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Alumni Spotlight: Nurse-Midwife Iniko Sallee Earning DNP To Educate

May 18, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Certified nurse-midwife (CNM) Iniko Sallee became a nurse-midwife to build deeper relationships with her patients, and now she is completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to educate others following in her footsteps.

Iniko graduated from Frontier Nursing University (FNU) in 2018 with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree (Class 148) with a specialty in nurse-midwifery. Prior to earning her MSN, she worked as a labor and delivery staff and charge nurse for 17 years.

“While I thoroughly enjoyed working with expectant moms and families as a nurse, I knew I wanted to develop deeper relationships with my patients before, during and after pregnancy,” said Iniko.

“I wanted to have more say in helping women and families formulate their birth preferences and assisting them in the reaching of their goals, and I wanted to catch babies.”

Iniko also has experience teaching, and she is currently enrolled in FNU’s DNP program to allow her to educate at a higher level.

“I have had the opportunity to educate through childbirth classes, as a nurse leader and as adjunct faculty for a nursing university. I have had wonderful teachers in my life who have assisted me through my education, and obtaining my DNP is a step toward educating practitioners in the future,” she said.

Her DNP studies have also paid off in her current role as a CNM at Baptist Health Lexington in Lexington, Ky.

“As a part of a quality improvement project for my DNP, I recently implemented a new process for educating, assessing and providing treatment and follow-up for perinatal depression and anxiety.”

FNU was an easy choice for Iniko due to its reputation, history and distance learning format. She said, “Frontier has a wonderful reputation and ranking in the nursing community. It has a rich history and great success rate in developing nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. Being a part of a university and community birthed in Kentucky was a big draw for me, even while pursuing my degrees online worked best for me and my family.”

Iniko credits the FNU network with enhancing not only her studies but also her career. “Going from a nurse to a practitioner was a big step, and I have felt so supported through the transition. As a practicing nurse-midwife, I continue to network with current Frontier students, faculty and alumni.”

We are proud of Iniko for furthering her education not only to offer a deeper level of care to her patients, but also to pass her knowledge on by educating future nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners.

To find out more about any of FNU’s programs and offerings, visit Frontier.edu.

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are educated in two disciplines: midwifery and nursing. They earn graduate degrees, complete a midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and pass a national certification examination administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) to receive the professional designation of CNM. Certified Midwives (CMs) are educated in the discipline of midwifery. They earn graduate degrees, meet health and science education requirements, complete a midwifery education program accredited by ACME, and pass the same national certification examination as CNMs to receive the professional designation of CM.

COVID-19 Front Lines: Jean Volm Relocates to New Jersey Hot Spot

May 14, 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.

The images of firefighters and other first responders running into the Twin Towers on 9/11 are indelible. Risking one’s own health and safety to help others is truly heroic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are once again seeing amazing examples of sacrifice, particularly among healthcare providers who willingly enter the fray every day.

That is what Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Jean Volm, MSN, FNP, Bridge 150, did recently. She was working as a nurse practitioner in pain management at an orthopedic clinic in her home state of Wisconsin. The pandemic restricted the number of patients at the clinic and Jean was let go. As she started looking for other full-time work, Jean also researched travel nursing options. Understanding that New York and New Jersey were COVID-19 hotspots, that’s where she looked first. Within about a week of losing her position at the clinic, Jean was on her way to Hackensack, New Jersey.

“At the time I was let go, New York and New Jersey were — and still are — hot spots of the pandemic,” she said. “They were desperately seeking RNs to help so I started looking at travel nursing assignments in those areas. Ultimately, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding an eight-week, 48-hours per week RN assignment at Hackensack University Medical Center. I arrived here on April 15 and started working 12-hour night shifts on April 16.”

Jean, who works in the medical, surgical and telehealth units, humbly said that “the real heroes are the nurses working in the ERs and ICUs.” But that does not minimize Jean’s own brave efforts as she works in several COVID units, including the hospital cafeteria that has been converted into a 74-bed COVID unit.

Her sacrifice includes leaving her family behind in Wisconsin, including her 22-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. “My kids and my ex-husband have been super supportive throughout this entire process,” Jean said. “I would not have been able to do this without them as well as the amazing support from my dear friends.”

Via the travel nursing agency, Jean received a stipend to cover her airfare. She also receives a non-taxable weekly stipend for food and housing at a local hotel. Her contract, which may be canceled early if enough staff are available, is scheduled to run through June 6 and she already has a flight scheduled to return to Wisconsin. From there, she will continue her search for her next opportunity — a full-time position, she hopes — and for another chance to help those in need.

