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) also launched a new mentoring program, the Professional Organization Mentoring Program. Through this program, students are selected to join a faculty member at a virtual professional nursing conference to network and learn more about their chosen field. To qualify for the program, students must complete an application and submit an essay, which will be graded by the Office of DEI. If selected, the Office of DEI will cover the conference’s cost and the student’s membership for a related professional organization. Students interested in this opportunity can begin the application process here. 

    The Office of DEI is also currently in the pilot phase of a comprehensive mentoring program designed to support and retain students of color by meeting their specific professional and academic needs. FNU is excited about expanding this program and believes it will help the university continue to grow a more diverse population within their community and the nursing field. 

    For these initiatives, as well as the university’s holistic dedication to supporting and understanding students, faculty and patients from all backgrounds, FNU was honored to receive the INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s Health Profession’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award for the third year in a row. Upon receiving the award this year, FNU President Dr. Susan Stone made the following statement:

    “We know that culturally competent care improves health outcomes and begins with a more diverse healthcare system. We are proud to be taking a leadership role in this movement by educating an increasingly diverse student body, but we fully recognize that we have much to learn and areas to improve. The HEED Award confirms that we are continuing to move in the right direction and to make meaningful progress.”

    FNU is proud to continue to push programs, events, and mindsets that promote equality for people of all races, cultures, and gender identities.

    To learn more about the steps Frontier has taken to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, visit the university’s diversity page. Additionally, if you are interested in joining a university with a passion for including and supporting students, patients and staff of all backgrounds, please visit the FNU admissions page.

  • Alumni Spotlight: Onidis Lopez: A Lifelong Helper

    Alumni Spotlight: Onidis Lopez: A Lifelong Helper

    Onidis Lopez is a Frontier Nursing University (FNU) master of science in nursing (MSN), doctor of nursing practice (DNP) alumna, but she was a midwife long before arriving at FNU for Frontier Bound. Born and raised in South Florida, Lopez grew up in a lower-income community that worked together to build each other up. Lopez’s grandmother was known as the ‘community grandmother.’ She was a voice of reason and a helper; the person called whenever someone needed advice or had a life event. By the time Lopez was 15, whenever her grandmother received a call about a birth in the community, Lopez was the one sent to help. 

    “I remember always feeling drawn towards pregnant women,” Lopez says. “As a child, I was imitated by adults and didn’t like being around them, but whenever I saw a pregnant woman, I felt at ease. I would go up to them and ask them questions; I was so excited to learn more about their baby.”

    Lopez remembers skipping school to help with births. She was there to welcome every one of her nieces and nephews into the world and even recalls abruptly leaving a club with her college friends to assist with the birth of her cousin’s child. However, as much as she loved helping mommas and newborns, she didn’t initially believe she wanted to be a doctor. 

    “When my sister was giving birth, I saw the doctor come in for the last few minutes, and I thought, I don’t want to do that. I wondered if there was a job out there for someone like me who wanted to support the mother and child through the whole pregnancy,” Lopez said.

    Lopez initially went to college for architecture, but in 2002 she finally followed her calling and enrolled in Miami college for her associate’s degree in midwifery. 

    Because of Lopez’s experience in hospitals during births, she did not initially believe she was interested in a nursing degree. However,  Lopez greatly admired her midwifery professor, Diana Gregory, and one day while visiting her office, she noticed the degree on Gregory’s wall. Gregory had graduated from FNU. 

    “I thought to myself then, if I ever do decide to become a certified nurse-midwife, I’ll go to Frontier,” Lopez said.

    In the meantime, Lopez worked closely with families providing home births through a birth center. In 2012 she decided to further her knowledge of midwifery and enrolled at Frontier. Lopez chose FNU for its strong history of success, the program’s flexibility and the excellent example of midwifery that her professor had provided. 

    Today Lopez is a certified DNP, APRN, CNM-BC working at St. Lucie Women and Children Center in St. Lucie, Fla., where she still holds close to her midwifery roots. 

    “That is who I am at heart. I use that presence to calm the mommas and the families; if something doesn’t go as planned, that’s okay. I will walk with them through the halls and talk with them; I tell them this is their body, and we will work with it. It isn’t about getting an IV at the right time, or having a certain number of nurses, it is about bringing new life to this world,” Lopez says. 

    For Lopez’s DNP project, Reducing Primary Cesareans: Improving Patient-Centered Care By Standardizing The Induction of Labor Processes, she worked to bring the sense of compassion and community that she has used her whole life into the hospital setting. 

    “The goal of my program was to create shared decision making between the clinician and the patient, so many times the physician will say ‘this or that happened so we are inducing you’ without explaining or asking the patient how they feel. I believe the patient should have a larger role in their birth experience.”

