Frontier Nursing University Faculty Selected to Participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Insti

Frontier Nursing University Faculty Selected to Participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute

April 17, 2023 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University is proud to announce that Assistant Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CNE, and Associate Professor Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, are among the 41 nurse educators and nurses in practice selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute.

Dr. Keefe joined FNU’s faculty in 2015 after obtaining both her MSN and DNP from FNU. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner in a frontier area of Southwest New Mexico, with more than 20 years of experience in nursing. Her current work focuses on rural health disparities and capacity building, with a focus on bringing home health and hospice to the area. She is a member of the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty, the New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Stone-Gale, who has been at FNU since 2014, has practiced in primary care for 30 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner and maintains a practice in Plantation, Florida. She is a Fellow of both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Stone-Gale received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Florida Board of Nursing (BON), which she did for four years, serving as Chair of the BON for two years. She is currently the Chair of the North Florida probable cause panel and President of the South Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, a local nurse practitioner organization, and first VP of Legislation for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Keefe and Dr. Stone-Gale have been selected for this prestigious opportunity,” said FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “They are both outstanding nurses and educators who set a great example for fellow faculty and students alike.”

The NLN Leadership Institute, under the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership, offers a dual-track curriculum. LEAD is appropriate for nurses in education and practice who have recently been challenged with the rapid transition into leadership positions, those already in positions of leadership who want formal leadership development, and others who identify as emerging leaders or have leadership aspirations. The Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators is designed for the experienced simulation nurse educator who aspires to a leadership role in simulation. Sim Leadership track participants focus on maximizing their leadership potential to advance simulation initiatives in nursing education and practice.

These year-long programs represent a significant investment in professional leadership development. Participants on both tracks spend a calendar year engaged in activities to identify personal and professional goals; learn about what makes an effective leader; and strategize how to retool skill sets and experiences to achieve individual and institutional benchmarks. To that end, everyone receives intensive one-on-one executive coaching. In addition, they attend online group coaching sessions, a retreat, and webinars, where they study leadership theory and practices that include case study.

The 2023 Leadership Institute has already had its first meeting, an in-person orientation. The Intensive Leadership Retreat is scheduled for July 25-28 in Washington, D.C. The groups will later reconvene at the 2023 NLN Education Summit: Extraordinary Nurse Educators: Leading Extraordinary Times, September 28-30 in Washington, DC.

“The National League for Nursing Leadership Institute is among the most highly respected leadership development initiatives in the field,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. “We look forward to another year of rewarding and productive achievement, helping to boost the personal and professional standing of this exclusive cohort chosen for the Institute’s 2023 Lead and Sim Leadership programs.”

About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to nearly 45,000 individual and over 1,000 institutional members, including nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and healthcare organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.

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FNU Celebrates Women’s History Month with FNU History Faculty Expert, Dr. Anne Cockerham

March 14, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

March is Women’s History Month. During this time, we aim to celebrate and recognize women’s achievements in history, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality.

Dr. Anne Cockerham

This month Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will highlight a few female leaders at FNU in Q&A style blogs. The first person we want to spotlight is Dr. Anne Cockerham, PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM, FNU Professor and Course Coordinator, whose scholarly focus is on nursing history.

Jump to Q&A

Both midwifery and nursing are professions in which women have been at the forefront, including many women who are associated with the history of FNU.

FNU’s rich history begins with the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) which resulted in remarkable outcomes as these nurse-midwives served the people of eastern Kentucky. This work drastically reduced maternal and infant mortality, included widespread implementation of extensive public health interventions such as sanitation and vaccinations, and the provision of primary and inpatient health care to thousands of people who previously had little access to care.

While we want to celebrate the achievements and perseverance of those who pioneered midwifery in the United States, we should also acknowledge and be aware of any wrongdoing and harmful thinking and actions by them.

