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  • RNs: Bypass your Bachelors and Get a Masters at FNU

    RNs: Bypass your Bachelors and Get a Masters at FNU

    In this day and age, convenience is key. But for aspiring registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), there’s hardly anything convenient about attending two to three more years of school to get a bachelors, and then tacking on another two years for a masters.

    What if the same path to a master of science in nursing (MSN) that would normally take five years could be completed in three? 

    With Frontier Nursing University’s ADN to MSN – Bridge Entry Option, RNs can bypass a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). In FNU’s unique ADN Bridge Entry Option, an RN will complete a series of courses over 12 months to prepare for a Master of Science in Nursing. The program is designed for registered nurses who do not have a bachelor’s degree in any field but have been practicing for at least one year.

    Upon completing the Bridge year, students who enter through the Bridge Entry Option transition directly into the MSN program, saving them approximately two years’ worth of coursework — not to mention the cost of those courses — that they normally would have needed to get their bachelor’s first. These students will then complete coursework for their specialty of choice including certified-nurse-midwife, family nurse practitioner or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

    Not only is this path to the MSN convenient, but it’s also cost-saving. A normal path to bachelor’s then master’s costs $75,000 in total, according to Affordable Colleges Online. FNU’s Bridge Entry Option costs $600 per credit hour (as of February 2020, subject to change) for approximately 81+ hours of coursework depending on which MSN specialty path is chosen, totaling approximately $48,000-$51,000. Financial aid and scholarships are available to most students. 

    Along with the money saved through the ADN Bridge Entry Option, graduates will also enter the workforce two years sooner than through the traditional BSN to MSN route. According to Nurse Journal, a registered nurse with an MSN degree earns an average annual salary of $92,000. Those who wish to further their education through FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program can do so as a continuation of the MSN program with only 19 additional credit hours.

    FNU’s distance education model allows students to complete their studies online while maintaining their professional and personal commitments. Three brief stays at our Kentucky campus give students the opportunity to connect with their instructors and classmates without detracting from their home commitments. Students complete their clinical practicum in their own communities, allowing them to serve and develop relationships with patients and providers near to them.

    One Bridge alumna, Loy McEachin Watson, credits FNU’s ADN to MSN Bridge with allowing her to build her career in a way that worked for her. 

    “Without this bridge program, my dream of being a nurse practitioner would have taken so much longer or may have never happened at all. Thank you Frontier for meeting us where we are and ‘bridging’ the gap,” said Watson.

    If you are an RN who is looking to further your education but worries about the time and cost, and an ADN is your highest degree, consider FNU’s ADN to MSN – Bridge Entry Option. Not sure if you’re eligible or ready for this next step? Reach out to one of our knowledgeable FNU staff that is ready to answer your questions.

     

  • FNU Joins the Celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

    FNU Joins the Celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

    In 2019, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed that the year 2020 be designated the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife” in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The proposal was approved by the World Health Assembly. 

    In addition to the significance of Florence Nightingale’s birthday anniversary, the designation was made to help bring awareness of the importance of nurses and midwives in the health and care of populations across the globe. According to the WHO, the world needs nine million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is excited to support and participate in this international campaign and to spread awareness of the specific need for more nurses and nurse-midwives in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 women die annually in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications, 67 percent of which were determined to be preventable. More than five million U.S. women live in counties that have no hospital offering obstetric care and no obstetric providers. 

    The need for nurses and nurse-midwives is also seen beyond the gaps in maternity care. Rural areas are impacted most significantly by the healthcare shortages, with the number of physicians per 10,000 people averaging 33 in urban areas versus just 13 in rural communities. A shortage of psychiatric mental health care providers has resulted in 96 million Americans having to wait longer than a week for mental health treatment and 46 percent of those seeking this care having to drive more than an hour round-trip for treatment. 

    For 80 years, FNU has been educating and preparing many of these much-needed providers to serve the communities in which they live and work. FNU’s mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations. 

    During the first 50 years of its history, FNU was rooted in its birthplace in the rural mountains of southeastern Kentucky. In 1989, FNU launched its distance-learning model, which enabled FNU to expand its reach across the country. Today, 73 percent of FNU’s 2,300 enrolled students live in a Healthcare Provider Shortage Area (HPSA) as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration. 

    “Our distance learning model allows students to continue their education in the same communities in which they live and work,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, said, noting that FNU has students and graduates in every state. “Students can remain in their local communities and continue to work while attending classes on a flexible schedule.”