National Nurses Week Will Be Celebrated Throughout May

April 30, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Every year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) participates in the American Nurses Association (ANA)’s National Nurses Week, honoring the hard work and dedication of nurses across the country.

This year, as part of the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife as appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the ANA is expanding National Nurses Week, traditionally celebrated from May 6 to May 12 each year, to a month-long celebration in May to expand opportunities to elevate and celebrate nursing.

The ANA could not have anticipated the significance that would be placed on nurses in our country’s current COVID-19 crisis, but the National Nurses Week expansion could not be more apropos. According to a statement from the ANA, National Nurses Month will be the perfect opportunity to honor these heroes.

Now more than ever we must support and recognize nurses who work with courage and compassion and under extremely challenging circumstances. Whether it is a national health emergency or routine daily care, nurses’ vital contributions impact the health and well-being of our communities, which is why ANA selected the theme for May as Nurses Make a Difference. To honor nurses and support the nursing profession, ANA will promote weekly themes and activities. While continued physical distancing may limit our face-to-face activities, we encourage everyone to think of creative ways to virtually engage.

Each week during National Nurses Month will celebrate a different theme:

Week 1: Self Care

May 1-9, 2020

FNU is going virtual and offering resources during the COVID-19 crisis: read more about those here. Also, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program director Dr. Calohan has produced videos on self-care and psychological first aid – give them a look!

Week 2: Recognition

May 10-16, 2020

Many FNU alumni have displayed tremendous bravery and represented our Culture of Caring as they fight on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Read their stories at frontier.edu/courage.

Week 3: Professional Development

May 17-23, 2020

FNU has many opportunities for continuing education (CE) across a wide range of topics. View all your CE opportunities at frontier.edu/CE.

Week 4: Community Engagement

May 24-31, 2020

During the last week of National Nurses Month, we want to hear from you, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives!

We are all in this fight together, yet we are all experiencing it differently. As time permits, we hope you will share your stories with us. Please message us or email us at FNUnews@frontier.edu with photos, videos and a story to share with others. We want to hear what you’re experiencing, what challenges you are facing, and what successes you are celebrating.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to support and join the World Health Organization’s international campaign designating 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.” In recognizing the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, FNU joins the efforts to raise awareness of healthcare shortages in the U.S. and abroad; demonstrate the need for more nurses and nurse-midwives; educate the public of the value of nurses and nurse-midwives in their communities and advocate for access to quality healthcare for every individual.

COVID-19 Front Lines: Amanda Dunham Expands Telehealth Availability

April 29, 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.

There have been many stories and statements suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it forever. Regardless of what the future holds, Amanda Dunham, DNP, FNP-C, Class 29, said that the call to serve remains the same.

“I think FNU students and alumni are called to serve and COVID-19 is no exception,” said Amanda, owner of Dr. Dunham Integrative Family Health NP, PLLC, a women’s-centered primary care practice in Clifton Park, N.Y.

“We serve our communities. We take care of patients in need. We advocate for people without a voice. Hopefully, that never changes.”

During the pandemic, Amanda’s small practice in upstate New York has taken steps to broaden its reach and help any in the community in need of care.

“Though we typically reserve Telehealth for established patients, I have opened Telehealth services to anyone in need,” Amanda said.

“Children, women, men and older adults needing prescription refills, evaluation for medical issues and even mental health are encouraged to use our services. I have already seen the negative impact social distancing is having on mental health for many people and I encourage patients to use Telehealth if these services are needed.”

A native of the area, Amanda knows the Clifton Park community well. Her practice is located across the street from the local high school. She maintains employment at a local urgent care center in addition to administering her own practice. She is deeply connected to the community and the needs of her patients.

The only nurse practitioner provider at her primary care practice, Amanda also employs a dual-licensed massage therapist/esthetician and a registered nurse. The resulting collaboration results in what Amanda describes as a “whole-person approach to care.”

“My experience at FNU empowered me to be an entrepreneurial-minded health care provider who is dedicated to serving the local community,” Amanda said. “Our goal was to create a patient-centered practice where people could come feel cared for and at home.”

Amanda had to make quick adjustments to that model by expanding the Telehealth options for patients, hoping to reduce exposure while remaining open for those in need of in-person care.