“Now, I think the time is right for us to reexamine our history with a careful eye toward identifying any harms that have been done, inequities that have been perpetuated, privilege that has been afforded to some but not all, and opportunities that have been lost,” Dr. Cockerham said. “In other words, I’m glad that historians and those interested in history are moving beyond unquestioning celebration of accomplishments and toward a more nuanced examination of the past.”

Dr. Cockerham believes the most enduring legacy of the FNS is the school that began in 1939 and continues to be in operation today as FNU.

“The large number of well-prepared midwives who come from the FNU program, particularly since the beginning of the distance learning program in 1989, has dramatically increased the nurse-midwifery workforce in the United States,” Dr. Cockerham said. “I’m so proud to be a graduate of the program and now a long-time faculty member!”

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we asked Dr. Cockerham a series of questions in hopes of inspiring and empowering all people to continue to work towards equality and raising awareness of the bias women face or have faced.

Women’s History Month Q&A with Dr. Cockerham:

What advice would you give to women in your field (midwifery/nursing/healthcare)?

Midwifery and nursing are dominated by women so I think it’s particularly important to seek out, respect, and celebrate differences. Diversity of all kinds enriches us and can make midwifery and nursing even stronger.

Tell us about a woman you look up to and why.

There are so many folks who are so inspiring that it’s difficult to choose just one. But one woman who comes immediately to mind is Angela Smith, the Executive Director of the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). I serve as the ACME chairperson, so I have the great privilege of watching Angela’s work up close. She started in the ACME Executive Director role in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she has gracefully and skillfully navigated the many challenges ACME has faced (along with the rest of the world). Angela is the epitome of equanimity. She is unfailingly professional and utterly unflappable. She is kind, caring, and optimistic, yet realistic. She builds collegial relationships and always keeps her eye on the long-term plan. I learn from her every day and I’m so grateful to work with her.

Do you have a favorite quote about female empowerment or from a female influencer?

In my role as a teacher, I find Dr. Cate Denial’s work to be powerful. Although I have always gravitated toward a certain approach to teaching, Dr. Denial’s description of the Pedagogy of Kindness has helped me put words to what is in my heart as a teacher. Here’s a quote from Dr. Denial:

Kindness as pedagogical practice is not about sacrificing myself, or about taking on more emotional labor. It has simplified my teaching, not complicated it…I’ve found that kindness as pedagogical practice distills down to two simple things: believing people, and believing in people…A pedagogy of kindness asks us to apply compassion in every situation we can, and not to default to suspicion or anger. When suspicion or anger is our first response, a pedagogy of kindness asks us to step back and do the reflective work of asking why we’re reacting in that manner.

Is there anything else you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

In our work as midwives, WHNPs, and educators, I think one of our most important goals should be to work to make pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period safe for ALL birthing people. This work includes being humble and listening to members of communities that have been historically marginalized. It includes welcoming folks into the profession who represent the communities they serve, and then humbly asking how we can support their success. It includes acknowledging and mitigating the harms that we have perpetuated on individuals and communities. It includes learning and learning some more, until all birthing folks are safe and satisfied with their care.

We thank Dr. Cockerham for her work in midwifery, education and nursing history. Dr. Cockerham is an FNU alumni (CNEP class 27, graduated in 2001) and has been a faculty member since 2009. She has cared for patients in private midwifery and midwifery and physician practices, a military hospital, Planned Parenthood, and a Free Clinic.

Dr. Cockerham is the author of two award-winning books that celebrate the history of the Frontier Nursing Service: Rooted in the Mountains, Reaching to the World: Stories of Nursing and Midwifery at Kentucky’s Frontier School, 1939-1989, published in 2012, and Unbridled Service: Growing Up and Giving Back as a Frontier Nursing Service Courier, 1928-2010, published in 2014.

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Faculty Spotlight: FNU faculty member Victoria Burslem recognized with the Circle of Caring Award

March 2, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

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.

Vicki Burslem, MSN, CNM, APRN, CNE(cl), FACNM

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to recognize faculty member Vicki Burslem, MSN, CNM, APRN, CNE(cl), FACNM, who is one of the recipients of the 2021 Fall Term Circle of Caring Award.

