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Student Kudos: December 2018

December 17, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) seeks to empower its students to make a difference in their communities and in their field.

This month, we are highlighting several individuals and groups of students who have been recently recognized for their accomplishments and pursuits to advance their education and enhance the care they provide.

Nurse-midwifery student receives 2018 Black Nurses Rock scholarship

JaDaun Rawls, RN
Photo Credit: BlackNursesRock.com

JaDaun Rawls, RN, Class 172 nurse-midwifery student was given a scholarship at the 3rd Annual Black Nurses Rock Convention “Shades of Blue” National Awards and Scholarship Banquet in San Antonio, Texas on Oct. 27.

Black Nurses Rock (BNR) presents scholarships to active Black Nurses Rock members on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement. BNR has awarded over $70,000 in scholarship/grant funds. JaDaun was one of three 2018 scholarship recipients.

Congratulations, JaDaun!

IHI National Forum

Kalena Lanuza, DNP, FNP-C with her poster presentation

FNU Students presenting project posters at IHI Forum.
Photo credit: FNU faculty member, Niessa Meier

FNU DNP students represented Frontier during the 2018 Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) National Forum from Dec. 9-12 in Orlando, Fla. We are proud of each students’ hard work on their poster presentations. Well done!

12 FNU representatives participate in New York Case Presentation Day

From left to right: Marsha Jackson, owner of the Birth Care, CNEP student Michelle Shaffer, Cassandra Woods, Jaime Chabuz, FNU RCF Dwynn Golden, and DeJane Dozier

On Nov. 11, three FNU students presented in the New York Case Presentation Day in Washington, D.C. Kindly hosted by Birth Care & Women’s Health birth center in Alexandria, Va. 12 total FNU representatives attended, including two preceptors, a third-term student, a first-term student, FNU RCF Dwynn Golden, FNU Course Coordinator Amy Nassar with her daughter and the three presenters.

Congratulations to the following students for successful presentation of their cases:

Cassandra Woods, DNP Class 33
Jaime Chabuz, CNEP Class 158
DeJane Dozier, CNEP Class 160

A big thank you to our host, Birth Care! It has proved an amazing clinical site for FNU students. Birth Care just celebrated 31 years in practice with services including home births and births at the center, and has consistently allowed FNU students to observe out-of-hospital and home births, which is invaluable to their education. Thank you, Birth Care!

DNP graduate celebrates commencement ceremony at work

Barbara “Bobbi” Bennett-Wolcott, DNP, CNM
Photo Credit- Palouse Medical P.S.

Newly-minted FNU graduate Barbara “Bobbi” Bennett-Wolcott, DNP, CNM, celebrated her graduation in an unconventional way. Unfortunately, Bobbi could not attend the FNU commencement ceremony in October. To give her the celebration she deserved, her colleagues at Palouse Medical P.S. brought the ceremony to her!

Bobbi brought her graduation regalia to the office, and the Palouse Medical staff surprised her with a commencement “ceremony,” complete with a graduation walk, signs, and sparkling beverages.

“Palouse Medical is proud when any staff members seek opportunities to further their education and expand their skill-sets, but we are particularly excited knowing that all the hard work that Bobbi has put forth to achieve this degree will immediately become a benefit to the care she provides within our clinic and medical community,” Palouse Medical said in its Facebook post marking the occasion.

Congrats, Bobbi – we are so proud of you! And, of course, thanks to Palouse and all of Bobbi’s cheerleaders, supporting her during her doctoral program!

Congratulations to each of these students for representing FNU in their hard work.

Alumni Spotlight: Christa Salling, FNP, CLC

December 13, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumna Christa Salling, FNP, CLC credits her education for allowing her to enter a fulfilling career.

As a Registered Nurse, Christa worked in a local hospital on various units and she soon found it wasn’t satisfying her professionally. She decided to expand her education and graduated with her Family Nurse Practitioner certification (Class 110) in 2015. With her advanced practice degree, Christa moved into a family practice residency clinic with St. Anthony’s North. However, she longed to return to her original passion in Women’s Health. She took a position in Perinatal Home Care, but unfortunately, the company restructured and could not offer the hours Christa needed. She was grateful to accept a position in an OB/GYN office with a company she had spent much of her nursing career with.

In her role, Christa serves urban, rural and underserved women as she cares for their obstetrical or gynecological needs including all forms of birth control. She can spend an extended amount of time getting to know her patients and their families, teaching healthy habits, and tailoring care to their needs. She has also expanded her care into the inpatient setting, rounding, teaching and discharging newly postpartum mothers.

