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  • Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Lawlor

    Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Lawlor

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Melissa Lawlor wears many hats. In addition to being a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student and Certified Nurse-Midwife, she is a firefighter, EMT, educator, wife and mother of three.

    “Frontier teaches you how to find the areas in your community that need serving and look for how you can best serve there,” said Melissa. Her search has led her into the education arena.

    From her home in Pleasant Valley, New York, Melissa travels locally, statewide and even across the country, giving presentations about breastfeeding at medical conferences. She is working to raise awareness among fellow healthcare providers of the physical, emotional and economic benefits of breastfeeding. 

    She also gives free educational presentations to community members, covering the subjects of OB/GYN emergencies and possible complications. After attending one of Melissa’s presentations recently, her son, a firefighter/EMT, was able to save a premature baby’s life.

    Melissa currently runs a private practice focused on home birth and lactation. She will be joining a hospital practice in the fall, allowing her to increase her scope of care.

    In her practice, Melissa works with a diverse population of women. She is passionate about educating her low-income patients about the economic benefits of breastfeeding. Many on Medicaid have been able to alleviate the expenses associated with formula and bottle-feeding, freeing up those funds for other health complications.

    Recently Melissa received the 2019 Dutchess County EMS Educator of Excellence Award for her tireless work educating EMS providers using evidence-based medicine. 

    When she decided to go to nursing school, Melissa knew she wanted to be a nurse-midwife, and FNU’s storied legacy drew her to apply. “I can clearly remember reading a book about Mary Breckinridge in high school. I thought, ‘This woman is amazing and what she accomplished was incredible,’” said Melissa. 

    One of the most valuable skills Melissa learned at FNU was community assessment. “They give you the skills to dig into your community, and you come out a more well-rounded healthcare provider,” she said.

    “I’m always thinking, ‘What legacy will I leave behind?’ For me, a door has opened to educate healthcare providers and that’s where I am choosing to make my impact.”

    Thank you, Melissa, for inspiring us with the many ways you impact your community!

  • Introducing the Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit

    Introducing the Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit

    The Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit Staff

    Each of the graduate programs at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is offered through distance education where students complete coursework online and clinical hours in their own communities across the country. The convenience that distance education brings to nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner students is one of FNU’s primary advantages, but it can also present unique challenges in locating quality clinical sites and preceptors to meet each student’s needs. Preceptors (nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners and other healthcare providers) play a crucial role in mentoring students and helping them gain the clinical experience they need for long-term success. 

    In direct response to the need to provide additional student support services during this important part of graduate nursing and midwifery education, FNU is proud to announce the creation of the new Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit.

    The FNU Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit’s mission is to support FNU students by providing assistance and resources in locating clinical sites and preceptors, troubleshooting challenging situations and working one-on-one with students to navigate the overall clinical search process. 

    Director of Clinical Outreach and Placement Stephanie Boyd
    Clinical Advisor Jamie Wheeler

    The unit is led by Director of Clinical Outreach and Placement Stephanie Boyd and supported by Clinical Advisors Carisa Lipp and Jamie Wheeler as well as Clinical Services Coordinator Brittany Bachman. 

    The Clinical Advisors will work with students one-on-one and in small groups while the Clinical Services Coordinator will provide customer service and support to FNU preceptors. These staff members are seasoned FNU employees and have a great knowledge base of the FNU community and its systems.

    Clinical Advisor Carisa Lipp
    Clinical Services Coordinator Brittany Bachman

    Student Jennifer Perez, RNC-OB, CFNP Class 163, has already benefited from working with her clinical advisor. She said, “My advisor has been an incredible resource and support to me and I appreciate how genuine, present, engaged and committed she is.”

    The unit will focus on identifying appropriate clinical sites and preceptors for each student’s unique situation, facilitating student-preceptor relationships, and collaborating with Regional Clinical Faculty (RCFs) to better support each student. Managing case day activities will also be a function of the unit.

    Students have responded with gratitude for the new resource now available to them. Loy E. Watson, ADN, RN, CFNP Class 144, said, “I am so glad that Frontier listens to the voice of the student body and cares enough to act. What a wonderful thing that Frontier is, yet again, filling a gap. The ongoing desire to meet the needs of students is truly what sets Frontier apart from other schools.”

