ADN Bridge Entry Option | Frontier Nursing University

COVID-19 Front Lines: Tammy Andrews Faces the Pandemic in the ER

June 15, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

The Frontier community is proud to have students and alumni serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the next few weeks, we are committed to sharing their stories in order to provide insight, hope and encouragement. Thank you to all the health care workers who are risking their own well-being daily to serve our nation. Click here to read more stories of courage and dedication.

One of the mysteries of the coronavirus is how it impacts people differently. It is fatal in some, while others display few if any symptoms. Life in the midst of the pandemic impacts everyone differently as well. Some have experienced the loss of work, some have missed out on major life events like weddings and graduations, and some continue to face the risks in service to others.

Tammy Andrews, FNP-BC, APRN, Class 72, is among those healthcare heroes working on the front line. In addition to seeing the impact of the virus on patients and their loved ones, she has also felt the weight of COVID-19 on her own family.

“Anyone who works in healthcare is very conscientious about the potential of spreading this virus to their loved ones,” Tammy said. “We have a new grandbaby that is seven weeks old that we still have been unable to visit. My father has end-stage COPD and cancer and it has been very hard to decide whether to visit him or to avoid exposing him to this virus. The overall stress that this has taken on everyone physically and mentally has been huge.”

A nurse for 33 years and counting, Tammy knows what she’s talking about. Born and raised in Irvine, Ky., Tammy began her nursing career at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, where she worked for 16 years. She then gained her first direct experience with emergency nursing as a flight nurse for Air Methods Kentucky, an air medical transport service, for six years. Tammy next became an ER nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington.

“Working in the ER I was able to see just how many patients did not have primary care providers and who depended on ER for their care,” Tammy said. “I loved to teach and wanted to be able to do more for my patients.”

That desire to do more led her to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) while continuing to work in the ER.

“When I started applying to schools I fell in love with the history of Frontier and knew that was where I wanted to attend,” Tammy said. “I still have my email with my acceptance information. I had been an associate’s degree nurse (ADN) for 23 years before returning to school. I have maintained all of my acute care certifications and I am getting ready to take the Certified Emergency Nurse examination.”

Tammy credits her training, education, and experience for preparing for the unique situations created by the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially scary for us in the ER as we see all types of sick patients,” said Tammy. “However, I have always felt very safe and secure at my work. We have been appropriately educated and have had all of the PPE we need. My education and years of nursing experience have helped to prepare me for taking care of this very sick population.”

COVID-19 has obviously impacted the health of those who have contracted the virus, but it has also had health-related effects on many of those who have remained virus-free. Fear of the virus has caused many sick patients to delay needed medical care.

“The general public has been too scared to come to the emergency room and now that they are coming in they are much sicker,” Tammy said, noting that the reduction in the number of non-COVID patients has led to a reduction of patients in many hospitals and clinics.

“We are seeing half the patients we normally do and there has been a modest reduction of staff due to lack of volume. We have had a significant reduction in our hours. It is important for the public to realize that it is safe to come to the emergency room. We are taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID and prevent anyone from getting sicker by visiting the emergency rooms.”

While no one has all the answers, Tammy understands that the pandemic is impacting everyone in some form or fashion. She has seen it first-hand, both personally and from the front lines.

RNs: Bypass your Bachelors and Get a Masters at FNU

February 10, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

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.

Alumni Spotlight: Marie Labadie-DeGennaro

January 9, 2020 By frontieredu

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!

Frontier ADN Bridge DNP Students Impact Communities With DNP Projects

September 13, 2018 By frontieredu

Two Frontier Nursing University graduates have implemented impactful doctoral projects into their Kentucky communities.

Nurses Nina Booth and Carrie Dunaway began their education at FNU through the ADN Bridge Entry Option and went straight through earning their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree to their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Nina and Carrie each implemented a DNP Project and Practicum as part of the program. The projects serve to provide FNU DNP students with a facilitated service learning opportunity.

Nina’s DNP project established a Palliative Care Program for rural, chronically-ill patients. Originally from the Lake Cumberland, Ky. area, Nina was a hospice nurse for eight years before deciding to enter the ADN-MSN bridge program. She had visited Frontier as an LPN student and was awestruck and inspired by the history and by Mary Breckinridge’s mission.

After completing her MSN in 2017 as a family nurse practitioner, she pioneered the Palliative Care Program in the Lake Cumberland district as part of her Companion DNP that she would complete in 2018.

