Blog

  • PRIDE 2017 – Year in Review

    Pride LogoThis year has been a busy one for the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Diversity PRIDE program, an initiative designed to promote diversity in nursing and midwifery. FNU is proud to recruit and retain underrepresented students who have the goal of becoming nurse-midwives or nurse practitioners.

    “It is imperative that as providers we develop the relationships needed to support the lives and outcomes of the diverse and often ignored populations in our communities,” said FNU student and PRIDE participant Jeanine Valrie-Logan.

    Each year, the PRIDE program sponsors essay contests where students may enter in hopes of attending a conference as a program ambassador. As an ambassador, students are asked to help at recruiting events, welcome alumni and friends to FNU receptions, network with experienced nursing professionals, gain continuing education, and chronicle their learning experience with video diaries.

    PRIDE had a presence at these conferences in 2017:

    • MHC-Minority Health Conference, Chapel Hill, NC
    • KSU-Kentucky State University Nurse College/Career Fair, Frankfort, KY
    • KYANNA Black Nurses Association, Louisville, KY
    • ACNM-American College of Nurse Midwives, Chicago, IL
    • AANP-American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Philadelphia, PA
    • NAHN-National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Phoenix, AZ
    • NBNA-National Black Nurses Association, Las Vegas, NV
    • AWHONN – Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Conference & Exhibit, New Orleans, LA
    • AAMN-American Assembly for Men in Nursing, Las Vegas, NV
    • AABC-American Association of Birth Centers, Anchorage, AK
    ACNM 2017, Pride Group Photo

    The events are not only great channels to enhance the student educational experience, but also provide opportunities to share FNU’s diversity initiative PRIDE program with prospective students and healthcare professionals. The staff and faculty at FNU hope these opportunities enhance the careers of these future CNMs and NPs.

    While being a member of the FNU Diversity PRIDE program may not appear to be a vehicle for change, I would argue that it is,” said Elena Prendergast, FNU graduate. “This group represents a microcosm of our society as a whole. While our skin color, culture, beliefs and experiences may all be different, we are taught within the safety of this group that we all share one goal: to provide quality, compassionate care to our patients whoever and wherever they may be.”

    FNU is dedicated to increasing diversity in nursing and midwifery, and we want to better prepare our students to care for a diverse group of women and families. Stay tuned for updates on the PRIDE program throughout the year! Learn more about FNU’s Diversity PRIDE program here.

    See more from our PRIDE ambassadors on our YouTube channel!  

  • Courier Spotlight: Celeste Lindahl Halcomb, PA

    Celeste Halcomb, PA first found out about the Courier Program at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) through her health professions advisor while attending Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. She had an interest in rural medicine and working in an underserved area, ideas consistent with the values and opportunities that the Courier Program offered. With a desire to form partnerships between medical providers and the community, Celeste started the program in the summer of 2004.

    During her time in Southeastern Kentucky, Celeste shadowed numerous health care practitioners throughout Leslie and Clay Counties. She also accompanied nurses on their home health rounds, coached softball, and helped to create activities for kids that focused on health and safety through a program called, “Campaign for Safe Kids”.

    Celeste particularly liked going on home health rounds.

    “In a clinic atmosphere you can’t truly tell how people are living, and getting out into the community through home health rounds really helped give me a wider perspective of people’s lives,” Celeste said.

    She found through these visits and her other experiences that the people in Leslie County were some of the most genuine she had ever met. It was clear that many of them didn’t have much, but they always offered what they had, most often in the form of a delicious hot meal.

    Celeste developed such strong relationships during the Courier Program that she requested to serve one of her clinical rotations during her Physician Assistant training in Leslie County. Still passionate about the rural community, she took a job with the Frontier Nursing Service after graduating and moved to Leslie County in the summer of 2008.

    During the four years Celeste lived and worked in Leslie County, she dedicated herself to improving the health of residents. Namely, she expanded upon “Campaign for Safe Kids” to create Child Health Day, an activity day held at each elementary school that encompassed a range of activities promoting healthy eating, fitness, hygiene, oral health and safe habits.

    To say the Courier Program impacted Celeste’s life is an understatement.

    In her current work as a Physician Assistant at a pediatric office in North Carolina, Celeste said the Couriers’ ideas continually motivate her. She works to “reach the unreached,” and encourages those now involved in the Courier Program to employ themselves with the same mission.

    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.