    Through Lopez’s project, the Primary C-section rate at the trial locations decreased from 24.4 percent to 16 percent in just eight weeks. Lopez found that patients were unlikely to argue with a sudden C-section option when feeling pressured by healthcare workers. However, when presented with all of the information and given a choice, many women chose to wait and had equally successful pregnancies.

    As the first member of her family to attend college, encouraging others to be their best self is extremely important to Lopez. As her interview closed, Lopez ended with a heartwarming story of the power of representation. 

    “In our area, we regularly see a population of indigenous people who have children at a very young age. Recently I assisted 16 and 19-year-old sisters with their births just months apart. When the 19-year-old came in, their mother recognized me and introduced me to her younger girls, ages seven and 10. The 10-year old looked at me, surprised to see someone who looked like her in a leadership role at the hospital; she asked, ‘You’re the midwife?’

    “I told her that I was and that I would make a deal with her- I would deliver her baby too, but only after she came back to me with two diplomas, one from high school and one from college.”

    “The next day, I saw her mother again while performing her sister’s post-partum check-up. The girl’s mother told me that the night after I spoke with the 10-year old, she announced at dinner, ‘Dad, I’m not going to have a baby until I go to college and have two diplomas. I think that’s really important.’

    “When I heard that, I got goosebumps. In my career, I want to help as many mothers find comfort as I can, but if I can also help little girls see a bigger future for themselves, that makes me feel truly wonderful.”

    Lopez was recently the featured nurse-midwife in the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ (ACNM) Quickening publication and was invited to represent her area on the ACNM’s Midwives of Color Committee. 

    FNU is unbelievably proud of Lopez and her many accomplishments. We believe that she will continue to promote positive change throughout the healthcare community and help lead nursing and midwifery towards a brighter future. 

    To find out more about other compassionate and driven FNU alumni, visit the alumni news page.

  • FNU Looks back on 2020’s National Nurse Practitioner Week

    FNU Looks back on 2020’s National Nurse Practitioner Week

    National Nurse Practitioner Week is always an exciting time for Frontier Nursing University (FNU). This year was particularly noteworthy as the celebration corresponded with the 50th anniversary of FNU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, which was the first of its kind in the United States. In honor of this important week, FNU hosted its fifth annual virtual event to educate, support, and encourage those in the nursing field.

    This year’s virtual event was themed Empower 2020 and ran Nov. 8-14, featuring a remarkable line-up of speakers and course selections. Below is a recap of all of the great sessions,  including a FREE pharmacology CE session on anxiety in children and adolescents that interested parties can participate in through Oct. 2021.

    Empower 2020’s Virtual Sessions:

    Becoming a Nurse Practitioner: A Journey in Distance Education

    Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech and Dr. Lisa Chappell

    Designed to enlighten current nurse practitioner students or anyone interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, this session offered a 360-degree view of FNU’s distance education program. A panel composed of current students from FNU’s family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, and women’s healthcare nurse practitioner tracks gathered to share their personal experiences as graduate-level nursing students in an online program.

    Free Pharmacology CE: Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Trends in Treatment

    Billinda Tebbenhoff, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-B

    This session discussed the approximately 4.4 million children and adolescents in the United States (CDC, 2020) who meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder and the many more who remain undiagnosed. Though anxiety and stress are an expected part of the human experience, consistently elevated anxiety can interfere with a child’s sense of self and impact the entire family. The implications of the current pandemic related to child and adolescent anxiety are beginning to emerge and depend on the child’s stage of development and pre-pandemic functioning. Predictive trends and guidance regarding helping children, families and communities during the pandemic are all discussed.

    Nurse Practitioners Leading Care Through Telehealth

    Dr. Jess Calohan, Martha Harvey, Dr. Rachel Mack and Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale

    Made up of a panel of Frontier Nursing University nurse practitioner faculty members, this session discussed the rise of telehealth in the panelists’ respective specialties. Panel members represented family nursing, psychiatric-mental health, nurse-midwifery and women’s health departments within FNU. Throughout the session, panelists shared current telehealth trends along with their professional experiences using telehealth as a patient care delivery model and the effects it could have on the future of healthcare.

    Dismantling Implicit Bias to Promote Optimal Health Outcomes

    Dr. Katheryn Arterberry, Dr. Diane John and Dr. Lisa Chappell

    In reaction to the rise in social justice movements this year, this session focused on the negative impact of implicit bias in optimizing health outcomes. In this session, advanced practice nurses identified new processes for changing attitudes and behaviors that can lead to health disparities and move towards equality throughout the healthcare system. The session intended to engage participants in reflective and introspective thoughts leading to individual plans for minimizing personal biases.

