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How To Become A Nurse-Midwife

Interested in becoming a certified nurse-midwife but aren’t sure where to start? Fortunately, beginning your career as a – certified nurse-midwife is easy and effective with a master’s degree from Frontier Nursing University! But what exactly do you learn on the journey to becoming a nurse-midwife and how do you know if it’s the right path for you? Learn more about the steps you can take to become a nurse-midwife and the programs we offer below.

What Is A Nurse-Midwife?

First and foremost, you may be wondering what exactly is a nurse-midwife? Although there are some common misconceptions, nurse-midwives are professional, competent primary healthcare providers that serve women of all ages. As a midwife, it’s your job to focus on gynecological care and family planning as well as provide preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and newborn care. Annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering basic nutrition counseling also fall within the wheelhouse of a midwife.

Additionally, many people do not know that over 90% of the births that nurse-midwives attend are in hospitals (according to the ACNM), and only a small percent are in places like birth centers or private homes. This is a common misconception, and many find work in private practices, clinics, birth centers, and hospitals. On top of that, certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives accounted for over 91% of all midwife-attended births according to a 2014 report.

Why Nurse-Midwifery?

Becoming a nurse-midwife is a gratifying and practical decision for a number of reasons. Overall, nurse-midwives offer significant and effective contributions to the overall field of women’s and family health care. As the healthcare field continues to expand and grow, organizations across the country are consistently adding nurse-midwives to their health care teams and embracing more collaborative models of patient care. With a master’s degree with a nurse-midwifery specialization from Frontier Nursing University, your unique skill set will benefit patients and organizations alike by improving the quality of care and a decreasing cost. Plus, as out-of-hospital care continues to appeal to more patients, you will have the ability to truly advocate for your patient’s well being.

How Do I Start?

Joining the team at Frontier Nursing University is as easy as applying online! We offer a flexible nurse-midwifery program that allows you to complete courses online and work closely with practicing healthcare professionals during your clinical experience. Frontier Nursing University also offers specialties like psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and women’s health care nurse practitioner. Still have questions? Click here to request additional information and let us help you find the program that’s right for you! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

March 26, 2018
First Students Graduate from FNU’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program

FNU launched its Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program in January of 2017 and proudly presents the first two graduates of the program.

Kelly England, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP graduate has accepted a position at an in-patient facility in Oro Valley, Ariz. Lisa Uribe, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP graduate has accepted a position at Palo Verde Behavioral Health Hospital in Tucson, Ariz.

England and Uribe are examples of the program’s early success and potential, thanks to talented students and the expertise of the FNU faculty. Both students entered as post graduate students as they both already were Family Nurse Practitioners. This allowed them to complete the program in just one year.

“’It has been an absolute pleasure to guide and educate our PMHNP students,” says Dr. Tracy Hicks, DNP. “The program is well structured with a wealth of information accessible to the students. The hands-on involvement with clinical sites is an asset to the program. I have learned a great deal in working with this diverse group of students who have much to offer to the psychiatric mental health community.”

While we celebrate these first graduates, many more will soon follow in their footsteps. The January 2017 class started with 19 students. Now, FNU is accepting 40 students per each quarterly term and there is a waitlist to be accepted to the program. FNU has PMHNP students in 40 different states. We are already seeing that Frontier Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are dedicated, hardworking, and destined to be future leaders in their field. Student Nicole Mutnansky, MSN, CNM, PMHNP Student Class 155 was chosen as an American Psychiatric Nurse Association (APNA) Scholar and subsequently requested to serve as a research assistant for the APNA Health Policy Summit.

The feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive not only for the education they receive, but also for the confidence they gain as they implement their training in their daily work.

“I am more confident in my ability to care for patients with mental illness after taking the core courses,” says Rachel Houser, a student in the program. “I have learned valuable tools in this program that I plan on incorporating into practice to provide quality care for clients with serious mental illness.”

FNU is committed to supporting students like Houser with an excellent faculty. Growth of the program requires growth of the PMHNP faculty. Current faculty have expressed their pride in leading the program and in the success of the students.

“It has been my honor to develop and teach in the PMHNP program,” says Dr. Heather Shlosser, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC. “I have the pleasure of working with excellent faculty and brilliant motivated students every day who are all striving to optimally meet the needs of the behavioral health population.”

One such student is Amy Dendinger, who has been inspired to open her own practice. “After returning from Frontier Bound this summer I was inspired, impressed, and empowered by Dr. Shlosser,” Dendinger says. “I have decided that I will open and own my own holistic women and children’s psychiatric practice and pursue my DNP at FNU. I am so excited to meet this challenge.”