    Not only has FNU’s reach expanded significantly but so has its range of programs. FNU offers the master of science in nursing degree, doctor of nursing practice degree and post-graduate certificates with specialties including nurse-midwife, family nurse practitioner, women’s health care nurse practitioner and psychiatric-mental health care nurse practitioner. In 2018, FNU produced approximately 39 percent of the certified nurse-midwifery graduates in the U.S. 

    Certified nurse-midwives are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) backed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. To become a CNM, registered nurses must graduate from a master’s or higher-level nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board. All CNMs must hold state licensure. Certified midwives (CM), by comparison, are not required to have a nursing background.

    “One of the important objectives for us this year is to define the role of the certified nurse-midwife and the certified midwife so the public understands the broad scope of services these professionals provide,” Dr. Stone said. 

    In recognizing the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, FNU joins the efforts to raise awareness of healthcare shortages in the U.S. and abroad; demonstrate the need for more nurses and nurse-midwives; educate the public of the value of nurses and nurse-midwives in their communities and advocate for access to quality healthcare for every individual. 

    “We are very excited to share the message of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” Dr. Stone said. “Greater awareness of our healthcare disparities and identification of the potential solutions are essential steps in improving the reach and access to healthcare in this country.”

    To find out more about FNU’s program offerings, visit Frontier.edu/Degrees.

  • Faculty Spotlight: Family Nurse Practitioner Diane John Works to Improve Health Outcomes in Florida Community

    Faculty Spotlight: Family Nurse Practitioner Diane John Works to Improve Health Outcomes in Florida Community

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) associate professor Diane John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC understands the importance of giving back to the community.

    Diane recently collaborated with several faculty and leaders to host a virtual session for National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week. They held a panel discussion to talk about how each is involved in his/her community, and Diane shared some of the many ways she is active in her Broward County, Fla. community. 

    Diane sits on the board and volunteers at the local YMCA, providing education sessions and working with community health workers to improve healthcare outcomes. She frequently has speaking engagements in the community about different topics such as chronic health, the obesity epidemic, hypertension, and lifestyle behaviors’ impact on healthcare outcomes. She is also a board member of the South Florida Council For Advanced Practice Nurses, where she chairs the education and community committee. As chair, she facilitates food drives and clothing drives, most recently to collect relief items for victims of the Haiti hurricane disaster. 

    The Broward County population suffers high rates of hypertension, heart disease, and renal failure, all linked to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. To help combat this, Diane received funding from a national NP organization to implement a project focused on teaching healthcare providers and nursing students about motivational interviewing, a way of talking with patients so they are moved to make behavioral changes leading to better health outcomes. 

    “We have spent many years telling patients what to do. ‘Walk twenty minutes three times a week. Eat these foods. Stop smoking.’ We have made some advances from this direct talk, but we’re not where we need to be,” Diane explained. 

    “Motivational interviewing helps meet people halfway by leading them to identify behaviors and design a plan of action to implement healthier lifestyle choices.”

    The grant allows her to offer motivational interviewing courses to NPs, advanced practice nurses, community health workers, and student nurses. Initially created as a tool for substance abusers, the motivational interview method is now being used across a wide span of illnesses and conditions, empowering patients to take ownership and control of their own health. Diane’s motivational interview courses also equip students with a tool to assess how likely an individual would change behaviors based on his/her conversation with the provider. 

    Diane has been a member of the FNU team since 2012. She currently serves in the academic affairs division as a curriculum and course design coach.

    Diane’s favorite thing about being part of the FNU team is collaboration and effective communication across departments, programs and individuals. 

    “I have worked in brick and mortar academic organizations in the past, and communicating was always an issue, but at FNU, a lot of effort is put into communication and transparency,” she said.

    Diane would like to thank FNU Department Chair of Family Nursing Dr. Lisa Chappell and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Rachel Mack for recognizing all the individual things that faculty do that align with the nursing profession, particularly outside of the FNU organization. “They are truly interested in what we do beyond our work at Frontier,” said Diane.

    In addition to her faculty position and community work, Diane is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) whose practice works closely with veterans and the geriatric population.

    Thank you, Diane, for the many ways you serve your communities, both at FNU and in Broward County!

  • Fall Term Circle of Caring Winners

    Fall Term Circle of Caring Winners

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to announce the 2019 Fall Term Circle of Caring Award Winners: staff member Lonnie Brown and faculty member Judith Butler.

    The Circle of Caring Award is given each term as a recognition for faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job duties and strive to uphold FNU’s mission and Culture of Caring every day. 

    Award winners are anonymously nominated by fellow FNU faculty and staff. Nominations are voted upon by a committee based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity.