    In 1928, Mary Breckinridge, founder of Frontier Nursing University established the Courier Program, recruiting young people to come 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.

  • Improving Access to Healthcare: Nurse Practitioners are the Answer

    Improving Access to Healthcare: Nurse Practitioners are the Answer

    As a leading educator, Frontier Nursing University strongly advocates for nurse practitioners and the important role they play in improving access to healthcare. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), there are currently 234,000 nurse practitioners in the United States and that number is projected to grow to 244,000 by 2025. Several studies show that patient satisfaction and health outcomes under nurse practitioner care can be better in specific instances than care provided by physicians, particularly in rural areas.

    This is important as we face a health care professional shortage. The Health Resources and Service Administration predicts a shortage of 23,640 primary care physicians by 2025. While the number of nurse practitioners will increase by 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the number of nurse practitioners in rural areas is decreasing while the number of people living in rural areas remains steady at about 19 percent of the U.S. population.

    Educate Nurse Practitioners in Their Communities

    Nurse practitioners in primary care do not replace physicians, but studies have shown that nurse practitioners can manage 80 to 90 percent of care provided by primary care physicians (Rohrer, et. al. 2013). Therefore, it is important that nurse practitioners – particularly in rural and underserved areas – be educated in their home communities if they wish.

    Nurse practitioners are more likely to stay and practice in their home community if they are educated there, and their patients are more likely to seek their care because they know and trust them. Frontier Nursing University is working to increase not only the number of nurse practitioners, but also diversity among those who provide care in rural and underserved areas through our distance education model.

    Nurse Practitioners Should Advocate on Important Issues

    It is also important that nurse practitioners get involved with their state advance practice groups and advocacy efforts. Only 24 states have full scope practice for nurse practitioners (AANP, 2017). This is legislation we can work together to change. Our elected representatives need to hear our voices and understand that we need to practice at the highest extent of our education and licenses. There are fewer nurse practitioners in states with restricted practice, and health outcomes are worse in those states.

    Additionally, nurse practitioners should be reimbursed for their work. Medicare reimbursement remains at 85 percent of physicians’ fee schedules. Medicaid, the top payer in many areas, varies by state, and some states do not recognize nurse practitioners as primary care providers (National Governors Association, 2012).

    Nurse Practitioners Improve Quality and Efficiency of Care

    When nurse practitioners have their own panel of patients, the result is a more efficient practice and better continuity of care. While some providers may not allow nurse practitioners to have their own panels, we encourage nurse practitioners to ask.

    We also recommend that health care providers and management teams provide nurse practitioners with the necessary resources and support to deliver care using their advanced practice skills. This includes a commitment to diversity in the health care organization. A racially and ethnically diverse workforce that represents the patient population leads to better health outcomes, better patient satisfaction and better use of services.

    Diversity, teamwork and a shared vision of care creates a supportive work environment and that has a positive effect on healthcare outcomes. Patients come back, they get well, and by increasing access to care, nurse practitioners make a significant difference in their communities.

    References

    • American Association of Nurse Practitioner (2017) NP Fact Sheet https://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/np-fact-sheet
    • US Census Bureau (2015) Statistical abstract of the United States. Washington, DC; Author
    • Institute of Medicine, 2010
    • US Department of Health and Human Services (2016) National and Regional Projections of Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners: 2013-2025. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2002
    • National Governors Association (2012) The Role of the Nurse Practitioners in Meeting Increasing Demand for Primary Care. Retrieved https://www.nga.org/cms/home/nga-center-for-best-practices/center-publications/page-health-publications/col2-content/main-content-list/the-role-of-nurse-practitioners.html
    • Hansen-Turton Poghosyan,l. & Carthon, J. (2017) The untapped Potential of Nurse Practitioner Workforce in Reducing Health Disparities. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice 2017, Vol. 18 (2) 84-94
    • Rohrer, J. E., K. B. Angstman, G. M. Garrison, J. L. Pecina, J. A. Maxson. (2013) Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Are Complements to Family Medicine Physicians. Population Health Management 16(4):242-45

  • Frontier Nursing University announces Summer Term Circle of Caring Award Winners

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased Culture of Caring Summer Termto announce Mickey Gillmor and Meiling Williams-Reese as the winners of the Summer Term Circle of Caring Award! This inaugural award is 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.

    Several nominations were submitted anonymously by faculty, staff and students.  A committee then voted on each nomination based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity.

