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Alumni Spotlight: Certified Nurse-Midwife Jennifer Cameron Opens Women’s Wellness Center to Serve Community

March 2, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Jennifer Cameron, MSN, CNM, is serving her hometown community as the only certified nurse-midwife (CNM) in a two-county area.

Jennifer’s hometown of Manistee, Mich. has a population of 15,000 with around 25,000 in the surrounding county. It is a predominantly rural area and many patients suffer socio-economic challenges.

Two years ago, Jennifer was working at West Shore Medical Center OB-GYN, the town’s first ever in-hospital midwifery care facility. West Shore was bought out by the large regional Munson Healthcare and the OB department was shut down.

To meet the needs of patients, Jennifer opened Transitions Women’s Wellness Center, a women’s wellness center and free-standing birthing facility, and the only facility to deliver a baby in a two-county area. In the first full year of practice, Transitions received National Best Practice recognition.

As a full-scope CNM, Jennifer is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She offers non-traditional office hours at Transitions to accommodate work schedules and allow significant others and older children to attend appointments whenever possible.

“I spend around an hour with each patient to make sure I am getting to know the whole woman so I can offer individualized, full-scope holistic care,” said Jennifer.

Transitions accepts every type of insurance including Medicaid, the most common coverage her patients carry. Michigan does not recognize or license birth centers, so Jennifer receives no facility reimbursement from the state. She has a part-time office assistant but has not been able to afford to hire help or take home a paycheck.

“I know that Mary Breckinridge never worried about payment for services and that things will improve in time,” said Jennifer. “I get paid in hugs and baked goods and donations of needed supplies. I know that I’m doing good things for the right reasons, for women and families that need and deserve a different kind of care.”

Jennifer chose to pursue nurse-midwifery because she wanted to bring the option of midwifery care to the area where she grew up. Many of the women in Manistee County are socioeconomically challenged, undereducated, underserved and underprivileged, but Jennifer’s hope is that by educating and empowering them, lives will be impacted not just today but for generations to come.

“I feel really blessed to be able to serve the women in this area,” said Jennifer. “The most rewarding thing for me is helping women who don’t think they’re worth much. When they leave after a year of pregnancy and child-bearing, they go as empowered women who know what’s going on with their bodies, understand how to be healthy, how to advocate for themselves and how important it is to be treated with respect in regards to healthcare.”

Transitions received a lot of media attention at the start of the new year. With the closing of the OB department, 2020 was the first year in the history of Manistee County that the first baby of the new year was not born in a hospital! The birth took place at Transitions. Jennifer had cared for the mother during her first three pregnancies but had never been present for the births, so it was special for her to attend the birth of the mother’s fourth child.

Jennifer graduated from FNU in 2013 with her master of science in nursing degree specializing in nurse-midwifery (class 74). She originally chose FNU after her first experience with nurse-midwives.

“We moved to Traverse City 19 years ago. At my job, there were four nurse-midwives, three of whom happened to be FNU graduates. They told me about Mary Breckinridge and the university’s continued mission to serve the underserved, and I was sold. I was born and raised in this rural area, and the people I grew up with deserve better care.”

Jennifer credits her time at FNU for giving her a different perspective on nurse-midwifery and healthcare than she would have received at another university.

“Other programs focus on how to work with doctors and make money, but Frontier really emphasizes how to recognize the need in your community,” she said. “They teach you to be an entrepreneur with the intent of seeking out those in need and serving them.”

Jennifer would like to see this service mentality embraced by nurse-midwives across the country.

“I think if Mary Breckinridge’s mission of serving the underserved were to spread through the entire nurse-midwifery community, and the medical community in general, we would have a much better picture of healthcare,” she said.

Jennifer has observed that the FNU community is distinctive in the nurse-midwifery world because of its diversity and its commitment to the higher calling of serving those in need. Being a part of this community has enriched Jennifer’s life.

“On days where I struggle, I reach out to my FNU nurse-midwifery classmates. Even though we live all over the country, we have stayed in close contact and I consider them my sisters. We support each other anytime, day or night, and we’re there for each other. I don’t think I would have had that type of close-knit community from any other midwifery program.”

To learn more about becoming a nurse-midwife and all of FNU’s program 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.