Dr. Hedy Rougeau, DNP, a PMHNP faculty member at FNU, says that the already strong program will continue to grow and improve thanks to the expertise of the faculty and the dedication of the students. “The PMHNP program at FNU prepares students very well to become PMHNPs,” says Dr. Hedy Rougeau, DNP. “I truly enjoy working with the PMHNP students here. My job is very rewarding when I see how students progress. I appreciate how integrated the primary care mental health model is part of this PMHNP program. The PMHNP faculty support each other and we work closely together to continuously find ways to improve our PMHNP program.”

As this was my first completely online course as well as my first online school I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I could expect the same education as I had previously received in a traditional school. I must say that I believe I have received a much better education.” – PMHNP student Angela Astleford

March 22, 2018
Courier Spotlight: Wendy Parker-Wood

When Wendy Parker-Wood’s family visited the Big House at the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) grounds, Wendy knew it was a place she wanted to be. The then 12-year-old Wendy was fascinated by the stories her mother told of volunteering as a Christmas secretary at FNS in the 1930s, and she felt a strong connection to the work the Couriers did there.

In her senior year of high school in 1966, Wendy traveled to Wendover to participate in the Courier Program. She rode horses, grocery shopped for the cooks, transported sick children to Lexington and Cincinnati, prepared tea time, and acted as a tour guide for visitors. That first summer, Wendy and her fellow Couriers also took care of animals, assisted at the local clinics, and engaged with the community.

Wendy also assisted at the outpost clinics of Wolf Creek and Beechfork. On one memorable occasion, Wendy was called to observe an appendectomy. Due to not eating beforehand, she passed out, hit her head and woke up hours later after being treated!

In 1967, Wendy was asked to return to Wendover as a Senior Courier. Her second summer was spent teaching the new Couriers to drive the manual FNS jeeps. She and the other Couriers were allowed to name each new jeep that was purchased. Wendy then served another subsequent summer in 1968.

The Couriers had their fair share of fun – once even pranking Wendy with a healthy dose of cow manure – but Wendy also developed a great respect and admiration for FNS. Everyone had a specific job to do within the organization but at the end of the day, they came together to work as a community. Furthermore, up to that point, Wendy had not seen women running an organization like FNS. It was encouraging to observe successful female management on such a personal level, and it inspired Wendy to pursue such goals in her own life.

The culture and people that Wendy encountered in the community had a profound impact on her. She was exposed to a new way to life, and she enjoyed talking to the people in the area. Though Wendy loved FNS and the surrounding community, she decided to change directions when she was finished with college. She lived in Europe for five years after graduating, then began career in banking and worked for many years on Wall Street.

Throughout her time at Wendover, Wendy grew close with her fellow Couriers and many staff members, found a summer romance, enhanced her skills, and learned a lot about herself.

Above all else, FNS broadened her horizons in life, for which Wendy will be forever grateful.

“It’s just a special little place that stays right inside my heart,” Wendy says.

Do you feel a call to broaden your horizons through a career in Nurse-Midwifery? Click here for more information!

In 1928, Mary Breckinridge, founder of Frontier Nursing University established the Courier Program, recruiting young people to work in the Kentucky Mountains and learn about service to humanity. Couriers escorted guests safely through remote terrain, delivered medical supplies to remote outpost clinics, and helped nurse-midwives during home visits and births. Frontier has benefited tremendously from the 1,600 Couriers who have served since 1928.

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.

March 19, 2018
Student Spotlight: IHI StoryBoards

As the year of 2017 came to a close, 19 Frontier Nursing University (FNU) students were busy crafting documents called “storyboards.” Each student worked meticulously to identify an area of healthcare that could use quality improvement, test improvement methods, gather data, and share a clear study of their results compiled into a one-page storyboard.

The Frontier students presented their storyboards to a group of interprofessional faculty in December at the 2017 The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) National Forum.

Below are just a few of the impressive projects submitted by Frontier students.

Student: Lana Bernat, CNM

Project: Improving effective care through CenteringPregnancy model fidelity in a military setting

Summary: Lana Bernat, CNM and her team sought to improve the CenteringPregnancy model in one military setting from meeting of the Essential Elements of the model 82% to 90%. They saw an increase to 95% model fidelity.

Student: Tracy Hicks, NP

Project: Effective Screening and Treatment of Depression in Adults living with HIV/AIDS at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Summary: Tracy Hicks, NP and her team aimed to increase provider screening and treatment of depression at a special health resources facility in those living with HIV/AIDS from 59% to 100% in 90 days. The outcome was a 27% improvement in depression screening rate and a 29% increase in patients receiving appropriate care.