Burslem’s ties to FNU go back to the late 1980’s, when she served as a member of Frontier’s initial Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP). Serving on the faculty from 1989 to 1996, Victoria helped develop curricula and taught early nurse-midwifery classes during her initial time at FNU.

“I was thankful to be a part of something that revolutionized midwifery education and have been delighted to see its growth through the years, expanding into the development of other strong programs for family nursing, women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner APRN tracks,” she said.

In fact, Burslem’s initial inspiration to pursue a career as a nurse-midwife came from Elsie Meier Wilson, a nurse-midwife with the Frontier Nursing Service. Wilson spoke at one of Burslem’s classes while she was earning her bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

“I was initially interested in pursuing a career in psychiatric nursing but when I heard her speak, it resonated with my desire to care for the physical as well as the emotional and psychological needs of those I would be caring for as a nurse,” she said. “The ability to provide physical and emotional support for patients during a major life transition appealed to me, and I saw it as a time when people are more open to healing, growth, and change.”

Burslem has worked as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) for 45 years, working in clinical practice for over 35 years, providing midwifery care in a variety of roles and settings. Early in her career, she owned a private midwifery practice with a CNM partner. Later, she was the clinical practice manager for many years at a large Obstetrics & Gynecology practice in Atlanta, Georgia, which employed 10 CNMs and provided care in both clinic and private settings.

Over the years, Burslem has enjoyed the opportunity to practice in two university teaching hospitals, a freestanding birth center, and a community hospital with an ongoing commitment to providing evidence-based care for underserved individuals whatever the setting. Teaching nurse-midwifery and midwifery students has also been threaded throughout her career. In addition to her work at FNU, she taught at the Midwifery Institute at Philadelphia University (now known as Thomas Jefferson University) part-time for four years and has served as a clinical preceptor for nurse-midwifery students from eight different midwifery programs. Coming full circle, Burslem was delighted when the opportunity opened up for a return to FNU in 2015 where she now serves as a Clinical Bound faculty member.

“I am passionate about working at FNU, helping to instruct the next generation of nurse-midwives so they are well-prepared to provide evidence-based care upon graduation with the knowledge, clinical competency, and wisdom to care for patients holistically, enabled as vigilant guardians of the physiologic while confident in their ability to identify and manage emergent situations when they arise,” she said.

Burslem has been recognized through several awards and distinctions over the years. She became an American College of Nurse-Midwives Fellow and inducted as a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in 2014; received the Dorothea M. Lang Pioneer Award from the the American College of Nurse-Midwives Foundation in 2013; won Frontier’s CNEP Pioneer Award in 1992 and won the Tennessee Nurse in Action Award from the Tennessee Nurses Association in 1982. Burslem is active in her professional community, currently serving as chair of ACNM’s Continuing Education Committee and president of ACNM’s Kentucky Affiliate.

As a recipient of the Circle of Caring Award, Burslem said she believes FNU’s Culture of Caring is more than just a slogan, and values the university’s goal of fostering a positive, anti-racist environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“It is a philosophy that is threaded throughout the inner workings of the university community and its approach to decision-making,” she said. “I see evidence of the school’s commitment to this culture in written and verbal communication, and to the honor and value I see expressed in interactions with members in every part of the organization. This commitment makes me proud every day to play a small role in achieving Frontier’s goal of educating outstanding nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who share the vision in particular of caring for rural and underserved populations.”

Burslem lives outside of Lexington, Ky., with her husband, Rick, who she has been married to for 40 years. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Thank you, Vicki, for the years of dedication you’ve put into the nurse-midwifery profession and for setting an exceptional example for the FNU community!

If you know an FNU staff or faculty member that goes above and beyond, nominate them now for the Circle of Caring Award!

FNU’s Innovative Faculty Adjust to Students’ Needs during the Crisis

February 28, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

Dean of Nursing
Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN

This article was written by Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Dean of Nursing, Dr. Joan Slager, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN and was originally published by ACEN.