Alumni Spotlight: Certified Nurse-Midwife Jacob Mearse Uses Psychiatric-Mental Health Degree to Better Serve Women

February 27, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alum Jacob Mearse, DNP, PMHNP, CNM is using his doctoral education in psychiatric-mental health to serve women in his position as a certified nurse-midwife.

As a father of seven, Jacob knew he wanted to become a nurse-midwife as soon as his first child was delivered, but his journey took many turns before then.

“At the time our first child was born, the Army had me stationed in Hawaii where I was just finishing up nursing school,” said Jacob. “We had an amazing nurse-midwife and I remember thinking, ‘That is the coolest job ever! That is what I want to do!’”

Jacob later spent time in the Navy, where he was put into a full-time doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program. He asked to study nurse-midwifery, but instead, they assigned him to the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program. While the program wasn’t his choice, unbeknownst to him, it later would put Jacob in a better position to serve women as a nurse-midwife.

Jacob decided to begin researching schools to become a nurse-midwife so he would be ready when his opportunity arrived. He first heard of FNU from a nurse-midwife friend who was an FNU alumna. After investigating online, he quickly decided FNU’s curriculum offerings, combined with the ability to do school while working full-time and raising seven kids, made the university a perfect fit.

The very day Jacob graduated from the University of Washington with his DNP, he applied to FNU to become a certified nurse-midwife, earning his post-graduate certificate in nurse-midwifery from FNU in 2017.

Today, Jacob is in a new position at Franciscan Women’s Health Associates, a large midwifery practice in Tacoma, Wash. He alternates between days at the clinic and 12-hour call shifts in the delivery room at St. Joseph Medical Center, the second busiest hospital in the Puget Sound area. When Jacob is at the clinic, he sees upwards of 25 patients daily for obstetric, gynecological and primary care.

According to Jacob, he has seen enormous benefits in combining his passion for nurse-midwifery with his background in psychiatric-mental health. In his new position at Franciscan Women’s Health Associates, he is often pulled into consultations with colleagues who have patients with mental health conditions.

“One of the big shortcomings in perinatal mental health is that we separate out maternity care and mental health care. A mom may come in for maternity care but have some psychiatric conditions. Oftentimes, maternity care providers are uncomfortable with mental health, or mental healthcare providers don’t know anything about pregnancy. It’s really helpful for me to be able to care for both aspects at once. I can manage psychiatric meds and do psychotherapy while also help them through their pregnancy and delivery.”

Jacob enjoys seeing patients from diverse socioeconomic situations and particularly enjoys serving the underserved.

“My favorite thing is when I’m able to help an economically disadvantaged and socially marginalized mother by giving her better care than she would get anywhere else. I love treating patients like royalty, whether or not they can pay. It feeds my soul and makes me happy every day.”

We are proud of Jacob for pursuing his dream of becoming a nurse-midwife and finding a position that allows him to fully utilize his skill set to serve women!

FNU offers a graduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty track as well as a Nurse-Midwifery specialty track that can both be pursued full- or part-time while completing a Master of Science in Nursing or a Post-Graduate Certificate. To learn more about all of our program offerings, visit Frontier.edu.

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

The Importance of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

February 26, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

By FNU President Dr. Susan E. Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN

In 2019, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed that the year 2020 be designated the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife” in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The designation, which was approved by the World Health Assembly, was made to bring awareness of the importance of nurses and midwives in providing healthcare to populations across the globe.

Why is this important? The reasons are many but begin with worldwide shortages in nurses and midwives. The WHO recognizes the important work of both nurses and midwives in improving healthcare and estimates that the world needs nine million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

At Frontier Nursing University (FNU), we are very excited by the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife because it provides an opportunity to explicate the role of both nurses and midwives in improving health. In the United States, we have significant health challenges. In many cases, these are getting worse, not better. The maternal mortality rate has risen from seven per 100,000 in 1987 to a current rate estimated at 26 per 100,000. The numbers are even worse for women of color, who die from pregnancy-related illness at three times the rate of white women. Mental health issues plague our country as well. Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States; more than 130 people die each day from opioid-related illness.

Lack of access to primary healthcare, maternal healthcare, and psychiatric mental healthcare persists throughout the U.S., particularly in rural areas. Improving the health of our population begins with an increase in healthcare providers who are well prepared to provide culturally competent primary preventive care as well as the ongoing care of chronic disease. Accessible and high-quality maternity care is critical. The Centers for Disease Control reports that nearly half of maternal mortality deaths are preventable. Changing this picture will take a team of health care providers and that team must include nurses and midwives. A recent study from Johns Hopkins University found that more 250,000 Americans die every year because of healthcare mistakes. The FNU Doctor of Nursing Practice program focuses on improving health care quality. Together we can make a change.