    FNU is committed to providing the necessary resources to help each student succeed, and the creation of the Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit supports this commitment.

    To learn more about becoming a preceptor, visit Frontier.edu/preceptor.

  • DNP Author Spotlight: Rachel Simmons

    DNP Author Spotlight: Rachel Simmons

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Rachel Simmons, DNP, WHNP, is working to give a voice to minority patients who feel ignored and overlooked in the mainstream healthcare system.

    Rachel was one of FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates published in the recently-released 5th edition of Caring for the Vulnerable. Her chapter entitled Culturally contextualized community outreach program to promote breastfeeding among African-American women was based on over nine years of experience as a board certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in Florida.

    In her position as a dual certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Practitioner (APRN) at a community health center in Florida, Rachel primarily serves low-income and minority patients, many of whom have low health literacy and suffer from multiple chronic conditions. 

    “In my role as an ANP, I am able to assess and plan culturally competent care to reduce adverse outcomes associated with chronic conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and hyperlipidemia,” said Rachel.

    Meeting her patients where they are in their current state allows Rachel to educate them and create an individualized plan for improving their health going forward.

    In Rachel’s role as a WHNP, she works with at-risk women who tend to suffer poorer maternal and fetal outcomes. The goal is to get patients into early prenatal care so a trusting relationship is established for the duration of pre- and post-natal care. 

    Rachel has also worked to improve the culture around breastfeeding, emphasizing its importance for improving the health and well-being of both mother and baby.

    As an African-American woman, Rachel empathizes with her minority patients who have often felt marginalized and been victims of racism in the healthcare system. She understands their lack of trust and strives to make sure each and every patient feels heard and advocated for.

    “I have had similar experiences as my patients, so I listen with enhanced ears. I am a firm believer that when the lives of women change, there is a generational effect as cycles of poverty, low income, and low health literacy can be positively changed,” said Rachel.

    A coworker who graduated from FNU caught Rachel’s attention when she was researching DNP schools, ultimately leading her to choose FNU for her DNP education.

    “I noticed that this nurse practitioner seemed more prepared in terms of her skills and knowledge as compared to many other FNPs in the company. She had excellent communication skills and exuded confidence with minority patients, regardless of race.”

    Rachel is honored to use her DNP skills to serve the vulnerable every day, and FNU is proud of her hard work in furthering its mission of reaching vulnerable populations.

    To learn more about FNU’s DNP program, visit Frontier.edu/DNP.

  • Alumni Spotlight: Nancy Comello

    Alumni Spotlight: Nancy Comello

    Nancy Comello, nurse-midwife and alumna of Frontier Nursing University (FNU)’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, is passionate about the health and education of new mothers in one of the world’s most vulnerable countries regarding birth statistics: Guatemala.

    Nancy has traveled to Guatemala 27 times to assist in volunteer training. In 2018, she created Supporting Safe Birth, Inc (SSB) and continues to function as its president. According to Nancy, the goal of SSB is to build birth attendants’ capacity for providing evidence-based care to vulnerable women and babies, as well as to partner with other programs to increase the scope and coverage of care throughout Guatemala.

    Supporting Safe Birth uses simple one-day programs with visual graphics, oral testing and interactive participation to equip a variety of learners, including those who may be illiterate, which is quite common among the indigenous population of Guatemala. Nancy is a master trainer for these programs, Helping Mothers Survive and Helping Babies Survive, designed specifically for low-resource countries.

    Helping Mothers Survive consists of four modules that address common issues such as bleeding after birth, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and threatened preterm birth care. Helping Babies Survive is made of three modules focused on the essentials of caring for newborn and undersized babies. 

    SSB programs utilize mannequins for hands-on training that is easily translated into real-world situations. The program is self-sustaining and grows organically thanks to a “Train the Trainer” model, equipping those who complete training to in turn train others in their organizations and communities.

    When she isn’t training in Guatemala, Nancy serves as a Professional Development Specialist at UnityPoint Health Meriter in Madison, Wisconsin. In this role, she works to train and educate teams in preparation for obstetric emergencies. She is also a certified instructor for Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics as well as the Neonatal Resuscitation program.