Also, as a Certified Lactation Counselor, Christa is able to help with breastfeeding challenges.

Christa finds her new work satisfying because she gets to serve the women in her community. Regardless of whether a woman has private insurance, Medicaid, or self pay, Christa feels she is able to make positive changes in her patients’ lives.

“This work has fulfilled my dream when I decided to be a NP,” she said. “I get to care for women and see them through some of their best times and some of their worst times!”

She chose to study at FNU because of its history and reputation. Through helping these women, Christa feels that she is continuing the work and vision of Mary Breckinridge.

“Frontier’s vision has become my dream, and now it feels fulfilled,” said Christa.

Thank you for your dedication to underserved mothers and babies, Christa! We are proud to have you as part of the FNU community.

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

Featured Preceptor: Sonja Furse, DNP, PMHNP

December 10, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University preceptor Sonja Furse, DNP, PMHNP is the first psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner to be honored as a “Featured Preceptor” for the Fall 2018 term. Sonja was nominated by recent PMHNP program graduate, Jo-Ann Marrs.

Sonja serves as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the emergency department at the Mountain Home Veterans Administration Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn. As a 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Sonja gives back to veterans in her role. Her duties include emergency treatment, inpatient psychiatry, primary care, and intensive outpatient treatment.

Jo-Ann Mars, RN, MS, MSN, EdD, FNP-BC, CNE, PMHS was assigned as Sonja’s student while earning her PMNHP (Class 155), which she completed in November 2018.

“Everything she was and did spoke of competence, caring, professionalism and a love of her chosen profession and her patients,” said Jo-Ann.

Sonja prides herself in precision with regard to charting and documentation. As a preceptor, she was extremely patient and open to questions and discussion. With Jo-Ann’s perspective as a family nurse practitioner, the two worked together to understand medical conditions and medications that Sonja’s patients had or needed. They explored patient cases together and came up with diagnoses using the DSM 5 and jointly determined medication and admission status.

“I loved reading about new treatments with Sonja as we both learned together,” said Jo-Ann. “I really felt like we had a wonderful working relationship.”

Sonja also helped Jo-Ann push to expand her capabilities as a PMNHP, instilling a desire to learn more about complex patients in order to provide better evidence-based care.

“Sonja was both my critic and support system at the same time,” said Jo-Ann. “She pushed me when I needed pushing, but was always there to guide and encourage me if I needed help.”

“She was the epitome of what you would want from a preceptor. I was very blessed to work with Sonja,” said Jo-Ann.

Sonja will receive a Starbucks gift card as a small token of our appreciation for her being a great preceptor. Thank you, Sonja, for your investment in our FNU students!

Go here to read more on previously recognized preceptors, or to nominate a preceptor. Interested in becoming a Frontier preceptor? Learn more.

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.

Benefits of Distance Learning

December 6, 2018 By frontieredu

Want To Earn an Advanced Nursing Degree? Try Distance Learning!

It seems like these days everyone is doing just about everything online, and that is particularly true when it comes to online courses and distance learning. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, there were over 6.3 million students who enrolled in at least one online course as of fall 2016, a growth of more than 5 percent from 2015.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has embraced distance education and provided a fully web-based experience, with 100 percent of its students enrolled online. But before the internet was even in use for education, FNU piloted a community-based distance education nurse-midwifery program in 1989. The program was built to fulfill FNU’s mission to educate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to serve all individuals, with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations.

With an array of online offerings three decades later, students seeking higher education in nursing and midwifery are meeting those goals at FNU. From 2013 to 2017, enrollment jumped from 1,934 to 2,263 students – an increase of 17 percent. Why are so many people turning to online programs?

The Benefits of Online Learning

Online and distance learning courses offer convenience and access that wasn’t possible with traditional programs in decades past. If you weren’t on or near campus, you were unable to take classes – until the internet became widely available. Now, students can enjoy the many benefits of online programs:

Access your coursework, assignments, and more from anywhere with internet availability
Work at your own pace to complete course work in a specified timeframe
Continue to work or focus on other obligations while earning your degree
No need to find on-campus housing or worry about transportation to classes
Choose from many affordable options

Programs That Help You, Help Others

Nursing programs are particularly popular because there is such a high demand for qualified nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 203,800 nurse practitioner jobs in the U.S. as of 2016.