Nina Booth, FNU DNP Student

Nina formed the idea for the project after noticing a need for improved access among patients with cancer and pain crisis. She provides them with symptom relief, support, education of advanced directives, goals of care planning, helps with equipment needs and supplies, and if necessary, helps them transition into hospice care.

“I want to bring access to palliative care to chronically ill residents in my community that are seeking aggressive care and having symptom burden, that would otherwise not find relief until giving up curative care and pursuing hospice,” she said.

Her project, the first of its kind in the area, allowed her to complete her Companion DNP. While in the ADN Bridge program, Nina made vital connections with the Frontier community. Her distance learning experience was enhanced by lifelong friends she made and the overall mission she was pursuing.

“I chose to get my DNP so that I could be a healthcare leader in my community,” she said. “I am proud every single day to carry out Mary’s mission of reaching families in rural communities.”

Carrie’s DNP project instituted a Quality Improvement initiative for adult cardiac patients. Carrie serves as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner at Lexington Clinic in Lexington, Ky. Her personal experience of watching her father suffer a heart attack and seeing subpar subsequent cardiac care was what drove her to pursue a nurse practitioner degree after 25 years in the nursing profession.

Carrie Dunaway, FNU DNP Student

The calling to advance her education in cardiology led her to the nurse practitioner role, where she could treat patients autonomously, to the completion of her MSN, and finally to the ADN Bridge Program to earn her DNP.

“Attaining the DNP not only has given me more respect as a nurse practitioner from my colleagues, it has also given me the ability to hopefully become a nursing faculty as well so that I can teach other nurses pursuing their nurse practitioner degree,” she said.

Carrie’s DNP project sought to reduce strokes in atrial fibrillation patients. Her results were successful: she recorded 36% stroke reduction in atrial fibrillation patients by increasing appropriate anticoagulation from 55% to 91% in 90 days. She was asked to present findings to the head of the section meeting at Lexington Clinic.

Following the project’s success, Carrie is now working on establishing an Atrial Fibrillation Clinic in her cardiology practice.

Carrie formed invaluable friendships in her time at Frontier, and received ample support from faculty and ancillary staff while receiving her DNP.

“Coming together with other students at the university was imperative to my success, which is something you do not get at other online institutions,” she said.

She stays connected to the Frontier network and mission through volunteer work as a Family Nurse Practitioner providing health care to underserved and uninsured patients.

“I am so thankful that I was able to attain my degree at an establishment so rich in tradition and history,” she said.

Congratulations, Nina and Carrie, on the success of your projects and the impact you’ve had on our home state of Kentucky!

Student Spotlight: Michele Holzman, RNC-OB

August 4, 2017 By frontieredu

With 25 years of experience in labor and delivery, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) nurse-midwifery student Michele Holzman “answers the call” to serve Hispanic women in the Tallahassee, Fla., area every day through the miracle of birth.

Michele, Hispanic herself, has a particular connection to the community that she serves. She has worked for 20 years in labor, delivery, and postpartum care with Hispanic patients, bridging the gap for this community dually through language and through extensive knowledge and care for mother and baby.

Michele embodies Frontier’s emphasis on providing care to underserved and rural populations as she works with migrant mothers and families on a daily basis. Outside of the hospital walls, Michele supplements women’s health by teaching Mighty Moms classes – fitness training classes that combine her experience as a childbirth educator and five years as a personal trainer. She uses the classes to provide mothers with a practical way to improve their overall health and to educate the women to continue the health impact at home.

Stemming from Michele’s passion for women’s health and direct communication as it impacts outcomes throughout the birth process, she has authored two books in Spanish translation covering this area. She not only plans to publish the documents, but also to convert the text into an easy-to-use, highly accessible app.

Her dreams don’t stop there. Michele’s next project is to create a non-interventional birth wing in her hospital, and to provide a mobile antenatal clinic for the patients that live in the outlying counties. Her hope is to shift the medical model of childbirth to a physiologic focus and to better influence evidence-based discussions towards improvement of national statistics in maternal-infant care, all while continuing to service the Hispanic community.

Michele, who initially began her journey at FNU via the ADN Bridge Entry Option, plans to continue on to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program after completing her MSN.

“This is a humbling and inspirational legacy to be a part of,” Michele says. “This is such a great opportunity, and I am excited to learn everything they have to offer.”

Thank you, Michele, for your continued excellence in serving the Hispanic community.

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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.