“We hope these measures can avoid unnecessary trips to emergency departments and urgent care centers where patients may be exposed to COVID-19,” Amanda said. “Telehealth is excellent for discussing lab tests, medication management and even to discuss mental health concerns.”

Mental health is a rising concern as the pandemic persists. Amanda said that many patients are worried about being a “well carrier” and passing the virus on to their families without even knowing they have it. Others are dealing with the stress of home-schooling their children while working from home or feeling trapped by not being able to go out for dinner or exercise.

“I’ve seen a surge of depression from isolation and I think many patients are struggling with anxiety,” Amanda said.

“For many patients, they may have no history of anxiety, so this may be their first time navigating those concerns. Additionally, typical coping mechanisms, such as yoga studios and gyms, may not be available. With our patients, we discuss the importance of social distancing, infection control precautions, and of course, self-care for their physical and emotional well being.”

One potential positive outcome of the pandemic is the exposure in flaws and gaps in the healthcare system in the United States and the identification of solutions. In this the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, COVID-19 is making many more people aware of the quality and value of care nurses provide.

“Full practice authority for nurse practitioners across the nation is a must,” Amanda said. “Patients need access to healthcare and nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives are uniquely qualified to minimize the gap in care, increase access and provide quality healthcare that is affordable. I’ve been so proud of my colleagues who are opening their arms and practices to patients in need.”

Though the circumstances may change, for so many like Amanda, the call to serve never does.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

COVID-19 Front Lines: Dee Polito Calms the Fears of Expectant Mothers

April 22, 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.

Even in the best of times and conditions, expectant mothers understandably experience a range of emotions such as excitement, fear, joy and uncertainty. Now, many are facing an additional stress element in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a fear understood and, at times, shared by their providers.

“Each new day brings a heightened level of concern from our families and while we try to practice social distancing; birth is a very intimate process,” said Dolores (Dee) J. Polito, APRN, CNM, who is the Director and Chief Midwife at the University of Kentucky Midwife Clinic in Lexington, Ky.

“Mostly we are seeing high levels of anxiety among staff and patients both. It is difficult to maintain a calm demeanor when staff is anxious about exposure and to encourage staff to portray calmness to patients for their care is challenging. I work with an amazing team of CNMs (FNU graduates JoAnne B. Burris, APRN, CNM, Class 130 and Hayden Murrell Meza, APRN, CNM, Class 136, along with Chrissie Adams, CNM). They demonstrate strength and creativity and I am proud of their responsiveness, dedication and perseverance. They inspire me to be innovative and I wouldn’t want to be in a crisis with anyone else.”

Dee with FNU alumni Hayden, Chrissie and JoAnne

Dee, who received a certificate in midwifery from Frontier Nursing University (FNU) in 1997 and is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board, offers both pregnancy support and non-pregnancy services at the UK Midwife Clinic. For women with healthy, normal pregnancies, the certified nurse-midwives provide care and guidance through the pregnancy, up to and including delivery.

In 2019, Dee completed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) training to be able to prescribe Buprenorphine, allowing her “to create a midwifery-led centering model of group care for pregnancy in the setting of substance abuse with the support of medication-assisted therapy.”

The ability to understand and adjust to the needs of the women and families in her career has always been important, but never more critical than in the midst of the pandemic. Dee credits FNU with helping furnish her with the skills to face this challenge.

“FNU prepared me for my role as a leader and an advocate for women and families in their independent, community-based learning platform,” Dee said.

“When I was a student, we sent our assignments to our faculty by snail mail and it seemed innovative at the time. The innovation and creativity it took to translate midwifery education to a community-based model was unique at the time and those same traits were instilled into me as a student. Being innovative and creative is a requirement when faced with the challenges and uncertainty of the global health crisis for COVID-19.”

Part of that innovation for Dee and her team has been the implementation of Telehealth to reduce risk of exposure.

“I think it’s very important to preserve some normalcy and doing this project together – but separated – allowed my staff to be creative and have some fun . We have to remember that the work we do and the care we give cannot stop because of coronavirus. Women and families still seek our caring attitudes, our warmth and our friendliness. And they can count on a smile even if it’s under a mask,” said Dee.

“We are responding to many patient concerns about keeping their pregnancies healthy and safe and we are having to be creative in getting patients the care they need,” Dee said.

“Telehealth is teaching us that this may be a valuable tool in how we provide care. There have been wrinkles to iron out and we continue to learn how to make the experience better and how to meet all the requirements for appropriate and timely billing. Telehealth will be a part of our services going forward.”