    Staff Winner: Lonnie Brown

    Lonnie, a long-time member of FNU’s maintenance staff, exhibits a strong work ethic and a constant smile. He is known to go above and beyond to help students, faculty and staff on campus. His nominations cited several instances of Lonnie embodying FNU’s culture of caring. 

    “While we were preparing for the faculty meeting recently, a reception was set up in the wrong location due to a miscommunication. Between the end of dinner service and the event, Lonnie and the housekeeping/kitchen staff moved the entire event–including large numbers of crystal glasses and wine bottles–to the correct location, so the event could begin seamlessly.”

    Another nomination stated, “A student had a flat tire and was instructed by her rental car company to bring the car back to trade it in, a task that couldn’t be accomplished without a drive to Hazard. Lonnie took the tire to a local Hyden repair place while the student was in her CB classes, had it fixed, and reinstalled it so she didn’t have to make the trip.”

    “We had a lovely snow the second day of Bridge Bound,” said another nomination. “The next morning, Lonnie cleaned the snow off all the cars! He displayed amazing inclusivity and respect for students, faculty and staff this morning and it was greatly appreciated.”

    Faculty Winner: Judith Butler, DNP, CNM, WHNP, CNE

    Judith is an assistant professor and course coordinator at FNU. She also practices at a hospital midwifery unit in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz. Judith obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from FNU in 2015 and has served in hospitals and birth centers for more than 20 years.

    She was nominated by a colleague after helping in a recent time of need. “Judy stepped up and carried the entire DNP clinical leadership load for a full week while we all dealt with very serious life emergencies (including stroke, loss of a grandparent, and two out for surgery). Judy picked up the pieces, carried the weight that all four of us manage together, and did it gracefully and without complaint. She went out of her way to care for us, even while her own plate must have been overflowing.” 

    Judith credits the culture of caring she and her colleagues put into practice daily. 

    “I am sincerely grateful for this award but would like to include my amazing DNP team, who upon learning of the need to step up, jumped in and covered everything without hesitation,” she said. “FNU has instilled a culture of caring among us all. It’s not just words – we all walk the walk.”  

    Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. To submit your nomination for the winter term Circle of Caring Award, click here!

  • Courier Spotlight: Eric Lakomek

    Courier Spotlight: Eric Lakomek

    A Frontier Nursing University (FNU) 2019 summer Courier was recently featured in a Wabash Global Health tweet after his presentation detailing his experience in the program. Wabash Global Health is an initiative of Wabash College, located in Crawfordsville, Ind., with the goal of impacting the lives of students and communities through education, investigation and service.

    Eric Lakomek is a junior at Wabash where he is studying psychology with minors in chemistry and global health. He is on track to graduate in May 2021 and then plans to attend medical school. 

    Eric first learned about the Courier program from Wabash alum Matt Hodges, who participated in the program in the summer of 2016 and encouraged Eric to apply. The Courier program is an eight week, rural and public health, service-learning program with a rich and adventuresome history. The program targets college students with an interest in public health, health care or a related field. The sites are often remote, located in culturally-unique communities throughout Appalachia and elsewhere.

    “I was interested in learning about rural public health, particularly the opioid epidemic, and I knew in Appalachia I would experience it firsthand,” Eric said.

    For the first several weeks of his summer in Hazard, Ky., he visited each medical provider in the Kentucky Mountain Health Alliance, including dental, primary care and behavioral health centers. He chose to focus on the primary care center at the Little Flower Clinic for the remainder of the summer. At the clinic, he shadowed the nurse practitioners and on-site physician; he also traveled with caseworkers during patient home visits and community work. 

    As part of the Courier program, Eric and his fellow Couriers developed a project based on a community needs assessment of the Hazard community area. They created a comprehensive diabetes care program for local patients, complete with information brochures, menu guidelines and care packs with blood pressure cuffs, weight scales, pedometers and other items not covered by insurance.

    Eric’s favorite part about his summer as a Courier was being able to experience the culture and community of Appalachia, and he left with a sense of gratitude. “I realized the privilege I have in my life,” said Eric. “Little Flower is a clinic that primarily serves less fortunate individuals, and I learned that my problems pale in comparison to what these individuals experience on a daily basis.”

    “Eric truly shined during his summer as a courier with FNU. In fact, Eric was chosen to present his experience to the Breckinridge Capital Advisors, as well as other prominent members of the FNU board,” said Tara A. Dykes-Barnes, FNU’s Courier Program Coordinator.

    The Courier Program was recently featured in The Bridge Magazine, a publication of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health. Read more here!