    Mickey Gillmor is a course instructor and co-chair of the FNU Admissions Committee. The following statement was included in her nomination:

    “Mickey’s willingness to provide caring support, in tangible as well as intangible ways, makes her an incredible blessing as a colleague. While I was gone to spend time with my family, Mickey took on our course, addressing student issues as well as providing a consistent, caring, teaching presence for all students. She also takes on tasks for the university that are critically important and time-consuming, yet demanding and stressful, such as leading the admissions committee. We are so fortunate that she hasn’t decided to retire just yet!”

    Meiling Williams-Reese serves FNU as an administrative assistant. Below is an excerpt from her nomination:

    “This summer, I was tasked with the responsibility to file annual federal grant reports…Meiling stepped up and helped to input the reports, allowing me to be with my family during our trip home. It meant the world to me, and I am so grateful for the extra hours she put into this task.”

    Mickey and Meiling will receive a framed certificate and a $50 gift card, and will be featured in several FNU communications.

    Thank you, Mickey and Meiling, for being an invaluable part of our Frontier community!

    Do you know a FNU staff or faculty member that goes above and beyond? Nominate them now for the Circle of Caring Award!

  • Preceptor Spotlight – Susy Furr, FNP

    Preceptor Spotlight – Susy Furr, FNP

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Preceptor blog spotlight -Susy FurrSusy Furr, FNP, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the fall term. Susy was nominated by FNU nurse practitioner alumna, Beth Morrell.

    Susy has practiced at Leesburg Sterling Family Practice for the past 15 years, which has allowed her to form remarkable relationships with her patients. As she treats multiple generations in the same family, she goes above and beyond to create strong bonds with families, making them feel heard, valued and important.

    “Susy is an incredible teacher,” said Beth. “She gently teaches her students without ever making them feel scared or as if they do not know anything.”

    Susy guides her students in understanding why they are performing each plan of care. She also teaches her students how to form strong bonds with their patients and how to make them feel like a part of their medical decision making.

    Susy Furr, FNP and FNU nurse practitioner alumna, Beth Morrell

    “She has a way with patients that puts them at ease and makes them keep coming back to her,” said Beth.

    Susy has been voted Loudoun Now‘s favorite nurse practitioner for several years running in Loudoun County, Virginia’s third-most populous county with a population of more than 375,000.

    Susy will receive a gift card as a small token of our appreciation for her being a great preceptor. Thank you for investing your time and talent in our Frontier students, Susy!

    Go 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 healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

  • Women and Families Face Consequences of Maternity Workforce Shortage

    Women and Families Face Consequences of Maternity Workforce Shortage

    By: Dr. Susan Stone, Frontier Nursing University President

    Frontier Nursing University celebrated National Midwifery Week in October with our third annual virtual event recognizing nurse-midwifery practice and the outcomes of midwifery-led care. We spent the week exploring the experiences of certified nurse-midwives who are improving care for rural, diverse and underserved populations around the world.

    Frontier hosts the virtual event to celebrate the roleof nurse-midwives and to reach others who may be thinking about a career in nurse-midwifery. As a leading educator, we strongly advocate for integrating midwifery into the health care system to improve access to care. The nurse-midwife plays an important role in maternity and primary care for women, as well as the health of the family.

    Rising Maternal Mortality in the U.S.

    Frontier educates nurse-midwives to seek opportunities to lead positive change. One of the biggest concerns facing our society is the rising maternal mortality rate in the U.S. We have the most expensive health care system in the world, yet American women are more likely to die during childbirth than women in any other developed country (1). The U.S. has experienced a continued increase in the maternal mortality ratio, which was 7.8 per 100,000 live births in 1987 and climbed to 22 per 100,000 live births in 2014 (2).

    Rising maternal mortality is a complex issue, and contributing factors extend beyond medical complications. There are financial, bureaucratic, transportation and language barriers, as well as social concerns and a shortage of maternity care facilities and providers. The obstetrician to patient ratio is much less than it was 20 years ago, and the number of family physicians providing maternity care has decreased from 25 percent in 2000 to 10 percent as of 2010 (3) .

    Health Disparities and Inequality

    Rural areas are some of the most affected as community hospitals shut their doors. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 49 percent of all U.S. counties do not have an ob-gyn. And while 23 percent of women live in rural areas, only seven percent of ob-gyns practice in rural areas. Additionally, health care insurance coverage is not a guarantee in the U.S. which leads to difficulties accessing care and worsening health outcomes (4).