Just as Frontier Nursing University (FNU) teaches its students to understand and address the needs of the communities they serve across the country, the FNU faculty and staff are keenly aware of the needs of our student community. Those needs are ever-changing, never more so than during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am incredibly proud of how our faculty and staff acted with tremendous efficiency, professionalism, and care to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.

As the first wave of COVID-19 grew and spread, FNU began receiving notices from many of our clinical partners that they were either limiting or eliminating clinical rotations for students. By April 24, 2020, 140 clinical organizations had suspended all student rotations and 13 clinical organizations had implemented restrictions but had not suspended all student rotations. Thus, 289 students had rotations impacted by COVID-19 restrictions or cancellations between March and July. Some of our students were about to travel to campus for a skills-intensive session to prepare for clinical rotations.

Some students were abruptly without clinical sites in the middle of their clinical experience, and some could see the finish line, but no longer had the opportunity to complete their final clinical hours. In the DNP program, carefully planned quality improvement projects imploded as patient visits decreased or priorities shifted in the sites.

Faced with these urgent issues, the FNU team rapidly went into problem-solving mode. As President Stone reminded us, with our expanding use of technology to develop and refine a quality education program for students all over the country, while maintaining a sense of community, we have prepared for this for years.

Within a few short weeks, the following programming and policies had been developed:

Regional clinical faculty and didactic faculty developed simulated and web-based activities that could be counted as clinical hours, thus allowing progress in clinical courses. Students who had met a minimum of 500 face-to-face clinical hours used these experiences to complete their clinical hours and graduate.
Policies allowing telehealth visits in the family nurse practitioner, women’s health nurse practitioner, and midwifery programs were approved.
The number of telehealth hours permissible in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program was increased.
Virtual clinical preparation courses were developed for all programs. Students joined faculty via telecommunication sessions and practiced skills in preparation for clinical.
The DNP faculty developed four virtual quality improvement projects, allowing students to continue progress toward their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

The efficient and well-planned development and implementation of these measures were vital to our students, many of whom would have had to go on hiatus or even withdraw from the university if these options were not available to them.

As the year continued to be challenged by the pandemic, the adjustments that were developed to enable students to continue to progress in their clinical education provided some valuable insight and lessons for the faculty and students. The faculty discovered that some of the skills taught during on-campus clinical sessions could be improved using the technology employed during the virtual clinical bounds. For example, demonstrating suturing techniques on a large display screen was more beneficial than when a single instructor circulated around a room of students practicing this skill. The simulated clinical scenarios that were taught in a virtual environment demonstrated the value of incorporating simulations into the clinical courses to enhance students’ exposure to infrequent clinical presentations or to facilitate evaluation or remediation.

In all tracks, the initial clinical courses were converted to a virtual format taught by a combination of didactic and clinical faculty. Students practiced foundational clinical skills such as taking a patient’s history, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning guided by expert faculty. The feedback from students and their preceptors revealed that students demonstrated more confidence and were better prepared for clinical experiences after completion of the virtual courses. As clinical sites began reopening to students, the tangible evidence that some clinical preparation beyond the one-week intensive clinical-bound week was beneficial led to the development of a hybrid approach to the clinical courses. Currently, all students receive an initial 30‒60 hours of virtual clinical instruction led by faculty in a simulated environment, and the remainder of the hours are fulfilled in the clinical sites.

Prior to the pandemic, the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students spent about 10% of their clinical time providing care via telehealth. Although discussions about including telehealth in the other program tracks had occurred, no provisions for this had been developed. Many clinical practices rapidly converted to providing some visits via telehealth, which accelerated the development of policies and procedures that allowed students in all tracks to participate in telehealth visits with their preceptors. In the PMHNP program, the utilization of telehealth increased to 70%.