    Enrollment for the 2020 Courier program is now open! The program will run from June 1- August 3, 2020. Find out more about the application process and enrollment requirements at Frontier.edu/Courier-Program.

     

  • Alumni Spotlight: Marie Labadie-DeGennaro

    Alumni Spotlight: Marie Labadie-DeGennaro

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Marie Labadie-DeGennaro, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CHPN recently had the honor of sharing her work at a conference showcasing nurse research conducted by doctoral students in the National Capital Area.

    On November 14, 2019, Marie presented her poster “Improving Patient-Centered Respiratory Illness Care Through Shared Decision Making in the Urgent Care Setting,” at the Washington Regional Nursing Research 10th Annual Doctoral Conference. The conference was held in Washington D.C. at The Catholic University of America. Marie has had the opportunity to share her presentation at several other conferences as well.

    As an advanced registered nurse practitioner, Marie has over 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of clinical settings and roles. She adheres to evidence-based practice guidelines and makes an extra effort to be highly sensitive to the emotional needs and well-being of her patients. She also identifies community resources for the underserved.

    Marie is currently a family nurse practitioner at Care One of Florida Urgent Care and Pasco Kids First in New Port Richey, Fla. The urgent care center accepts all kinds of insurance as well as self-pay, so Marie sees a wide variety of patients, including many from underserved and marginalized populations.

    “The population of patients I care for is limitless,” said Marie. “I am committed to safely practicing a high-quality, holistic approach while sustaining optimal health outcomes for patients ranging from infancy through aging adult with complex healthcare needs.”

    Marie is also a Certified Child Protection Team Medical Examiner. She works part-time and on-call doing medical assessments of alleged child and adult maltreatment victims, including all facets of child, sexual and physical abuse as well as neglect cases and evidence collection. She performs forensic interviews with potential victims and families, compiles written reports for investigators and law enforcement and makes recommendations for safe environments and care.

    After being a nurse for over 20 years, Marie knew she wanted to make an even bigger impact in her community. 

    “Patients deserved more than they were getting,” she said. 

    A friend told her about FNU’s ADN Bridge Entry option and, after researching the history and community, Marie decided to enroll. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing and then transitioned into the companion Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to complete her doctoral degree. 

    “Frontier is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I read about the amazing sense of community you get during your time at FNU and I knew it was the place for me. It is unlike any other online education program I have ever encountered.”

    Marie continues to utilize the support of FNU’s resources such as the library and evidence-based tools for practice as well as the connections she has made with professors and friends. She is soon transitioning to a new role at the University of South Florida in the Neurology Clinic and intends to teach there as well.

    Thank you, Marie, for serving your community well and for sharing your work so those following in your footsteps can do the same!

  • 2019 Conferences/Meetings Highlights

    2019 Conferences/Meetings Highlights

    Throughout 2019, representatives of Frontier Nursing University (FNU) attended a multitude of nursing and nurse-midwifery conferences and meetings. Students, faculty and alumni gathered with others from the field to hear from engaging speakers, grow their networking connections and speak with potential students. Here are the highlights of some of the key conferences and meetings attended this year.

     

    KCNPNM

    The 31st Annual Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse-Midwives (KCNPNM) Conference took place in Covington, Ky. in April. Over 50 exhibitors, including several higher education institutes, gathered at the Covington Convention Center to connect with guests.

    The two-day exhibition window of the conference brought approximately 600 attendees. The FNU booth received many interested visitors, several of which led to further inquiries about FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and post-graduate certificate programs. Alumni, current students and friends of FNU also stopped by to say hello. Many attendees were familiar with FNU’s history and reputation as one of Kentucky’s oldest and most reputed nursing schools.

    Conference guests had the opportunity to attend continuing education sessions as well as workshops on a full range of healthcare topics. Pharmacology was emphasized as the opioid epidemic continues to grow while groundbreaking new drugs are created.

    FNU alumni, faculty, students and friends also gathered for a time of making new connections and renewing old ones at a reception hosted by FNU.

     

    NSNA

    The National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) 67th Annual Convention was held in Salt Lake City, Utah in April. At the FNU exhibit booth, attendees were engaged in conversations about the Master of Science in Nursing degree programs and ADN Bridge Entry Option. Conference attendees also had the opportunity to attend informal gatherings with FNU called Coffee and Conversations in the coffee shop adjacent to the convention center, where potential students could come and ask any additional questions about FNU programs. Alumna Jason Hone also stopped by and talked about his experience at FNU.

     

    NCNP

    The spring National Convention for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP) took place in May in Chicago, Ill. The three-day conference drew over 2000 nurse practitioners from all over the world. Attendees were able to learn about FNU’s graduate programs as well as becoming a preceptor.