Even though there is fear and uncertainty every day for Dee, her patients and her staff, Dee leads the way, understanding that she has been prepared to handle this challenge. Experience, training, education, innovation, and leadership are just some of the tools she has acquired throughout her career to give her the confidence to face the COVID-19 pandemic day after day.

“I was a student of Kitty Ernst,” Dee said. “She was my faculty for the Birth Center Course. She was perhaps the most influential force to prepare me for my role now.”

“During Midwifery Bound, Kitty met with a small group of students and talked to us about our journey to midwifery school. She asked, ‘What important thing have you done in your life?’. I responded that I hadn’t really done anything important in my life thus far. She asked, ‘Are you a mother?’ and I responded that I was indeed a mother. She exclaimed, ‘Then you have done the most important thing in the world. You are a mother.’”

“From then on,” Dee continued, “I felt empowered, inspired and motivated to achieve any goal I set for myself.”

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

COVID-19 Front Lines: Jaime Westlund Screens Patients in Rural Hawaii

April 17, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

When Jaime Westlund, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Class 156 moved with her family from her home state of Idaho to Hawaii in August 2019, she did so with the intent to serve the community, staying true to the history and mission of FNU. Little did she know at that time how quickly her commitment to community would be tested.

“While I was attending Frontier Nursing University to become a nurse practitioner, I made an oath to always ‘answer the call’ within my community,” Jaime said. “Today, as I screened hundreds of patients to determine if they met the criteria to be tested for COVID-19, I felt a connection to that oath that I have never felt before.”

Since moving to Hawaii with her husband and four children (ages 11, 7, 6 and 3), Jaime has worked as a nurse practitioner in the general surgery department at Ali’i Health Center in Kailua Kona. Typically she spends half her week at the clinic seeing a variety of patients, including wound care, and the other half of her week at the hospital, rounding on general surgery patients and scrubbing in with the surgeons for operations.

With the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, however, her role has expanded. She created informational posters for the community and has been screening patients for the virus while taking the necessary steps to protect herself and her family as best she can. She is careful to use PPE while at work and removes her clothes and showers before going near her family.

“I took an oath to answer the call, and I have been doing that within my community,” Jaime said. “I encourage everyone to do their part whether big or small, whether you have taken an oath or not.”

Living on an island, supplies are always in demand and the pandemic has amplified the issue.

“We live on an island so it is truly rural health care at its finest,” Jaime said. “We do not have access to a lot of medical supplies or equipment and it takes a really long time to get things on the island. We have very few resources available. We have very few ICU beds and ventilators so it is crucial we contain the virus.”

Jaime said that telemedicine is being utilized as much as possible to limit the number of patients in the clinic and that all elective surgeries have been stopped.

“There are gaps and shortages everywhere,” Jaime said. “Unfortunately that is a typical day for us here.”

Just another day serving the community and fulfilling her oath to answer the call.

COVID-19 In Her Own Words: Joy McElyea

April 15, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Editor’s Note: Following is a personal account from the front lines of one of the COVID-19 hotspots, written by Joy McElyea, MSN, CNM, RN, CNEP Class 149, DNP Class 33, on April 1, 2020. We thank Joy for her work and allowing us to share her story.

I am a CNM and RN in Gunnison, Colo., a small town in Western Colorado that is one of the COVID-19 hotspots (last I checked we were number six, just below places in New York and Louisiana). Our county includes a ski resort — and ours, along with two or three others in Colorado, were among the earliest places hit. I’ve been on the front lines for a few weeks now, and I admit, I’m tired.

We are all nurses first, and this has primarily been my role. I’m a CNM in an outpatient clinic only (no deliveries), so initially I did see all of the OB patients in our clinic (my OB was one who was sick early on), counseling and answering questions based on what limited information we had. But primarily, I’ve been working at our small, critical access hospital in an RN role. Because we’re small, our staff is all cross-trained—I’m labor and delivery and medical surgery. My nursing background is corrections and long-term care. But these days, I’m standing next to ER doctors and EMS crews who are intubating my patients to send them to another, higher-care facility. We don’t have an ICU. Because we were hit early, we are still able to ship our patients to other hospitals in the state. I worry about when we can’t and suddenly I am the one taking care of that intubated, vented patient. I can only imagine the fear in larger hospitals, worrying about what to do there when beds and ventilators run out.