    Nancy chose FNU to obtain her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) because of its reputation as an institution that equips nurse-midwives on a global scale. She needed to deepen her project management skills to implement a well-designed, multi-layered program in Guatemala.

    She said, “The faculty and chairs at FNU were experienced nurse-midwives with significant global experience, which was key to the success of my project and greatly enhanced my learning.”

    Thank you, Nancy, for your hard work that improves the lives of Guatemala’s mothers and babies!

    To learn more about Supporting Safe Birth, visit www.supportingsafebirth.org. 

    To learn about the DNP program at FNU, visit frontier.edu/DNP.

  • DNP Author Spotlight: Tracey Wiese

    DNP Author Spotlight: Tracey Wiese

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Tracey Wiese, DNP, FNP, PMHNP is representing our mission of caring for vulnerable and rural populations in the far reaches of our country: Alaska.

    Tracey was one of FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates published in the recently-released 5th edition of Caring for the Vulnerable. Her chapter entitled Trauma-informed primary care: Promoting change among patients with early life adversity draws from her experience working in child abuse medicine in Anchorage, Alaska.

    In November 2017, Tracey opened her own practice in Anchorage. Full Spectrum Health is the only clinic in Alaska that openly markets to the LGBTQ2IA+ community. Tracey’s clinic specializes in primary care and behavioral health services for this vulnerable population as well as patients with complex trauma histories.

    Full Spectrum Health has made strides in the area of telemedicine with the goal of increasing their scope of care. Suicide rates are highest among rural Alaska Native populations; telemedicine allows Tracey the ability to care for these patients’ physical and mental health remotely. 

    “We strive every day to provide primary and behavioral health care to the most vulnerable people of Alaska. We are succeeding!” said Tracey.

    Tracey also provides education and consultation for other providers to help them improve their practices in serving the rural native and LGBTQ2IA+ communities.

    Tracey chose FNU first for her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s degree and then her DNP because she needed a quality distance education that would allow her to work full-time and complete her practicum in Anchorage. She was also drawn to FNU’s emphasis on serving vulnerable populations.

    Her DNP has allowed Tracey to increase her leadership in her community and use her influence to make a difference for the communities she is passionate about serving. She learned how to translate academic research into the clinical environment, bridging the gap between knowledge and service.

    “I utilize my skills as a DNP every day. It was worth every tear, drop of sweat and penny!” said Tracey.

    To learn more about FNU’s DNP program, visit Frontier.edu/DNP.

  • Circle of Caring Spring Term Winners Announced

    Circle of Caring Spring Term Winners Announced

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to announce the 2019 Spring Term Circle of Caring Award Winners: staff member Tracey Wright and faculty member Anne Cockerham.

    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 everyday. 

    FNU faculty and staff were invited to nominate someone anonymously. Nominations were then voted upon by a committee based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity.

    Tracey Wright, administrative assistant for Clinical Credentialing

    Tracey Wright serves as an administrative assistant for Clinical Credentialing. The following is an excerpt from her anonymous nomination: 

    “Tracey is positive, upbeat and just plain pleasant to be around.  I have overheard her interactions with students on the phone; she is polite, patient, kind and helpful.  No matter what, she maintains her professionalism as she tracks down the answers to each student’s question.  She treats each caller like they are the most important person right then and there.”

    Anne Cockerham, PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, professor and course coordinator

    Anne Cockerham, PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE is a professor and course coordinator at FNU. The following is an excerpt from her anonymous nomination:

    “Anne volunteered to work with me as I worked toward completion of the certified nurse educator exam and I readily accepted. As a very sensitive and caring person, Anne picked up on my stress and through her caring helped to create an environment that was amazingly supportive of my needs. She is an amazing person and a true exemplar of the culture of caring.”

    Congratulations to our winners and thank you for contributing to the culture of caring at FNU.

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

  • Diversity Impact Conference 2019

    Diversity Impact Conference 2019

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) continued its initiative for fostering a more diverse, culturally-conscious health care workforce through the 9th annual Diversity Impact Student Conference, held from June 6-9, 2019.

    The conference, hosted by FNU’s Diversity Impact Program, had over 60 attendees and was open to any FNU students, alumni, faculty or staff who want to make a difference in providing care to rural, diverse and underserved communities.