    Health equity is another priority for nurse-midwives. A 2007 National Center for Health Statistics study showed that non-Hispanic black women are three times more likely to die than non-Hispanic white women during childbirth. While that study is 10 years old, we are not seeing any improvement. Racial disparity is highly evident in Washington, D.C., where the maternal mortality ratio is the highest in the country. If you separate white women living in Washington D.C., however, they have the lowest maternal mortality ratio in the country (2).

    Improving Access to Quality Care

    Accessibility to quality health care should be a social goal and a human right. Effective access includes convenient locations and hours; an adequate number and choice of providers; economic and informational resources; and appropriateness of services provided. Social determinants, such as confidentiality, perceptions of quality and cultural sensitivity, are also key to patients seeking care (1).   

    Frontier Nursing University is working to increase not only the number of certified nurse-midwives, but also diversity among those who provide maternity care in rural and underserved areas. Through our distance education model, we educate nurse-midwives in their home communities. We were delighted when the American Midwifery Certification Board recently reported a record number 11,600 certified nurse-midwives. But there’s more work to be done as we need to dramatically increase the number of nurse-midwives needed in the U.S. in order to meet the health care needs of women and families.

    According to a recent Cochrane Review, midwifery-led care can result in better outcomes. For example, there is more continuity of care, fewer pre-term and instrumental births, higher maternal satisfaction and a cost-savings compared to medical-led care (6).

    As educators and providers, we must have a larger focus on primary and preventative care and collaborative health care environments. We need to continue to collect more data to better understand the factors that lead to maternal mortality and poor health outcomes, and then develop programs to address those issues. And finally, we must diversify the health provider workforce so that patients are more likely and willing to participate in care.

    We invite you to learn more about nurse-midwifery led care at Frontier.edu/midwiferyweek.

    Dr. Susan Stone
    President, Frontier Nursing University

    Frontier Nursing University is the birthplace of nurse-midwifery and family nursing in America.

    View Dr. Stone’s presentation on maternity workforce shortages here.

     

    1. Maternal Mortality in the United States: A Human Rights Failure; Contraception 83 (2011) 189–193

       

    2. Amirhossein Moaddab, MD, Gary A. Dildy, MD, Haywood L. Brown, MD, Zhoobin H. Bateni, MD, Health Care Disparity and State-Specific Pregnancy-Related Mortality in the United States, 2005–2014; OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY; VOL. 128, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2016

       

    3. Sebastian T. Tong,  Laura A. Makaroff , Imam M. Xierali, James C. Puffer , Warren P. Newton & Andrew W. Bazemore Family Physicians in the Maternity Care Workforce: Factors Influencing Declining Trends ; Matern Child Health J (2013) 17:1576–1581

       

    4. The Obstetrician–Gynecologist Workforce in the United States: Facts, Figures, and Implications, 2017 The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

       

    5. The U.S. Is The Only Developed Nation With A Rising Maternal Mortality Rate; Huffington Post 5/19/14

       

    6. Sandall J, Soltani H, Gates S, Shennan A, Devane D. Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004667. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub5
  • How will you Answer the Call on November 28?

    How will you Answer the Call on November 28?

    #GivingTuesday is an international day of giving. How will you ‘Answer the Call’ on November 28?

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has experienced remarkable growth in the past decade, and currently has more than 2000 students enrolled. But with increased growth comes increased need, and many of our students need your help! Currently, less than 10% of our students are receiving scholarships, while over 80% demonstrate need. Our students are dedicated to improving the health of their communities, however pursuing the education to do so creates a financial strain for many. This strain becomes even more critical when they begin clinical practicums and must reduce or discontinue employment. #GivingTuesday is your opportunity to get involved.

    This year, we are asking you to support the educational dreams of our students and improved access to healthcare for rural and underserved communities by making a gift to the FNU scholarship fund. Our goal for Giving Tuesday is to raise at least $25,000, which will permanently endow a scholarship. While this amount may be impossible for some to give, through #GivingTuesday you have the opportunity to leverage your gift with those of others to make a student’s educational dreams come true. For example, if you and 24 friends each donate $1000, a new scholarship is created!

    Susan Graham will match up to $25,000 in donations on Giving Tuesday.