While the bad news is ample, the good news is that we can improve. At Frontier Nursing University we are educating nurses and midwives with the primary goal of assuring that they are well prepared to serve in rural and underserved areas. We must create a diverse healthcare workforce, a workforce that can competently serve persons and families from many different cultures that are representative of our United States. We can do this!

The designation of 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife provides an opportunity for us to showcase the role of nurses and midwives. We must educate the public, our legislators, and our colleagues about the scope of practice and qualifications of nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. We need to assure that nurses and midwives are at the tables when decisions about healthcare are being made. We know that we must change and improve the current healthcare system. We have to be sure that every family and every individual has access to healthcare. We have to be able to provide healthcare in the community, in the home, in birthing centers, in family clinics, wherever it is that families are accessing healthcare.

Throughout the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, we will be promoting the role of the nurse and the midwife and the role of nurse practitioners. We hope that you will view the stories about the impactful work of our graduates, students, and faculty. Join us in promoting midwifery and nursing across the United States throughout the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

Should I Consider a DNP?

February 20, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Are you nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner interested in serving patients at a higher level? Do you have a desire to influence the broader healthcare system? Do you thrive in an academic environment? If the answer is yes, consider obtaining your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

The DNP is the highest degree for clinical nursing practice. Not only do nurses that obtain their doctorate have more opportunities to lead and work as independent healthcare providers, but they also take an active role in shaping the future of healthcare in our nation.

Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) DNP curriculum provides education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership, building on the knowledge acquired during master’s level studies. The DNP program draws on the clinical expertise of our world-renowned faculty and students to prepare nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to impact the health care of women and families on a community, regional and national level.

Have you been considering enrolling in a DNP program? Here are some reasons why we think you should, and why FNU is the perfect place to earn your degree.

Advance Your Career

An obvious reason for obtaining a DNP is to take your nursing career to the highest level. Because of the increasing complexity of healthcare, many healthcare programs across the United States now require a DNP for entry into advanced practice roles. FNU’s DNP program is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses with the necessary credentials to move into these roles.

“The DNP is important to my career advancement because it takes the political, educational and managerial branches of nursing that are very important to the advancement of the profession, cultivates them and takes me to the next step,” said FNU faculty member and alumnus Brian Webster, DNP, APRN-NP, NP-C, CEN, CPEN, FAWM.

Increase Your Leadership

FNU has an excellent reputation for preparing leaders who are firmly rooted in evidence-based practice. The DNP curriculum is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to be leaders and change agents in the healthcare system.

“The DNP program is pushing me to become a better leader,” said DNP student Kamil El, CNM. “I’m used to staying in the background and putting my head down, but I’m being challenged to engage more on a political stage and with stakeholders in my community to make sure my patients get the kind of care they deserve.”

FNU graduates are driving innovations in healthcare and impacting their communities in incredible ways.

“Frontier has a rich history of encouraging nurses to initiate change and improve health care. Students will assess health care needs within their own health care system and translate evidence into practice using quality improvement initiatives,” said DNP program director Jane Houston, DNP, CNM, FACNM.

Communication is a major focus of FNU’s educational model. In many instances, improving healthcare outcomes boils down to improving communication, and FNU DNP alumni exit the program prepared to implement strong communication tools into their practices. Alumna Rachel Simmons, DNP, WHNP ultimately went with FNU as her doctorate program of choice because of the fine communication skills of a coworker who was an FNU DNP alumna.

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

Guide the Next Generation

Nursing schools are facing a shortage of available faculty. With qualified nursing educators desperately needed in academia, completing a DNP degree can open doors to pursuing a career as faculty.

After completing her DNP at FNU, alumna Mary Ellen Biggerstaff, DNP, MSN stepped into a role as regional clinical faculty where she has found a passion for helping students following in her footsteps.

“I train people to be excellent nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, especially to rural and vulnerable populations,” she said. “I love to see students I mentored impacting their communities.”

