Student Spotlight: Lori Verostick enhances midwifery skill set with PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate

December 26, 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.

As a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) serving residents in her community, Lori Verostick has consistently pursued higher education and training to enhance her knowledge and skill set for patients. In her current pursuit, Verostick is earning her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate (PGC) from Frontier Nursing University.

“I am really hoping to be able to expand my nurse-midwifery mindset to behavioral and mental health,” Verostick said. “COVID really highlighted the mental health needs in my area. The people in my area working in this field are working hard and are great. I feel we need more trained providers to try to meet the need. Currently, there can be a six-month wait for medication appointments. In pregnancy, this can be catastrophic.”

A resident of Windber, Pennsylvania, Verostick served as a CNM with Women’s Care Partners in Altoona, Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2010 and has worked at Conemaugh Ob/Gyn Associates in Johnstown, Pa. since 2010. since 2001. Verostick is an FNU nurse-midwifery graduate (class 27) from 2021. She also has a Master of Science with a concentration in midwifery from Thomas Jefferson University, which she received in 2002. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2020 at FNU. She also precepts Advanced Practice Registered Nurse students.

Verostick and her midwifery partners at Conemaugh Ob/Gyne all live in the Johnstown area and attend over 800 births per year. She said the area is made up of many uninsured and underinsured residents with chronic illness and substance abuse issues.

“The midwifery model provides the respect and support that our community responds to,” she said. “I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

A member of FNU Class 203, Verostick is set to earn her post-graduate certificate in 2023.

“I wanted to work on quality improvement for my practice so that individuals in our community were able to receive equitable health care, including behavioral health care during pregnancy,” Verostick said. “I am currently in the PMHNP post-graduate certificate program because of the need for birthing persons in our area to have access to mental health care and medication management.”

Versotick said most of the CNMs in her practice are graduates of FNU. Her former preceptor, Vivian Boyer (CNEP Class 4), is her current director.

“She is the best,” Verostick said. “She is and will always be my preceptor.”

Verostick was also influenced to study at FNU because of the atmosphere and flexibility afforded to students.

“It [distance education] works well when you have to work as you pursue your degree,” she said.

Verostick has been married for 27 years and has three children. Outside of her career, she enjoys knitting and photography.

Thank you, Lori, for choosing FNU to pursue your post-graduate certificate. We are proud to have you as a student and of your commitment to continuously improving your knowledge and skill set for the sake of the rural and underserved patients you care for.

FNU Reflects on the Power of Rural Healthcare Providers this National Rural Health Day

November 14, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

On Thursday, November 17, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will join healthcare providers and organizations across the country to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). Organized by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, NRHD is an opportunity to bring awareness to the unique challenges that rural communities face and the efforts of rural healthcare providers to create positive change in these regions.

Founded in the Appalachian area of Kentucky, Frontier'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. Today, 73 percent of FNU students live and complete their clinics in rural areas throughout the United States.

Alumni Spotlight: Meggan Smith grows family practice in rural North Carolina urgent care setting

Since earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from FNU in 2019, Meggan Smith, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, (Class 169) has worked to strengthen family healthcare in rural North Carolina from the ground up. Working at Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Family Medicine Center in Bryson City, Smith was instrumental in growing a much-needed family practice in the existing urgent care setting.

Smith serves patients in her home community of Graham County, North Carolina, where she recently was awarded a Readers’ Choice award by The Graham Star. A rural mountain area, Graham County has a population of approximately 8,500. For residents of the county, the closest hospital/emergency room is approximately a 35 to 45-minute drive, and only one other office offers primary care.

Alumni Spotlight: Cody Pittman hopes to reach more rural and underserved populations with mental telehealth practice

FNU alumni Cody Pittman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, has worked full-time in correctional healthcare with the Kentucky Department of Corrections in LaGrange, Ky., for the past eight years. He also recently opened his own practice named Healing Neurons Psychiatry, which provides mental health services to patients via telehealth. Cody became a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in November 2020 after earning his MSN from FNU.

Pittman says the focus of working in corrections is to try and rehabilitate patients so they are prepared to live healthy lives when released back into the community. Many of his patients have a history of polypharmacy and substance abuse/addiction.

Pittman recognized that there are simply not enough mental health providers, so he founded Healing Neurons Psychiatry to help fill that gap. With the patient in mind, Pittman decided to offer 100% telehealth services so that patients can make their appointments from the comfort of their own homes. Furthermore, telehealth ensures the privacy of those living in rural areas who fear they may be stigmatized if others see them walking into a mental health clinic.

Featured Preceptor: Shannon Conley, FNP, Providing Compassionate Care for Underserved, Rural Patients

Shannon Conley serves as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) for Big Sandy Health Care in Eastern Kentucky, a role she has taken on for the past 10 years. Working with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Conley interacts with many underserved adult patients, most of whom are dealing with chronic conditions and have obstacles when it comes to accessing treatment.

Keeping this in mind, Conley provides patients with transportation assistance, medical assistance and remains cognizant of the cost of medication. Conley also serves as a preceptor in her community, training future FNPs to address the shortage of providers in her region.

Student Spotlight: Paul Kibby, RN, hopes to change mental health stigma among rural men

FNU student Paul Kibby, RN, is using his experience in the healthcare field to break down the stigma surrounding mental health in his community. Kibby is pursuing an MSN with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty, in which he entered through FNU’s Bridge program (Class 174), and is set to graduate this year.