With that in mind, FNU’s community-based, distance education programs allow nurses to achieve their higher education goals by earning a master’s or doctoral degree. For those seeking a master’s degree or post-graduate certificate, FNU offers four specialties including nurse-midwifery, family nursing, women’s health care and psychiatric-mental health. Using clinics, hospitals, and preceptors in their own community allows FNU students to get the hands-on clinical experience required for their respective health care professions.

Completing graduate nursing education from a distance is possible, and it may open up a wide range of job opportunities – or help you work toward an even higher nursing degree.

The Time To Start Is Now

The great thing about online nursing courses is that it’s never too late to start! FNU offers four admitting classes throughout the year. Choose from any of FNU’s online programs and start earning your degree today. Check out our degree and specialty offerings and fill out an application today.

FNU Employees “Walk the Walk” to Support Charities Throughout the Year

December 3, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) employees are talking the talk and walking the walk for health – literally. In addition to educating the next nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives, FNU’s faculty and staff show their dedication to personal wellness and charitable service. Through the Walk the Walk initiative at FNU, employees are moving their bodies to support various causes.

So far this year, 23 employees have walked or run over 130 miles for those causes through Walk the Walk. The races or events supported a wide spectrum of charities, from humane societies, to ALS, to Forever Nursing and many more! A few examples:

Genny Little, Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations, ran the Derby Half Marathon in February to support Every Mother Counts.

“I had a very stressful pregnancy and my son was admitted into the NICU. If it hadn’t been for our Midwife and the Neonatal team, it could have turned out differently. Every mother deserves the same care that I was offered,” Little said in the participation form.

Michael Steinmetz, Executive Vice President for Finance and Facilities, walked in the Woodford Wag 2k Dog Walk for the Woodford County Humane Society in June. Stephanie Boyd, Social Media and Communications Manager ran the Pistol Ultra 50km race in April for her I Run 4 Michael running buddy with Rhett Syndrome, Jessica.

“Jessica is now in her 20’s but cannot talk, walk, or complete daily activities of living on her own. I run for Jessica because she cannot and I dedicate all of my running miles to her,” said Boyd.

After each event, FNU employees fill out a participation form found on the Walk the Walk page. Each form logs the charity supported, number of miles walked or run, personal reason for participating and has a place to submit photos.

FNU is giving away $100 gift card towards a new fitness device for filling out a participation form. Walk the Walk participants can also utilize Go365, a wellness and rewards program through Humana, to earn additional incentives.

The photos from this year’s events can be seen here.

If you’re an FNU employee and would like to participate in FNU Walk the Walk:

Fill out a participation form and order your #FNUWalktheWalk t-shirt
Connect your fitness device to Go365
Use the #FNUWalktheWalk hashtag to share photos on social media

Thank you, faculty and staff, for all that you do to walk the walk! Let’s keep up the good work and bountiful miles!

: Jim Kelsey participates in A Midsummer Night’s Run 5k in Lexington, Ky.

: Stephanie Boyd runs for Every Mother Counts at the TCS NYC Marathon

: Jodi Dickey participated in the 1-mile Walk to Defeat ALS in Fort Wayne, Ind.

: Brittney Kinison and Genny Little race in the NSNA Forever Nursing 5k in Nashville, Tenn.

: Michael Steinmetz walks in the Woodford Wag 2K Dog Walk in Versailles, Ky.

FNU Virtual Event Calls NPs to be Innovator-Leaders in the Field and at Home

November 29, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) placed a specific call on nurse practitioners during its National NP Week Virtual Event from Nov. 11-16. FNU educates nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives and prepares them to establish and/or manage a practice including innovative methods of providing primary care services. Through featured virtual sessions, nurse practitioners were urged to raise the standards by being innovator-leaders in their professional and personal lives.

Becoming Innovator-Leaders

Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral (RADM) Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN brought practical ways to add innovation and leadership to nursing practice with her virtual presentation, “Leading From Where You Are: The Role of the Nurse Innovator.”

Trent-Adams advises and supports the Surgeon General regarding operations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and in communicating the best available scientific information to advance the health of the nation.

As Deputy Surgeon General, Trent-Adams recognizes the need for nurse practitioners to step into a widening role. “This is important because at this point in time in health care, nurse practitioners have a significant role to play in improving the quality of care, access to care, and producing a much higher quality at a lower cost,” said Trent-Adams.