Join the FNU Community

Being a part of the FNU community opens students up to a wide network of FNU alumni across the country. While DNP courses are exclusively online, students will attend a three-day on-campus orientation at our Kentucky campus to kickstart the program. Students will have the opportunity to meet their deans, professors and colleagues they will be in communication with throughout the program and even after graduation.

As an alumnus of FNU, you will have access to many wonderful ways to keep in touch with friends and stay connected to FNU, including reunions, conference receptions, case days and eNews.

Want to learn more about FNU’s DNP program? Visit Frontier.edu/DNP to view the curriculum, request information and apply.

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner and earning a MSN and then a DNP, consider FNU’s MSN program which allows you to continue into the DNP program.

Read Kamil’s story and many others in our FNU blog, and watch FNU alumni explain the importance of the DNP below!

Alumni Spotlight: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Stephanie A. Patterson Advocates for Mentally Ill Patients in Urban L.A.

February 17, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Dr. Stephanie A. Patterson, DNP, PMHNP-BC, obtained her doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree in the summer of 2019 and is making strides in the mental healthcare field. In her urban community of Los Angeles, Calif., mental illness is a widespread problem.

“In Los Angeles, there is a high need for DNP-prepared PMHNPs like me because of the pervasiveness of mental illness in the community. Current statistics show that 63 percent of adults in California with mental illness did not receive treatment during the past year,” said Stephanie.

Stephanie currently serves as an inpatient psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), where she works with mentally ill adults. Her patients are typically admitted involuntarily after presenting themselves as a danger to themselves or others. Stephanie and her team evaluate and observe patients until they are stabilized and discharged into a lower level of care.

Stephanie is a strong advocate for medication management among patients with mental illnesses, knowing what medication regimens typically work for particular diagnoses. She takes time to listen to each patient, observe for side effects of medication and educate the patient on the importance of consistent medication and follow-up appointments.

“It is important that our patients know that they can still maintain a functional life in the community, hold jobs or stay in school, etc., despite having a mental health condition. This is why patient education is so crucial,” Stephanie said.

Improving quality for better patient outcomes is one of Stephanie’s passions, which prompted her to pursue her DNP. She recently presented her final DNP project at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Forum in Orlando, Fla., highlighting a patient-centered approach to improving appointment adherence rates in the mental health arena.

“I was very excited to present my project among like-minded professionals,” said Stephanie. “It was the culmination of my education at FNU and my commitment to the underserved in mental healthcare.”

In deciding where to enroll for her DNP, Stephanie did a lot of research and settled on FNU.

“I researched FNU’s history, plus the flexibility was really important so I was still able to work while pursuing my DNP. I’m very happy with my decision.”

Stephanie was also drawn by the renown of FNU’s faculty. “Many faculty have been in the field for 30 years or more across all different regions of the country, offering a wealth of clinical expertise and institutional knowledge,” she said.

She also benefited from receiving education from both certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), which was an important opportunity.

During her DNP studies, Stephanie picked up a major tool that she has since implemented into her practice. She uses a shared decision-making aid to engage patients and takes time to explain to her patients why keeping their appointments is so important.

“The shared decision-making model isn’t used much in the mental health community, but FNU taught me to use it and it has been an effective way to provide the patient with a foundation for making decisions based on individual values, preferences and goals for treatment,” she said.

She uses the motivational interviewing strategy during her initial consultations with patients, helping them commit to making changes to improve their health and wellbeing. She has seen this method improve mental and overall health outcomes and reduce relapses.

We are proud of Stephanie for her work with the underserved mentally ill community and her commitment to quality improvement in mental healthcare. Thank you, Stephanie!

Why Should I Become a Nurse Midwife?

February 13, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Are you considering a career in the healthcare field? Do you have a passion for serving women and families? A passion for providing holistic and patient-centered care? If the answer is yes, consider becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM).

A nurse-midwife is a primary health care provider to women of all ages throughout the lifespan. CNMs offer gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering basic nutrition counseling.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is the country’s premier university for nurse-midwifery education. Our distance education model is ideal for prospective nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who do not want to leave their home communities to obtain a graduate education to fulfill their professional goals.

Should you consider a career as a nurse-midwife? Here are a few reasons we think you should:

Demand is Growing for Nurse-Midwives
The need for nurse-midwives in the healthcare arena is rapidly growing as health care organizations across the country are embracing collaborative models of care and adding nurse-midwives to health care teams. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts job opportunities for nurse-midwives will grow 31 percent by 2026 – a rate that’s more than four times that of the national average for all occupations. If you are looking for an occupation that is ripe with opportunity, nurse-midwifery is a great option.