    FNU would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s virtual National Nurse Practitioner Week event. It has been a challenging year for many in the field, and it was encouraging to celebrate all of the great work being accomplished while looking towards the future. To view all of the details of Empower 2020 visit the event page here. 

  • Student Spotlight: Heidi Hagan, Offering a Vision of Healing

    Student Spotlight: Heidi Hagan, Offering a Vision of Healing

    Heidi Hagan is a current Frontier Nursing University (FNU) student working to become a Certified Nurse-Midwife, a passion born from her own life experience. In 2003, Hagan went through a life-changing and devastating event when her first child was unexpectedly lost at term. Hagan said the incident was one of the most challenging times of her life, but because of the incredible midwife who supported her through the tragedy, she now has a clear vision of her future. She wants to become a nurse-midwife who can bring healing to others. 

    “My goal is to develop a comprehensive perinatal hospice program that provides in-home care/birth planning, delivery support, grief support, and follow up after birth. This cause is very near to my heart and drives everything I do as a nurse and now student nurse-midwife.”

    Hagan is currently working as a triage registered nurse for home health and home hospice patients at UPMC Home Health & Family Hospice in Williamsport, Pa. In this role, Hagan provides PRN skilled nursing services after regular business hours by meeting patient needs as they arise, monitoring chronic conditions and surveying how patients are coping and adjusting after a hospital stay or receiving a terminal diagnosis. Although hospice care is not traditionally paired with nurse-midwifery, Hagan chose this route with intention.

    “I wanted to become more comfortable working with death and dying, as well as avail myself to caring for perinatal patients who may be anticipating a life-limiting diagnosis. I also wanted to gain experience working with folks in the home setting because I feel there is a huge opportunity to expand services to postpartum women. I believe that if these services were more commonly expanded, we could improve outcomes related to postpartum depression and promote healthy families through home health nursing.”

    Set to graduate in 2021, Hagan first chose FNU because of its incredible reputation for providing quality education and promoting compassionate care.

    “I had heard wonderful things about the programs at FNU and was immediately attracted to the program after meeting and talking with several FNU alumni. I needed a program with flexibility, the ability to pace my learning and a personal touch. It was an easy decision!”

    After choosing FNU, Hagan said it is everything she hoped for, adding that it has had an incredible impact on her personal life as well as her education. 

    “The FNU network has been my lifeline! I have had several unexpected life events over the past three years that threatened to derail my success. However, the amazing network of teaching midwives, fellow students, local alumni and program leaders at FNU have kept me on track through it all. My FNU support system constantly encourages patient, persistence, and perseverance –always reminding me of why I started my journey in the first place.”

    Another remarkable piece of Hagan’s story is that through her nurse-midwife program at FNU, she has been able to train side by side with the nurse-midwife who inspired her career choice. Nearly 20 years ago, Kay Zlockie, CNM, helped Hagan through her lost pregnancy. Today, Zlockie is guiding Hagan towards her future, sharing knowledge and encouragement as her primary preceptor. 

    As Hagan put it, “my story has come full circle.”

    FNU wishes Hagan luck as she moves forward with her dream to support women and families facing loss and heartache. May her personal tragedy lead to healing for many. 

    To learn more about FNU’s unique and impactful nurse-midwife program based around a Culture of Caring that seeks to equip upcoming nurse-midwives with wisdom and compassion, click here. 

  • Graduate Nursing School: What is the Program Structure Like at FNU?

    Graduate Nursing School: What is the Program Structure Like at FNU?

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) aims to give students the flexibility to reach their educational goals without sacrificing their personal lives. FNU leadership understands that the distance education model is a significant draw to students from various backgrounds with a wide array of scheduling needs. With this in mind, FNU programs of study are available for both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students require about 40 hours of course work per week, while part-time students can expect around 30 hours. Course terms run for 11 weeks with a two-week break between terms. FNU offers four application deadlines per year, each providing multiple orientation dates to work with students’ already busy schedules. Go here for more detailed information about FNU’s programs and check out FNU’s student journey page to learn more about what to expect as a Frontier student.

    Take a look below for an example of a student’s course load. This blog examines the path of a Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree who desires to earn their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with the option of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

    Frontier Bound

    The program kicks off with a  three-day orientation, usually in-person on our campus in Kentucky. This year, to protect students, staff, and faculty during the pandemic, FNU has transitioned Bound to an entirely virtual event for incoming students. Nevertheless, students completing the most recent Frontier Bound reported feeling connected and inspired. Whether online or in-person, Frontier Bound allows students to meet their instructors and classmates and learn the skills needed for distance education. Students enjoy this time engaging with the people they will be working with throughout their journey and building their passion for the program. 