According to her, it starts with a willingness to lead. Leadership is the ability to inspire or influence others towards a goal. In a healthcare setting, this is manifested by creating a team-centric environment, working towards a specific vision and managing conflict.

Further, nurse practitioners must be innovators. The job is not only to provide excellent care, but also to create new pathways for nursing and the patients that they serve. Innovating practice-based solutions is a key in nursing practice. Identifying a problem or concern and addressing it in a mindful, structured way will empower patients and lead to improved outcomes.

The Nurse Practitioner as Entrepreneur

This requires adopting the spirit of an entrepreneur. “Being able to tell our stories as nurse-engineers, nurse-designers, nurse-advocates gives us a new bandwidth for opportunities to engage into areas of practice where we’ve not been before,” said Trent-Adams. To speak, write and post from a nurse’s perspective is to heighten awareness and create space for change.

“You may not be the CEO, you may not be the dean, you may not be the director, but you are a nurse, and you have something to bring to the table. So lead from where you are,” she said.

View RADM Trent-Adams’s presentation on nurse-innovators here or watch below.

Self-Care is Not Selfish

Eileen T. O’Grady RN, NP, PhD carries Trent-Adams’ concept one step further in her presentation, “Answer the Call to Service: Master the Self.” She urged participants to spend time taking care of themselves and their families.

Dr. Eileen O’Grady is a certified Nurse Practitioner and Wellness Coach who uses an evidence-based approach with people to reverse or entirely prevent disease. She believes deeply that more attention must be paid to getting us unstuck from lifestyles that do not support wellness.

Intentional change is needed to identify and remedy a life that is out of balance. Though health care providers cannot always control the efficiency of their practice or the culture of wellness therein, each can control his or her personal resilience, or “self-leadership.”

Dr. O’Grady’s research focuses on how individuals must define a balance between work, relationships and self. Health professionals, specifically, have difficulty separating the words “selfish” and “self-care.” Individuals that practice self-care are able to provide better care for others.

Growing Wise through Self-Leadership

Worldwide, the top four killers are insufficient exercise, unhealthy food, alcohol abuse and tobacco. “It’s astonishing that so much of what is causing all of these health problems are related to what we’re doing to our own bodies,” she said.

According to Dr. O’Grady, It’s imperative that health providers set workplace and personal boundaries, use a “hell yes” criteria for making decisions, prune away unhealthy friendships and protect their sleep.

Nurse practitioners must “grow wise” instead of old. Positive daily actions create a bedrock for a healthy, prosperous life. Once the bedrock is established, other non-urgent items can be prioritized properly. Growing wise requires a mindset shift, from loving oneself based on people’s approval from loving oneself based on one’s own approval.

When healthcare professionals are already fed and watered with proper self-care and self-leadership, they are more able to focus on their patient’s holistic wellness, providing innovative care, improving outcomes and shifting the landscape of health care one patient at a time.

View Dr. O’Grady’s presentation on mastering the self here or watch below.

Frontier Nursing University is the birthplace of nurse-midwifery and family nursing in America. FNU recently held its fourth annual virtual event in recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 11-16. See more about FNU’s Family, Women’s Health Care, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs as well as the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Frontier.edu.

Courier Coffee Vlogs Showcase Value of FNU Courier Experience

November 26, 2018 By frontieredu

Each summer, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) welcomes qualified, motivated students to Hyden, Ky. to participate in the eight-week Courier Program, originally established by Mary Breckinridge in 1928. Though the program has continued over nine decades, its goal remains the same: To recruit young people for a service-learning experience among the communities of Eastern Kentucky.

Since its beginning, over 1,600 Couriers have served this noble cause. Two years ago, FNU introduced the Courier Coffee vlog series, videos showcasing present and former Frontier Couriers and how their experiences have impacted their lives today.

In the most recent episodes, two Couriers that served in summer of 2016 share how their time in service has given them a better understanding of the needs and culture of underserved populations.

In Episode 18, Jonathan Allotey, BA explains that his relationships with people in Hyden and surrounding areas as a Courier shaped his future as a healthcare provider.

A Ghana native, Jonathan is now earning his MS in Physiology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Upon acceptance to the Courier program in 2016, he was nervous about being accepted by the Appalachian community as a black immigrant, but left with a “cultural humility” that helps him see every person in the same light.