Nurse-Midwives are Strong Advocates for Women and Families
Nurse-midwives have the opportunity to build deep, lasting relationships with the women they serve. Their unique skill sets have been shown to improve quality and decrease costs associated with birth thus making CNMs valuable assets in all birth settings. Nurse-midwives also serve as excellent advocates for patients, which is particularly important as more and more women seek to be active participants in their healthcare and birth choices. This includes choices for their birth experience and their birthplace.

Robin McHugh, a 2016 FNU graduate, works primarily with Amish and Mennonite women and families.

“A few days ago, I attended a beautiful home birth way out on a ranch. The other children I had also delivered came running in, excited to see their new sibling. It’s a joy to serve a mother and a family through each birth and get to watch that family enlarge – it’s so exciting and fulfilling,” said Robin.

Prior Childbirth Experience is Not Required
Prior labor and delivery nursing experience is not required to become a nurse-midwife at FNU. Students from a variety of backgrounds including doula and primary care have had success completing FNU’s programs. Preceptors work with students to customize their clinical experience, ensuring they get the required experience in the areas they need it most.

FNU offers a graduate Nurse-Midwifery specialty track that can be pursued full- or part-time while completing a Master of Science in Nursing or a Post-Graduate Certificate. After earning an MSN or certificate, you have the option to transition to the Companion Doctor of Nursing Practice program via a direct admission process.

You Can Complete your Program in Your Home Community
With FNU’s distance education model, your home community serves as your classroom. Our flexible nurse-midwifery program allows you to complete courses online and work closely with practicing nurse-midwives during your clinical experience. At the same time, FNU coursework is designed to connect you to the larger FNU community.

Our distance education model allows us to reach rural and underserved communities nationwide with students in all 50 states. Through these online learning experiences, you will build relationships that can help you complete your coursework and graduate ready to make a difference in your corner of the world.

The Nurse-Midwifery Experience is Priceless
While each birth is special, there are moments in the work of a nurse-midwife that are absolutely unforgettable. Kim Samson, a 2016 FNU graduate, said her favorite birth was with a woman who planned to have an unmedicated birth.

“She got to a point where she wanted an epidural and I said, ‘I will not deny you an epidural if that’s what you really want, but I know your goals and I would like you to try this first.’ So I had her stand up and dance with her husband next to the bedside and thirty minutes later, we had a baby. It was a supportive and encouraging experience for me that, yes indeed, this process works.”

So should you become a nurse-midwife? Here’s what our alumni have to say about it:

“Absolutely. I don’t think there’s another profession on the planet that can even come close. We talk about empowering women but they empower us. Their stories are amazing. Each woman we serve is amazing in her own way and we get to bear witness to the most intimate, special moment of her life,” said Robin.

Latrice said, “I want to encourage everyone during the challenging times of your education that we would all certainly do this again. Keep pressing on and you’ll find the same joys we have.”

To learn more about the nurse-midwifery program at FNU, visit Frontier.edu/Nurse-Midwife.

Watch Robin, Latrice and Kim share their stories with Dr. Tonya Nicholson, Associate Dean of Midwifery and Women’s Health at FNU, in the video below!

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

FNU Joins the Celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

February 6, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

In addition to the significance of Florence Nightingale’s birthday anniversary, the designation was made to help bring awareness of the importance of nurses and midwives in the health and care of populations across the globe. According to the WHO, the world needs nine million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is excited to support and participate in this international campaign and to spread awareness of the specific need for more nurses and nurse-midwives in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 women die annually in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications, 67 percent of which were determined to be preventable. More than five million U.S. women live in counties that have no hospital offering obstetric care and no obstetric providers.

The need for nurses and nurse-midwives is also seen beyond the gaps in maternity care. Rural areas are impacted most significantly by the healthcare shortages, with the number of physicians per 10,000 people averaging 33 in urban areas versus just 13 in rural communities. A shortage of psychiatric mental health care providers has resulted in 96 million Americans having to wait longer than a week for mental health treatment and 46 percent of those seeking this care having to drive more than an hour round-trip for treatment.

For 80 years, FNU has been educating and preparing many of these much-needed providers to serve the communities in which they live and work. FNU’s mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations.