    Online Studies

    Following Frontier Bound, students begin their online coursework with the opportunity to study as a full-time or part-time student. Students will learn in their home communities during this portion of their education but work closely with the friends and faculty they met during Frontier Bound through emails, video calls, online forums, and phone calls. Students will also receive additional guidance and support from a wide variety of staff and faculty members, including their academic advisor, clinical director, and department chair.

    Obtaining a Clinical Site

    Choosing the right site and preceptor can make a huge difference in a student’s clinical experience. A student will spend 675 hours training with their preceptor at a clinical site in their home community so finding the right fit is extremely important. This is why FNU has created the impactful Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit to assist students in identifying appropriate clinical sites. The Clinical Outreach and Placement team helps students discern which site types are appropriate based on their program of study, supports students in using resources to locate clinical sites and preceptors, and guides students to internal or external resources that are valuable in securing a site or preceptor.

    Clinical Bound

    At this point in their studies, students typically return to the Kentucky campus for a five-day clinical skills intensive; however, this is also a virtual experience during the Pandemic. Clinical Bound gives students a chance to regroup with classmates and instructors to prepare for the clinical practicum they will take on in their community. While at Clinical Bound, students begin to practice the hands-on skills for the subjects they studied in their didactic coursework. This is a time to gain confidence while working alongside other students and faculty members to best prepare for their Clinical Practicum.

    Clinical Practicum

    A graduate student’s next step is to fulfill their required clinical hours of nurse practitioner or nurse-midwifery services in their home community under a preceptor’s guidance. During the clinical practicum experience, students will work closely with a Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) member who will provide advice and support to the student and preceptor during the clinical practicum. Before arrival, the RCF evaluates the student’s clinical site and preceptor to ensure an excellent clinical experience. RCFs remain accessible throughout the clinical practicum to share wisdom, resolve issues, and support the overall experience. 

    Comprehensive Exam

    This portion of the journey may sound intimidating, but this is where it all pays off. Students that successfully complete a comprehensive exam for their specialty track will receive their MSN (or Post-Graduate Certificate)!

    Option to Complete DNP

    Suppose a student wants to continue with their education after receiving their MSN. In that case, Frontier encourages students to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Here are a few reasons to consider continuing and completing a DNP as an FNU student.

    Graduation

    Although it is not required, in a non-COVID world, many students choose to return to Kentucky for a final ceremony with their classmates and mentors. FNU has set up our annual commencement ceremony to take place each September. This year, Frontier held a special virtual celebration. Faculty and students alike look forward to seeing nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners from almost every state across the U.S. come together with friends and family to celebrate all of the great work that has been accomplished by our Frontier community. 

    Join The FNU Family

    Would you like to join a community of passionate healthcare professionals dedicated to helping women and families across the country? If FNU’s distance education program sounds right for you, check out the admissions page. Here, you will find information on application deadlines, orientation dates, and financial aid and scholarships. If you have any further questions, please visit our FAQ page or reach out to one of our excellent FNU admissions officers. We hope you will consider Frontier Nursing University to take your next big step in the graduate nursing world!

  • Frontier Nursing University Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager Inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellow

    Frontier Nursing University Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager Inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellow

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) in a virtual ceremony on Saturday, October 31. Dr. Slager was selected for the AAN Fellowship in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions and impact on nursing and health. 

    Dr. Slager was a member of FNU’s first Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) graduate class in 1991 and proceeded to complete her Master of Science in Nursing in 1993. Early on in her career, Dr. Slager helped to establish Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, Mich., which is now the state’s largest midwifery service. Dr. Slager has spent over 20 years practicing as a full-scope midwife and has served as a preceptor for over 100 FNU students; she became the school’s Dean of Nursing in March 2018.

    “I am very honored to have been inducted as an AAN Fellow,” Dr. Slager said. “AAN is an organization that promotes nursing leadership to advance health policy and practice in the U.S. I am excited to be part of this prestigious organization and to contribute to the continued evolvement of nursing practice.”

    The American Academy of Nursing selected a total of 230 distinguished nurse leaders to join the 2020 Class of Fellows. The Academy is currently composed of more than 2,700 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.

    Through a competitive, rigorous application process, a committee of elected Fellows review hundreds of applications and select new Fellows based on their contributions to advance the public’s health. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within the profession.

    FNU is extremely honored to have a member of their faculty receive this prestigious award. To find out more about Frontier and why it has continued to rate as one of the best nursing schools in the country since its inception in 1939, click here.

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