“Frontier Nursing University and the people of Eastern Kentucky warmly welcomed me,” said Jonathan. He emphasized that living and working alongside practitioners in an underserved area helped him break down the walls between him and people that come from different backgrounds.

Jonathan was also inspired by watching health care providers in those rural areas shift the thinking of a whole population through community-based care, like support groups and health clinics.

“Every student who considers going into healthcare should strongly consider applying and participating in the Courier program,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time here as a Courier.”

In Episode 17, May Congdon discusses why the Courier program experience is one she recommends for others.

May, who graduated with a BA in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, works at a reproductive health clinic. Her service as a Courier in 2016 showed her the joy of treating her current patients authentically and holistically. May split her time between a faith-based health clinic and a hospice, where she said she experienced diversity amongst patients’ backgrounds and religious beliefs.

“The Courier Program has inspired me to be a dedicated public servant and to approach each patient interaction free of judgment or stereotype,” she said.

May has stayed connected with Frontier by joining the Courier Advisory Committee, helping lead the future of the Courier Program.

“It was a joy to be here,” she said. “Seeing this program continue and become stronger is very rewarding for me.”

In 1928, Mary Breckinridge, founder of Frontier Nursing University established the Courier Program, recruiting young people to come work in the Kentucky Mountains and learn about service to humanity. Couriers escorted guests safely through remote terrain, delivered medical supplies to remote outpost clinics, and helped nurse-midwives during home visits and births. Frontier has benefited tremendously from the 1,600 Couriers who have served since 1928.

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.

Student Kudos: November 2018

November 19, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) seeks to empower its students to make a difference in their communities and in their field.

This month, we are thankful to highlight six students who have been recently recognized for their significant accomplishments and pursuits to better their education and the care they provide.

FNU student and alumni on radio to discuss reproductive justice

WBEZ host Amy I. Catania, Jeanine Valrie Logan, and Stephanie Martinez

WBEZ host Amy I. Catania, Jeanine Valrie Logan, MPH, CLS and Stephanie Martinez CLC, CNM

Nurse-midwifery student Jeanine Valrie Logan, MPH, CLS, CNEP (Class 146) and graduate Stephanie Martinez, CLC, CNM were recently interviewed on NPR’s WBEZ in Chicago.

The Chicago-based doulas discussed how they are fighting for fair and equal access for reproductive care for vulnerable communities in the Chicago area.

Listen to the interview here.

Keep up the fight for reproductive justice, Jeanine and Stephanie!

Post-graduate WHNP student selected as member of NPWH Student Leadership Program

Gina Kristiansen, RN

Student Gina Kristiansen, RN, CWHCNP (Class 169) was selected as a member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) Student Leadership Program at the 21st Annual NPWH Premier Women’s Healthcare Conference, Oct. 10-13, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas.

The Student Leadership Program is designed to build a community of WHNP students and give them the opportunity to connect with expert WHNPs. Gina will also receive a scholarship to attend the NPWH National Conference for free.

Congratulations, Gina, on your accomplishment!

Student selected for SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program

Adriana Hernandez, MSN, RN, CNM

Adriana Hernandez, MSN, RN, CNM, PMHNP (Class 173) was selected as a 2018 fellow of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program.

The purpose of the program is to provide grant money to reduce behavioral health disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations.

We are excited to see how you use this incredible opportunity, Adriana!

FNP student named to “40 Under 40 Nurses” by Virginia Nurses Association

Haley Meade, RN

Haley Meade, RN, Class 166 FNP was named one of the 2018 “40 under 40 Nurses” at the 2018 Virginia Nurses Foundation Gala on Sept. 22, 2018 in Richmond, Va.

Award winners were selected from a record number of nominations as one of Virginia’s outstanding young registered nurse (RN) leaders because of achievements in professional practice, leadership, and positive promotion and advancement of the nursing profession beyond the practice setting.

A bright future awaits, Haley!

DNP student receives IHI scholarship

Margaret Galvez, MSN, MPH, APRN, FNP-C, APHN-BC

Congratulations to Margaret Galvez, MSN, MPH, APRN, FNP-C, APHN-BC and DNP student (Class 29). While undertaking a large load of schoolwork by completing her DNP, Margaret was recently selected to receive a full scholarship for the Fall 2018 Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School Leadership and Organizing for Change course.

The nine-week virtual course is designed to help health professionals learn to apply skills and knowledge in leadership, community organizing, population health and the science of improvement.

Kudos on your well-deserved scholarship, Margaret!