While telehealth as a care delivery modality preceded the pandemic, its utilization has expanded exponentially, especially in rural communities. Recognizing the need to prepare our graduates to deliver care via telehealth, software was purchased that will facilitate the incorporation of simulations into our programs across the curriculum as well as enable us to teach students how to provide healthcare via telehealth.

While many universities struggled with the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, FNU seized the opportunity to adapt, learn, and improve our programs. These examples of flexibility, creativity, and resilience are part of our heritage.

In-person Frontier Bound orientation sessions and Clinical Bound sessions are returning at FNU, and the innovative teaching methods that were seen throughout the pandemic will continue to be used in our distance education programs. The pandemic has taught our faculty and staff ways to enhance the in-person experience at Clinical Bound and to improve the didactic portion of our programs.

Are you interested in learning more about what programs FNU has to offer? Fill out this form to start the conversation today!

Celebrating FNU Faculty and Alumni Accomplishments

January 20, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) faculty and alumni leave a lasting impact on the healthcare community. This blog highlights just a few of the many accomplishments and acknowledgements they have received in the last several months of 2021.

Faculty Who Published Articles and Chapters:
-Megan Arbour, Ph.D., CNM, CNE, FACNM
-Anne Cockerham, PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE
-Meghan Garland, MSN, CNM
-Nena Harris, Phd, FNPBC, CNM, CNE
-Nicole Lassiter, DNP, CNM, CNE
-Linda McDaniel, DNP, MSN
-Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM
-Sybilla Myers, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
-Carla Bray, DNP, FNP-C
-Janelle Komorowski, DNP, CNM, CNE
-Kelsey Kent, PhD, PMHNP

For more details on the published work by our faculty members, please read our Quarterly Bulletins.

Faculty Accomplishments

Rachel Mack, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE, Appointed to ACEN Evaluation Review Panel and ACEN Appeal Committee
FNU Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Rachel Mack, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE, has been appointed by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Board of Commissioners to be a member of the ACEN Evaluation Review Panel and the ACEN Appeal Committee.

The ACEN process for the evaluation of nursing programs is a comprehensive four-step process with the program self-review and Self-Study Report as the first step. The second step is the site visit conducted by peer evaluators resulting in the Site Visit Report. In the third step, an Evaluation Review Panel examines the reports written by and about the program. The final step is a review of the process and the accreditation status decision determined by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.

Eileen Thrower, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, CNE, FACNM, Inducted into Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Hall of Honor
FNU Interim Department Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health Eileen Thrower, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, CNE, FACNM, was recently inducted into the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Hall of Honor.

Her induction was based on her accomplishments in nursing research. Induction into the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Hall of Honor recognizes both alumni and friends (non-alumni) of the College for their accomplishments in one of the following areas: clinical nursing practice, community health service, excellence in mentoring, health care administration, leadership in health policy/ethics/law, nursing education, entrepreneurial leadership, excellence in student leadership development, excellence in volunteer leadership, leadership in clinical development and nursing research.

Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Receives Multiple Honors
Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP has received the 2022 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Advocate State Award for Excellence.

The Advocate State Award for Excellence is given to an individual in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of nurse practitioners. The award is given annually to a dedicated advocate in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of nurse practitioners.

In addition to her work with Frontier, Dr. Stone-Gale is the Vice President of the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network. She will be honored for her achievement during the 2022 AANP National Conference in Orlando, June 21-26, 2022.

Dr. Stone-Gale has also been selected as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Nursing. Distinguished Fellows are U.S. citizens who have an exemplary career of ten years or more and who have made significant contributions to interprofessional healthcare. The induction ceremony will be held in San Diego on March 3rd, 2022.

Dean of Nursing Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, Published in ACEN’s Bridges
An article written by FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, was published in Bridges, the quarterly newsletter of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Dr. Slager’s article, “Innovative Faculty Adjust to Students’ Needs During the Crisis” examined the quick actions taken by FNU faculty during the pandemic.

Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, Participates in Best Hospitals for Maternity Assessment
U.S. News & World Report recently introduced its assessment of the “Best Hospitals for Maternity.” The stated goal of the assessment was “to inform patients and families who are expecting a baby and help them, in consultation with a healthcare professional, make choices about where to receive care for an uncomplicated pregnancy.” Nine experts in maternal and perinatal quality measurement, including Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, were asked for their input on the proposed methodology.

FNU Faculty, Alumni and Students Participated in the 2021 AABC Birth Institute: “Birth Centers – Challenges, Resilience, and Growth”

Kelsey Kent, Ph.D., PMHNP, Selected as a Board of Trust member for the Tennessee Nurses Foundation

Mickey Gillmor, MN, CNM, Received the FNU Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty and the Outstanding Peer Reviewer Award from the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health

Angela Mitchell, DNP, FNP-BC, Presented with Dr. Sharon Hunsucker at 2021 NLN Education Summit: Use of Online Simulation to Guide Transition to Clinical

Alumni Highlights

Barbara Bennett-Wolcott, DNP, CNM, Presents at ACNM Webinar
Barbara Bennett-Wolcott, DNP, CNM, Class 25, presented “Implementing Universal Intimate Partner Violence Screening Utilizing a Patient-Centered, Shared Decision-Making Approach” during a live webinar held by the American College of Nurse-Midwives in October. She currently is faculty at Washington State University’s College of Nursing.

Minyon Outlaw, DNP, CNM, Presents at DNP Conference
Minyon Outlaw, DNP, CNM, Class 33, was accepted for a podium presentation at the annual National Doctors of Nursing Practice Conference in Chicago earlier this year. Her presentation was entitled, “Safely Reducing Primary Cesarean Section Utilizing the PROVIDE Toolbox in a Faith-Based Hospital.”

Kate Scott, DNP, CNM, Presents at Nebraska Nurses Association Annual Convention
Kate Scott, DNP, CNM, Class 33, was accepted for a poster presentation at the Nebraska Nurses Association annual conference. She presented her DNP project, “Implementing Effective Perinatal Depression Screening and Treatment in an Academic Outpatient Setting.”

We are so proud of all of the accomplishments met by the FNU community! Congratulations to all, and continue working hard to make a change. Please contact FNUnews@frontier.edu with any accomplishments you have to share!

FNU virtual event to focus on antiracism, quality improvement and substance use disorders

September 27, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

National Midwifery Week is the first week of October, and Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is celebrating by hosting its annual virtual event dedicated to nurse-midwifery on October 4-7. FNU’s Empower 2021: Creating a Culture of Caring event will mark the seventh year of a program filled with impactful sessions, motivating speakers and a complimentary continuing education opportunity.

National Midwifery Week was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care. ACNM and its 6,500+ midwife members, physicians and women’s health organizations observe National Midwifery Week each year.

FNU’s virtual event offers five free sessions presented by FNU faculty and alumni on the latest practices and topics influencing nurse-midwifery care and includes a continuing education opportunity:

Creating a Culture of Innovative Quality Improvement

Monday, Oct. 4 at 6 – 7 p.m. EDT
Moderated by FNU Associate Professor Dr. Tia Andrighetti and co-presented by FNU faculty members Dr. Tanya Belcheff, Donna Barisich, Dr. Lisa Huckaby, Dr. Maria Mock, Dr. Eileen Thrower and Vicki Burslem.

Births can be unpredictable and midwives need to be prepared for rare events that can have harmful effects on clients. In order to keep these skills honed, nurse-midwives need to practice reacting at the moment to complications. This session will include a birth complications simulation and participants will spend time working with peers to tailor the simulation to their birth settings.

Free Continuing Education (CE) Session – Creating a Culture of Respectful Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorders

Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 – 8 p.m. EDT
Presented by FNU alumnus Dr. Daisy Goodman.

This interactive session will explore key elements, implementation guidance, and metrics associated with the 2021 revision of the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM) Care of Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorders Patient Safety Bundle.