    The Fall NCNP conference was held in Las Vegas, Nev. in September. More than 1500 nurse practitioners (NPs) attended and learned about FNU’s graduate programs. Several alumni also stopped by to say hello and reminisce on their time at FNU. 

     

    AWHONN

    The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Convention was held in Atlanta, Ga. in June. FNU joined 240 other exhibitors as over 3500 people attended. Nurse-midwifery student Crystal Norman helped greet guests and shared her experiences at the FNU exhibit booth. FNU also hosted Coffee and Conversations gatherings each day and spoke with potential students about FNU’s nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner programs. 

     

    AANP

    The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) National Conference was held in June in Indianapolis, Ind. FNU faculty member Vicky Stone-Gale as well as alumni Jill Johnson, FNP and Elena Prendergast, DNP, FNP-C gave presentations at the conference. AANP was one of several conferences this year where FNU focused on recruiting potential students from diverse backgrounds. Diversity Impact program mentees Frainelys (Frainy) Cruz, Caren Blantin, Ebony Hollins, Chanelle Nsangou, Nancy Carter, Jessica Stevens, and mentor Dr. DeLana Gardner spoke to potential students who visited FNU’s booth. Alumni and friends also gathered at the annual alumni breakfast. 

     

    ACNM

    The 64th annual American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Meeting was held in National Harbor, Md. in June. FNU faculty and mentor Dr. Diana Jolles gave a podium presentation at the conference with her student mentee, Katrina George, as did Dr. Janelle Komorowski and her student mentee, Elizabeth Aviles.

    FNU held its annual reception at the conference and had over 150 people in attendance. Student mentees helped greet guests and enjoyed an evening of networking with other FNU alumni, students, faculty and preceptors.

    Student mentees Katrina George, Elizabeth Aviles, Aja Aviles-Soto, Alexandra Millett, Stacy Hepner and Ellen Apple represented the university by attending sessions and sharing information on distance education and specialty tracks at the exhibit booth. 

    Many FNU faculty, staff and students received awards at the ACNM conference. You can read about the awards and presentations here.

     

    APNA

    The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Conference took place in New Orleans, La. in October. FNU Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program Director Jess Calohan helped out behind the booth handing out pralines and speaking to potential students. A Coffee and Conversations gathering offered an opportunity for attendees to ask more questions about FNU’s psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program.

     

    Thank you to all who attended and participated in our many conferences and meetings in 2019! 

  • 2019: Year In Review

    2019: Year In Review

    2019 is drawing to a close at Frontier Nursing University! Below are some of our highlights from a truly wonderful 2019. Be sure to watch the “Year in Review 2019” video at the bottom of the post as well.

     

    Commencement

    FNU celebrated its 80th anniversary this year! Commencement took place in Lexington, Ky. for the first time, where 265 graduates attended with their families and friends. We welcomed keynote speaker Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the second woman and the first African American to serve as U.S. Surgeon General. FNU awarded 852 total degrees in 2019.

    Conferences

    Students and alumni represented FNU at a multitude of conferences in 2019, including the 64th Annual ACNM Meeting, the AANP National Conference and the NBNA Conference and Exhibit among many others.

    FNU also hosted its 9th annual Diversity Impact conference in June. Students engaged in open dialogue and participated in interactive activities including storytelling through dance and an exploration of Polynesian culture through creating an extended lei to honor the land.

    Faculty & Staff Accomplishments

    FNU President Dr. Susan Stone was formally inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. She was one of only two nurses inducted and the only inductee from the state of Kentucky. 

    To help meet the needs of students searching for quality clinical sites and preceptors, the Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit was created.

    Several faculty and staff were awarded and honored for their efforts as leaders in nurse-midwifery at this year’s ACNM Conference.

    For the second consecutive year, FNU received the 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award honoring its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

    Programs & Events

    FNU hosted virtual events for National Midwifery Week and Nurse Practitioner Week. Faculty members and alumni gave informative sessions on a variety of relevant topics, and many sessions offered continuing education credit for viewers.

    FNU also hosted a one-day virtual event for National Rural Health Day with four sessions on all things impacting rural and underserved communities.

    The 2019 Couriers left their mark on rural and underserved communities during their summer of service, earning recognition from the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, one of the state offices of the National Rural Health Association.

     

    We recognize and honor the past 80 years of impact and growth as we head towards an exciting future for FNU and our community. Here is to a 2019 full of memories and a successful 2020. We’re 80 years down and 80 (and many more) to go!

     

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