During the first 50 years of its history, FNU was rooted in its birthplace in the rural mountains of southeastern Kentucky. In 1989, FNU launched its distance-learning model, which enabled FNU to expand its reach across the country. Today, 73 percent of FNU’s 2,300 enrolled students live in a Healthcare Provider Shortage Area (HPSA) as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

“Our distance learning model allows students to continue their education in the same communities in which they live and work,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, said, noting that FNU has students and graduates in every state. “Students can remain in their local communities and continue to work while attending classes on a flexible schedule.”

Not only has FNU’s reach expanded significantly but so has its range of programs. FNU offers the master of science in nursing degree, doctor of nursing practice degree and post-graduate certificates with specialties including nurse-midwife, family nurse practitioner, women’s health care nurse practitioner and psychiatric-mental health care nurse practitioner. In 2018, FNU produced approximately 39 percent of the certified nurse-midwifery graduates in the U.S.

Certified nurse-midwives are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) backed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. To become a CNM, registered nurses must graduate from a master’s or higher-level nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board. All CNMs must hold state licensure. Certified midwives (CM), by comparison, are not required to have a nursing background.

“One of the important objectives for us this year is to define the role of the certified nurse-midwife and the certified midwife so the public understands the broad scope of services these professionals provide,” Dr. Stone said.

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.

“We are very excited to share the message of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” Dr. Stone said. “Greater awareness of our healthcare disparities and identification of the potential solutions are essential steps in improving the reach and access to healthcare in this country.”

To find out more about FNU’s program offerings, visit Frontier.edu/Degrees.

Faculty Spotlight: Family Nurse Practitioner Diane John Works to Improve Health Outcomes in Florida Community

February 3, 2020 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) associate professor Diane John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC understands the importance of giving back to the community.

Diane recently collaborated with several faculty and leaders to host a virtual session for National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week. They held a panel discussion to talk about how each is involved in his/her community, and Diane shared some of the many ways she is active in her Broward County, Fla. community.

Diane sits on the board and volunteers at the local YMCA, providing education sessions and working with community health workers to improve healthcare outcomes. She frequently has speaking engagements in the community about different topics such as chronic health, the obesity epidemic, hypertension, and lifestyle behaviors’ impact on healthcare outcomes. She is also a board member of the South Florida Council For Advanced Practice Nurses, where she chairs the education and community committee. As chair, she facilitates food drives and clothing drives, most recently to collect relief items for victims of the Haiti hurricane disaster.

The Broward County population suffers high rates of hypertension, heart disease, and renal failure, all linked to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. To help combat this, Diane received funding from a national NP organization to implement a project focused on teaching healthcare providers and nursing students about motivational interviewing, a way of talking with patients so they are moved to make behavioral changes leading to better health outcomes.

“We have spent many years telling patients what to do. ‘Walk twenty minutes three times a week. Eat these foods. Stop smoking.’ We have made some advances from this direct talk, but we’re not where we need to be,” Diane explained.

“Motivational interviewing helps meet people halfway by leading them to identify behaviors and design a plan of action to implement healthier lifestyle choices.”

The grant allows her to offer motivational interviewing courses to NPs, advanced practice nurses, community health workers, and student nurses. Initially created as a tool for substance abusers, the motivational interview method is now being used across a wide span of illnesses and conditions, empowering patients to take ownership and control of their own health. Diane’s motivational interview courses also equip students with a tool to assess how likely an individual would change behaviors based on his/her conversation with the provider.

Diane has been a member of the FNU team since 2012. She currently serves in the academic affairs division as a curriculum and course design coach.

Diane’s favorite thing about being part of the FNU team is collaboration and effective communication across departments, programs and individuals.

“I have worked in brick and mortar academic organizations in the past, and communicating was always an issue, but at FNU, a lot of effort is put into communication and transparency,” she said.

Diane would like to thank FNU Department Chair of Family Nursing Dr. Lisa Chappell and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Rachel Mack for recognizing all the individual things that faculty do that align with the nursing profession, particularly outside of the FNU organization. “They are truly interested in what we do beyond our work at Frontier,” said Diane.

In addition to her faculty position and community work, Diane is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) whose practice works closely with veterans and the geriatric population.

Thank you, Diane, for the many ways you serve your communities, both at FNU and in Broward County!

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