Creating a Culture of Impact: Stories of Community Quality Improvement – Alumni & Faculty Panel

Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 6 – 7 p.m. EDT

Moderated by FNU Assistant Professor and ACNM President Dr. Cathy Collins-Fulea. The panel will include FNU faculty members and alumni: Dr. Melva Craft-Blacksheare, Dr. Minyon Outlaw, Dr. Dee Polito, Dr. Ana Verzone, Dr. Shaughanassee Vines and Dr. Kate Woeber.

Dr. Collins-Fulea will moderate this panel presentation in collaboration with FNU’s IHI Open School Chapter. Participants will hear stories of FNU’s mission in action through visual storytelling as nurse-midwifery alumni and faculty share their community projects and initiatives for serving diverse, rural and underserved populations.

Creating a Culture of Antiracism

Thursday, Oct. 7 at 5 – 6 p.m. EDT

Presented by FNU Assistant Professor Dr. Charlotte Morris.

During this educational session, Dr. Morris will inspire participants to take action and implement change in their practice or work environment to build a culture that is inclusive and caring for all.

Nurse-Midwifery Program Q&A – Creating a Culture of Community

Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6 – 7 p.m. EDT

Presented by FNU faculty members Dr. Jeneen Lomax and Dr. Eileen Thrower.

This session is for those considering becoming a nurse-midwife. Participants will learn about FNU’s nurse-midwifery education program and hear from current midwifery students about their experience. Presenters will also discuss the joys and challenges of life as a midwife.

The theme of this year’s virtual event, Empower 2021: Creating a Culture of Caring, acknowledges Frontier Nursing University’s culture of caring which is built on five main elements: professionalism, inclusivity, respect, positive communication and mutual support. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and others in the FNU community embrace this culture to fulfill their full potential, both individually and collectively, exemplifying the caring behaviors they hope to bring to the broader healthcare system.

Frontier Nursing University has more than 80 years of experience in delivering graduate nursing and midwifery programs.

Those interested in participating in Empower 2021: Creating a Culture of Caring, sponsored by Southern Cross Insurance Solutions, are asked to register at Frontier.edu/MidwiferyWeek.

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone’s Annual Address to the FNU Community

August 2, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

As everyone knows, 2020 was an incredibly eventful and often stressful year. With the pandemic, social justice and reform, and a volatile political climate, it was a year unlike any in recent memory.

It was an extremely eventful year at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) as well. FNU was impacted by each of these events as the university continued to strive to achieve its mission and accomplish the year’s strategic plan goals. Many Frontier students faced challenges that threatened to interrupt their academic progress. FNU alumni continued to serve their communities, many of them serving on the front lines during the pandemic. Frontier faculty found new and innovative ways to help students stay on track, and Frontier staff continued to provide support to both students and alumni while preparing for the move to the Versailles, Ky., campus.

In the video below, FNU President Dr. Susan Stone reviews the events of 2020 and provides an update on how the university performed during this challenging year. This 33-minute address also provides detailed data and updates on FNU’s strategic plan goals. We hope you will take the time to view this important message.

Thank you for joining us on this journey and for your impactful presence in the FNU community.

FNU Announces The Winter Term Circle of Caring Award Winners

May 28, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to announce our faculty and staff winners of the Winter term 2021 Circle of Caring Award! This year’s faculty winner is Jan Engstrom, and for the first time, there are two staff winners this quarter, Susan Morgan & Katie Moses, who are both admissions officers.

Winter 2020 Circle of caring winners

The Circle of Caring Award is given to recognize FNU faculty and staff members who go above and beyond in upholding our mission and contributing to our Culture of Caring.