As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), I know I’m trained well. I know how to stay calm, look at the big picture, utilize resources, quiet my mind, and find the steady voice to tell my patient they will be okay just prior to sedation. Later, I can find the strength to call my patient’s daughter and tell her that just before intubation, her father was calm and was able to laugh. And later still, in the quietness of a country night while I’m out walking my dogs (even quieter now that our county is on lockdown), I’m also able to tell myself that I will be okay.

I’ve watched the wave of awareness sweep over social media. The disbelief and downplaying, the shock when it hits someplace close, the panic over increasing reports from front lines, and then the sudden gut-punching awareness when it’s your patient. Just as silence in health care can be ominous (no infant cry after delivery, decreased breath sounds on auscultation, absence of heartbeat on a pronounced patient), the silence today on my news feed is also ominous. It means we’re all in the thick of it. We’re all telling ourselves to take that deep breath. We’re all so unbelievably tired.

The comforting routine of school returns for me next week (I have one term left in my DNP program). I am so thankful that Frontier continues on, adapting just like all of us on the front lines, supporting students just as we support our patients. Healthcare will be different after this, but the flexibility, empathy, understanding and forward thinking nature of the FNU community will prepare us well for whatever role we find ourselves in. And for that, I am grateful.

COVID-19 Front Lines: Certified Nurse-Midwife Jennifer Scott

April 8, 2020 By frontieredu

The Frontier community is proud to have students and alumni serving on the frontlines 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.

With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer Scott, CNM, Class 75, realized that she needed to take additional steps to keep her patients safe. We recently shared a spotlight story on Jennifer, whose patient base is largely from a local Mennonite community in the Finger Lakes region of central New York. As the pandemic rose in severity, Jennifer temporarily closed her clinic and began seeing patients in their homes.

“We have temporarily closed our clinic,” Jennifer said, noting that she’s unable to do telehealth visits because her patients don’t have computers or cell phones.

“We are doing home visits because it is easier to isolate and wipe down our equipment between homes. This also keeps our clients from congregating in the waiting room. Many women will make appointments on the same day and share a ride. We are also only seeing clients who are higher risk or near term. For example, we’ve spaced our four-week visits out to five weeks and are doing more phone calls.”

Jennifer is from the Finger Lakes region and, after working as a full-scope midwife in a community hospital for seven years, she joined other colleagues to open Community Midwives in 2019. She has retained admitting privileges at the hospital, though the Mennonite community prefers home births.

“The reasons are multifaceted,” Jennifer said, noting that she and her fellow nurse-midwife at Community Midwives attend six to 10 births per month in the community of approximately 600 families.

“Many are farmers, have large families and don’t drive cars. In order to have a hospital birth they would need someone to take care of the farm, watch the children and would have to hire a driver to take them to the hospital in labor, possibly in the middle of the night. The closest maternity hospital is 30 to 45 minutes by car. Some are put off by hospital costs and length of stay. Others like the comfort of their own home. They feel safer emotionally to give birth in their own surroundings.”

Making her patients feel safe has become an additional challenge amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic impacts this somewhat isolated community differently than other parts of the country, the fears are the same. The closing of schools and churches has limited primary sources of socialization, entertainment and information. Because the Mennonite community does not watch TV or listen to music, Jennifer shares news about the pandemic with the families she serves, printing off the latest information from the county and state health departments.

“Like everyone, they are worried for their families, stressed by the social restrictions and having to homeschool their children,” Jennifer said.

“The Mennonite community is very self reliant. They have stocks of canned and frozen produce from their own gardens and bake their own bread. They have fresh eggs and milk also. They may only go once a month to Walmart for other supplies so they are not as exposed to as many crowds.”

Jennifer, whose husband is also battling the COVID-19 pandemic as a physician in a local hospital, said she hopes the pandemic inspires others to choose nursing and medicine, just as she was inspired by her experiences as a Frontier Nursing University (FNU) student.

“FNU taught me to grab my saddlebag, get on my horse and ride up that mountain,” Jennifer said.

“It taught me that my calling is to care for the underserved, the vulnerable families, without hesitation. I’ve always believed the education at FNU has prepared me for anything I encounter in the workplace. I remember Kitty Ernst giving a talk at Frontier Bound that I paraphrased as ‘We only educate the strongest, most resilient nurses’.”

Like so many other FNU graduates leading the fight against the pandemic, Scott demonstrates that strength and resiliency every day.

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?