Student: Crystal Gulotta, MSN, CNM

Project: Increasing timely skin-to-skin care post cesarean to increase exclusive breastmilk feeding

Summary: Crystal Gulotta, MSN, CNM along with her team, sought to increase timeliness of skin-to-skin care for the post-cesarean dyad to increase exclusive breastmilk feeding (EBF) at discharge to 30% over a period of eight weeks. They measured that EBF at discharge increased to 50% and the new mothers’ confidence increased to 100%.

Student: Katherine Meine, CNM

Project: Pregnancy Unshackled: Increasing equity through implementation of perinatal depression screen and treatment for incarcerated women

Summary: Katherine Meine, CNM and her team aimed to screen 80% of pregnant and postpartum women that came into a county jail for Perinatal Depression. Their results saw 90% of women screened. Of those, 46% had positive screenings and 57% started treatment within the facility.

Congratulations to all 19 students whose storyboards are on display in the national forum for the year of 2018!

See all 2017 IHI Storyboards

March 15, 2018
Featured Preceptor: Jana Sund, CNM

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Jana Sund, CNM, from Kalispell Regional Health Care, Kalispell, MT, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the winter term. Jana was nominated by recent nurse-midwifery graduate, Debbie Miller.

With a genuine interest in molding new and future CNMs, Jana constantly gives of herself as a teacher, mother, and women’s care provider. In her position at FamilyBorn Maternity and Women’s Health, she takes a holistic, patient-centered approach to care for all of her patients, which include women from the start of menstruation through menopause.

Jana serves as an National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provider as well as cares for women’s with health insurance coverage. She also started a nonprofit community postpartum depression/mood disorder support group. At its beginning, it served women from her clinic, and since has grown to serve women in the entire Flathead Valley and outlying counties. Jana recently precepted her nominator Debbie, who said she gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from Jana’s practice.

Jana Sund, CNM, helps student nurse-midwife Debbie Miller, celebrate her 24th birth.

“She has a giving heart and thrives on caring for others,” said Miller. “Each of her patients leave the office with a sense of security, having been heard and their concerns and fear validated.”

Jana is the secretary treasurer of the Montana ACNM affiliate group. She was also the recipient of the Varney award during her time at the University of Utah midwifery program.

Jana will receive a Starbucks gift card as a small token of our appreciation for her being a great preceptor. Thanks for your investment in our FNU students, Jana!

G0 here to read more on previously recognized preceptors, or to nominate a preceptor.

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.

March 12, 2018
FNU to host 8th Annual Diversity Impact Student Conference
If you want to make a difference in providing care to rural and underserved communities, consider this your personal invitation. On June 7-10, 2018, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will hold the 8th annual Diversity Impact Student Conference, a one-of-a-kind experience designed to “Promote Recruitment and Retention to Increase Diversity in Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse Practitioner Education.”

When: June 7-10, 2018

Who: If you are currently a FNU student or FNU Alumnus, this event is FREE for you! Hosted by FNU’s Diversity PRIDE student organization, Diversity Impact 2018 will open the door for nurse-practitioners and midwifery students to engage in collaborative discussions, address health disparities, and find proactive solutions to improve minority health among underrepresented and marginalized groups. You will hear an inspiring lineup of speakers, and engage in a variety of ways with other students as well as FNU faculty and staff members.

Where: The conference is hosted at Frontier’s campus, nestled in the scenic mountains in eastern Kentucky. With such beautiful surroundings, you can take time to engage with nature during your free time between conference sessions.

What: Throughout the four-day conference, you will:
- Attend sessions hosted by nationally recognized nursing leaders
- Engage in cross-cultural activities and intercultural workshops
- Participate in team-building exercises, cultural competency awareness training, and open dialogues
- Network with available FNU students, community leaders, faculty and staff
- Learn nurse-leadership strategies to care for diverse patient populations
How to Register: Click here to register for the 2018 Diversity Impact Student Conference. All attendees (students/alumni) will be responsible for arranging their mode of transportation to and from campus (i.e- flight, rental car, etc.). Seating reservations, campus room and board will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis until the conference has reached maximum capacity.

Take me to the 2018 Diversity Impact Student Conference home page
March 6, 2018
Frontier Continues Valuable Partnership with Drexel

While earning a degree in the medical field is certainly beneficial to aspiring health professionals, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) takes the educational experience one step further. For the third consecutive year, FNU is partnering with Drexel University to bring midwifery students an Interprofessional Education Simulation Learning Experience.

This groundbreaking program fosters collaboration among health providers, initiates interprofessional communication to improve patient care, and educates providers on the role of the nurse-midwife in providing comprehensive care.