    The theme for Diversity Impact 2019, Every Voice, Every Story: 80 Years and Beyond, coincides with the “$.80 for 80” campaign celebrating 80 years of service FNU graduates have provided to mothers, babies, and families across the globe. 

    The four-day program was designed with workshops and activities to help attendees explore how to fully experience, live and create meaningful connections within diverse communities.

    Presenters at this year’s conference spoke on positive marginality, psychiatric-mental health, LGBTQI, Hawaiian culture, expression and storytelling through creative movement, intersectionality/diversity, and indigenous/Native American midwives. 

    This year’s Diversity Impact Event was highlighted by an inspiring lineup of speakers:

    • FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM
    • Keynote Speaker Nicolle L. Gonzales, BSN, RN, MSN, CNM
    • Premier Speaker Dr. Heather Shlosser, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
    • Dr. Sheri Sesay-Tuffour, CEO of American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
    • Jane F. Houston, FACNM, DNP, CNM
    • Nena R. Harris, Ph.D., FNP-BC, CNM, CNE
    • Kalena Lanuza, DNP, FNP-C
    • Devon Peterika, MS, BA
    • Ralph Newell and Sydnee Reese, Diversity in Higher Education Workshop

    The conference programming also included interactive learning opportunities for attendees. On the second day of the conference, Trance4mation Games, LLC & Diverse: Issues in Higher Education facilitated an activity that engaged attendees to open up and speak their truth in civil discourse to one another, while also understanding the importance of expressing empathy towards others. 

    During this session, attendees participated in The Keep It Real RX game where they were challenged to go beyond ordinary conversation into deeper understanding of one another. The Keep It Real RX game facilitated meaningful dialogue, spontaneity, relaxation, bonding, a full range of communication, and mutual enjoyment. In a fun and entertaining way, participants were able to explore their imaginations, express emotion, overcome shyness, develop creativity, reflect on and share their beliefs and experiences, take risks and loosen inhibitions. They heard different points of view and ways of handling things which gave them new perspectives and helped them to gain confidence in speaking in front of a group, while having a great time listening and sharing with one another.  

    Another group activity promoted a cultural excursion allowing attendees to “Discover the Gift of Aloha”! In this session, participants were taken on a journey into the art of creating Hawaiian leis while exploring the cultural history of Hawaii and its origins in Polynesian culture. 

    New at this year’s conference was an on-site counselor for one-on-one interaction with students and group debriefing sessions, which was very beneficial and very well received. 

    To wrap up the conference, students engaged in a collaborative activity by using storytelling through creative movement. Groups presented a role and created a skit to show expression and storytelling through dance. 

    To learn more about FNU’s Diversity Impact program, visit Frontier.edu/Diversity.

     

     

     

  • 2019 Case Day and Panel on Birth Justice and Equity

    2019 Case Day and Panel on Birth Justice and Equity

    After the rousing success of last year’s Case Day and Panel on Birth Justice and Equity, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Director Jane Houston and Regional Clinical Faculty Tanya Belcheff knew the event would be recreated at the 2019 ACNM Conference.

    The panel brought faculty, staff, alumni and students together for an open conversation about justice and equality in birth outcomes. Three students, Sarah Logan, Stacy Hepner and Deanna Hart, presented cases to kickstart the panel.

    Keisha Edwards, the panel’s facilitator, created an environment of kindness that allowed students to bring forth discussions on race and justice that were moving and meaningful to everyone in the room.

    “I thought the discussion was powerful! Everyone fully showed up and the ‘real talk’ about health equity was beyond awesome. So needed!” Edwards said.

    Edwards’ sister Venay Uecke, a Nurse-Midwife with Indian Health Services, was one of the panel’s presenters, as were long-time FNU preceptors Kathryn Carr and Mandesa Smith. FNU faculty member Nena Harris and FNU alumna Stephanie Martinez also presented at the panel.

    The importance of a space at the ACNM Conference that encourages engaging discussion on birth justice and cases is not missed by Houston.

    “It is essential that any student present has an opportunity to dialog with providers of color about issues including equity, birth justice and systemic racism within our health systems in a safe and inclusive space,” she said.

    FNU is proud of our presenters, facilitators and students for engaging in difficult conversations about relevant issues in order to effect positive change in the healthcare system.

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