    We are pleased to announce that long-time supporter of Frontier Nursing University and Breckinridge family member, Susan Graham, is generously matching each dollar given on #GivingTuesday up to $25,000! This means that if we meet our goal of $25,000, an endowed scholarship will be created in the amount of $50,000, doubling the annual scholarship amount for one deserving student! For all those who donate through the #GivingTuesday campaign, that means that every dollar you donate is doubled!

    Scholarships support the education provided by FNU which gives graduates the ability to provide quality, compassionate care to communities who need it most. The majority of current FNU students reside in communities federally designated as either rural or underserved populations. Through FNU’s unique programs, students are able to remain in their home communities while seeking graduate education. Kyle Farmer, an FNP student and scholarship recipient, knows that his education will help him serve the people in his community of Leslie County, Ky.

    Kyle Farmer is a student in the ADN-MSN Bridge program. Kyle is a 2016 recipient of the Marguerite B. Howard Scholarship.

    “I am a lifelong resident of Leslie County, Kentucky and I intend on making Leslie County my home for years to come. Since I was a child, I have never dreamed of living anywhere else. Although during my high school years, many of my classmates spoke of their aspirations to leave the mountains at their first opportunity, the idea of leaving my lifelong home was troubling to me. It is this mindset that I intend to carry into my practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I hope to serve the community I was raised in, as well as the people I’ve come to know so closely for the duration of my career.”

    Currently, less than 200 students a year are receiving donor funded scholarships, which represents less than 10% of the student body, while more than 80% of students use federal financial aid and student loans to finance their education.  Clearly, the need for financial support for our students is great: when a new scholarship for students with financial hardships became available, FNU received 64 applications within 48 hours.

    Giving to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund is investing in the education of FNU students, but beyond that, it is empowering these students to make a difference and to improve the overall healthcare situation in underserved communities.

    Please answer the call, as so many of our students have, and consider a gift to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund on #GivingTuesday, November 28!  You can give directly to the cause here.

  • FNU Celebrates National Midwifery Week in NYC

    FNU Celebrates National Midwifery Week in NYC

    By Angela Bailey, MA, Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations

    A group from Frontier Nursing University (FNU) had a blast participating in several events in New York City celebrating and supporting the work of midwives in honor of National Midwifery Week, October 1-7. FNU hoped to bring attention to our country’s high rates of maternal death and injury and the vital role that nurse-midwives play in filling this healthcare gap.

    Here’s a look into a few of the activities we participated in:

    FNU RCF Dwynn Golden with Today Show Host Hoda Kotb
    FNU RCF Dwynn Golden with Today Show Host Hoda Kotb

    Today Show Cameo

    On Friday, Oct. 6, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) staff, students and faculty joined the outside audience at the “Today Show” in New York City to promote awareness of the rising U.S. maternal mortality rates and National Midwifery week. Faculty member and alumnus Dwynn Golden dressed in traditional FNS uniform while other attendees carried “babies” to draw attention to the issues.

    Take a look at this video to see FNU faculty, alumni and staff behind Eddie Jackson and Carson Daly at the two-minute mark.

    New York Case Presentation Day

    NYC Case Day
    NYC Case Day

    Later in the day, 10 participants, including both nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner students, three alumni and one preceptor from Mt. Sinai/Beth Israel, took part in our New York Case Presentation Day. Case Management Days are seminars organized by the Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF). They provide opportunities for group learning and networking within the region. Students doing their clinical practicum present cases to facilitate group discussion of management options and to promote the pathways of critical thinking. Learn more about case days in your area here.

    Miles for Midwives 5K

    FNU Regional Clinical Faculty Dwynn Golden and Mary Jones, along with staff member Angela Bailey, attended the 2017 Miles for Midwives in Brooklyn, NY.

    Miles for Midwives 5K
    Miles for Midwives 5K

    The annual 5K Fun-Run and Birth Fair brings together midwives, families and the greater birth community for a day devoted to celebrating midwives and community wellness. This year, more than 200 attendees also raised money for those suffering in Puerto Rico. Several FNU students and alumni attended the event, including: Jocelyn Baker, Katie Sigler and Rebecca Feldman (Nurse-Midwifery Graduates). Current students in attendance were Alexandra Moskaluk, Jessica Couper and Jessica’s mother.  

    Thanks to everyone who took part in the week! Check out more photos from the weekend here.

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