Frontier began sending nurse-midwifery students to Drexel for simulated learning experiences in 2015, and now takes up to six students three times throughout the year (January, April and November). Assistant Professor Dr. Sarah Smith, DNP, CNM, and Associate Professor Jane Houston, DNP, CNM, Clinical Director for CNEP and Women’s Health, head up the collaboration from the Frontier side. They work with dynamic husband and wife duo Drs. Owen Montgomery, MD, OBGYN, and Kym Montgomery, FNP, from Drexel to bring this partnership to life.

The simulation is a live, day long experience at Drexel University, however other modes of teaching related to this are also integrated including a preconference and post conference case presentation. FNU nurse-midwifery students then travel to Drexel University’s Center for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation and Practice in Philadelphia, Pa., to enter the simulation.

Students participating in the simulation are carefully assigned into “cohorts” by Dr. Kym Montgomery. Cohorts could include Drexel WHNPs, undergrad student nurses, physician assistant students, law students, nurse anesthetist students, medical students, and Ob/Gyn residents. Once participants are prepped and grouped, professional actors play the role of patients in scenarios designed to simulate standardized patient experiences, obstetrical complications and high fidelity situations.

As students move through the scenarios, they interact interprofessionally communicating, collaborating, and ultimately working to provide safe medical management to the patient in the scenario. Following the scenario, Drexel course faculty, including an APRN and a physician, debrief with the student participants. Another learning experience, students are paired with another student in a different specialty. For example, a WHNP student may be paired with an MD student or resident. Together, they conduct an outpatient office visit with a standardized patient. The students must assess the patient, develop a plan of care and discuss the plan of care to the patient utilizing appropriate teaching strategies. To finish the day, participants deliver Case Presentations in an Interprofessional Classroom Discussion to analyze the scenarios, thinking process, problem-solving methods, and more. This interprofessional forum is what leads to improved patient care.

“One of the exciting outcomes of the simulation learning experience is that it helps students pursuing other healthcare professions understand the level of care that nurse-midwives provide and the value of working in a healthcare team that includes nurse-midwives,” says Smith.

Frontier nurse-midwifery students in clinical or attending Clinical Bound are eligible for this groundbreaking program, receiving 12 hours of clinical time. This is a value-added experience that Frontier plans to replicate on its own campus in the near future.

“Looking to the future, this pioneering model is something we’d love to see replicated at FNU, in the same way Mary Breckinridge, FNU’s founder, hoped to see her healthcare demonstration project replicated across the U.S.,” says Houston. “The simulation learning experience provides a way for students to understand the value of interprofessional communication and how that leads to improved patient care.”

More on Drexel University’s Center for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation and Practice: http://drexel.edu/cnhp/about/CICSP/

Related: It Takes a Village: Interprofessional Midwifery

March 1, 2018
Building a Legacy in Haiti: Spotlight on Alumna Nadene Brunk Eads

A Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna and midwifery legacy celebrated her retirement with purpose this month. Nadene Brunk Eads, CNM, was honored on Saturday, January 20, with a party and special fundraiser for Midwives For Haiti, the organization she founded and has poured herself into for the last decade.

When Nadene graduated from Frontier as a nurse-midwife, a mission trip to Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, changed the course of her life. She was struck by the statistics she witnessed firsthand: Haitian women die during childbirth at a rate 12 times that of women in the United States, and a severe lack of resources and skilled care for birthing mothers made Haiti one of the most dangerous countries for childbirth in the world.

Moved by a desire to provide a long-term solution, Nadene rounded up a team of volunteers and began to train Haitian nurses to be skilled birth attendants. The nonprofit organization Midwives For Haiti was born in 2006, with Nadene at the helm as executive director. In 12 years, Nadene founded a school, saw hundreds of American medical professionals and nurse-midwives volunteer time and knowledge, and made it possible for dozens of Haitian nurses to receive invaluable instruction in order to help mothers from pregnancy through postpartum recovery.

While Midwives For Haiti and the Nadene Brunk Eads School are continuing to grow, Nadene will be passing the torch to Jessica Jordan to enjoy retirement.

To celebrate Nadene’s distinguished legacy, a dinner party and fundraiser was held by Midwives For Haiti. The guest count totaled over 100, including several FNU students and alumni. One very important alumna and Mary Breckinridge Chair, Kitty Ernst, was the keynote speaker for the evening and spoke on the importance of having vision.

Dinner was followed by live entertainment, award presentations, photo slideshow, shared stories, toasts, cake and the unveiling of a very special Haitian painting given as a gift to Nadene. Guests were also able to write special memories and messages on cards for Nadene to cherish for years to come.

With a legacy of improving maternal health and birth outcomes in Haiti for many years, Frontier is proud to call Nadene Brunk Eads one of our own!

From the Legacy Celebration Dinner:

Midwives for Haiti Outcomes

Legacy Celebration Photos

Related Content:

Blog story from March 2016 about Nadene Brunk

February 26, 2018

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