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

Dr. Engstrom was nominated by three different sources this quarter. Here is what they had to say about why she deserved to be the winter Circle of Caring faculty winner:

Nomination #1 – “This past term, Dr. Engstrom went above and beyond to assist the PC702 faculty/team when a colleague was out sick. She picked up several extra BBBs while continuing her diligent student assistance on our Discussion Q&A board. Dr. Engstrom is an unbelievable tutor and her flexibility to meet with students is unmatched. She is available on nights and weekends, hosting group and one-on-one sessions. Dr.Engstrom took on an extraordinary amount of work–and it should and needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. We are so lucky to have her as a colleague, friend, and example of excellence to our students. Additionally, Dr. Engstrom recently sent each of the faculty on our team a unique book that was chosen based on individual interests. It meant a lot to me and the others to feel seen and heard by a fellow team member.”

Nomination #2 – “In the middle of the Winter 2021 term, one of our team members became ill and missed over three weeks of work. Dr. Engstrom offered to take over the two modules assigned to that faculty member. Jan taught the BBBs, reviewed the modules, and made sure the assignments were correct before they opened. The most amazing thing about this is that Dr. Engstrom is half-time in the course and tutors for 10 hours a week. On top of everything else she does, she took on a full-time faculty’s work for two modules. Taking on this work was a truly excellent show of professionalism and caring for the team and students. She went above and beyond. She truly exemplified the Culture of Caring at FNU.”

Nomination #3 – Dr. Engstrom goes above and beyond for students. Students consistently praise Dr. Engstrom for her passion for her work, taking the time to meet with them, her communication style, and explaining course material effectively. She receives positive praise term after term.

Upon hearing of her award, Dr. Engstrom responded, “I am deeply honored by this award. We are living at a time when we are facing the greatest health crisis in a century and undergoing sweeping social change. It is more important than ever to practice the principles in the Culture of Caring: respect, inclusivity, positive communication, mutual support, and professionalism. The words in Frontier Nursing University’s Culture of Caring are words to live by and can help us move peacefully and productivity through this challenging time.”

Although Frontier historically only chooses one individual in each category per quarter, both Susan Morgan & Katie Moses stepped up to the plate and exemplified what a Culture of Caring means.

Here is what their nominator had to say about their example:

“Yesterday, I went to campus to receive my second covid shot. As I waited in line, I witnessed the most amazing kindness and service from my two coworkers, Susan Morgan & Katie Moses. After receiving their first shots, they buzzed around the long, long line of eager people waiting their turn outside. They chatted with many of these people but also brought wheelchairs and folding chairs for some of the older adults waiting outside. In one particular instance, they brought an elderly woman, “Miss Millie,” a wheelchair, wheeled her in to receive her shot and waited with her afterward. Miss Millie was quite frail and could not have navigated the long line and vaccine process without the additional help. Additionally, Miss Millie’s ride could not be located, so Morgan and Moses used their cell phones to call and try to locate her driver. On my way out, I watched them help Miss Millie into Susan’s car to drive the woman home. I do not believe Morgan and Moses were the “official FNU volunteers” on duty that day, yet, they were so kind and generous in helping others. They were wearing their blue polos and name badges and provided the perfect picture of an FNU employee. These two brought 110% FNU spirit to the vaccine clinic, and I loved witnessing such a beautiful act of kindness! I know Miss Millie was thankful to have them there supporting her, too.”

Here is what Morgan and Moses said after hearing of their award:

Morgan- “During the event in question, we did not think anyone saw us. We only saw an individual in need. I try to live by the words Kindness is free and most always accepted. We saw an individual in need, and no one was there to help her. It was my honor to meet her and to spend that time with her. She was a very wise lady with a kind heart. I did not look for any recognition and only want to be kind to others to make my little corner of the world a better place.”

Moses- “Firstly, I am always pleasantly surprised to be considered for this award whenever I am nominated, so to be chosen is an honor. Secondly, I’d like to think that I am a person who tries to do what is right for someone in need, especially when it seems more of a necessity or obligation than just on a whim. I’m glad to be a part of a team that encourages kindness and recognizes those who show it to each other in this day and age when it is needed most.”

Thank you to Jan, Susan and Katie for being an excellent example of FNU’s Culture of Caring! We love seeing all of the positive work people in the FNU community are doing every day! Click here to submit a nomination for the summer term Circle of Caring awards.