Kibby currently works with a new behavioral health clinic startup in Mountain View, Arkansas. Stone County, where Mountain View is located, has a federal poverty rate of over 20 percent, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In his current role, Kibby is making efforts to research and change the stigma associated with mental health among rural men. He said he plans to do this by sending the local newspaper a letter to the editor, collaborating with the local community center, and having discussions with staff members at local banks, pharmacies, physicians offices, businesses and the local hospital to discuss the need to connect mental health with overall health care.

Join us in celebrating the value of rural communities and help shine a light on the health disparities facing these regions by sharing information about NRHD with your friends, colleagues, and social media followers. Visit the NRHD site to find ideas and resources.

Also, the Health Resources and Services Administration is offering virtual events this week for those interested in learning more about how they are advancing behavioral health care in rural communities.

NOSORH founded NRHD in 2011 to showcase the efforts of individuals and organizations going the extra mile to address the unique healthcare needs of rural communities. National Rural Health Day is an annual day of recognition which occurs on the third Thursday of November.

FNU Featured Preceptor: Megan Ferguson Instills Love of Profession in Graduate Nursing Students

August 30, 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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

Frontier Nursing University is proud to announce FNU alumni, Megan Ferguson, CNM, as the 2022 Spring Term Featured Preceptor! Ferguson was nominated by FNU nurse-midwifery student Megan Webb for always going above and beyond.

Before becoming Webb’s preceptor in Wasilla, Alaska, Ferguson was Webb’s provider for Women’s Health at Alpenglow Women’s Health. Ferguson is the co-owner of Alpenglow Women’s Health, where she serves the women and families of her community, supporting them through their prenatal journey, women’s health issues, and deliveries at the community hospital.

“I was hoping that I would be able to have her as my preceptor,” Webb said. “And when I asked her at my appointment, she had zero hesitation.”

Ferguson had her own difficulties finding a preceptor in Alaska when she was going to school. She had to travel into Anchorage for clinical as there are only a few hospitals in Alaska.

During this time, Ferguson has given Webb exactly what she needed: to be consistently challenged and encouraged to step outside her comfort zone.

“She has instilled confidence, encouraged education, and nurtured growth in me as I transition from nurse to nurse-midwife,” Webb said.

“Watching students grow as they start to make the transition from an RN to an APRN. It’s like watching the synapses form as they link their knowledge, differentials, and decisions,” Ferguson said.

“We need to raise these next generations of practitioners to love and grow their practice so that we can continue to listen to women and provide the care all women deserve.”
– Megan Ferguson, CNM, FNU Preceptor

Ferguson, who precepts nurse-midwifery and family nurse practitioner (FNP) students, hopes to make students comfortable with the learning process and instill a deep love for this profession, which is what drives her.

Ferguson encourages other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to precept students.

“If we do not help grow our own, who will be left when our bodies give out and it’s time to move on?” Ferguson said. “We need to raise these next generations of practitioners to love and grow their practice so that we can continue to listen to women and provide the care all women deserve.”

Thank you, Megan Ferguson, for your dedication to serving your community and helping educate the next generation of nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners.

Are you interested in becoming an FNU Preceptor? Fill out the form on this page to learn more!

Alumni Spotlight: Cody Pittman hopes to reach more rural and underserved populations with mental telehealth practice

April 8, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumni Cody Pittman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, has worked full-time in correctional healthcare with the Kentucky Department of Corrections in LaGrange, Ky., for the past eight years. He also recently opened his own practice named Healing Neurons Psychiatry, which provides mental health services to patients via telehealth. Cody became a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in November 2020 after earning his MSN from FNU.

“I always thought I would end up being in management for most of my nursing career as it is something I do well and hold dear to my heart. Not only do I enjoy helping patients, but I have also been an advocate for my staff for many years,” Pittman said. “Helping others has always been a passion of mine and this started at a very young age.”

Pittman’s career in healthcare began when he was 16 years old providing dietary services at a nursing home. He knew becoming a nurse practitioner would allow him to continue helping others and give him the autonomy to pursue his vision and open his own practice. Pittman is currently completing FNU’s DNP program. In his first term, he says it is going well.

“Frontier places the student first. I cannot begin to tell you how many practitioners I have worked with who are not confident in their decision making or are always second guessing themselves,” Pittman said. “I truly believe that Frontier gave me a well-rounded knowledge base that continues to allow me to advance my NP knowledge.”
– Cody Pittman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

FNU makes it easy for students to continue on with their education by offering FNU MSN and PGC graduates, like Pittman, the opportunity to continue into the DNP program via the Companion DNP Program.

Chasing my dreams to become Dr. Pittman, DNP has always been a goal of mine. Moving directly into the DNP program from the MSN was a no-brainer for me,” Pittman said. “It was an easy transition and just made the most sense. Completing the MSN at Frontier ensured that some of the DNP courses were completed during that program, making my DNP journey shorter in length. The family-like atmosphere that is felt while attending Frontier has been the biggest breath of fresh air. I have classmates and faculty that I consider family, hundreds of miles away all because of Frontier.

Pittman got married in 2017 and has a three-year-old daughter. He played the saxophone in middle and high school and can still play today! In his free time, he enjoys relaxing at home with his family, spending time in their new pool and cruising backroads in his Jeep Wrangler.

Thank you Cody for your dedication to mental health and fulfilling FNU’s mission to provide care to rural and underserved populations.

To read more alumni stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.

Alumni Spotlight: Kimberly Jones-Beatty Seeks Data-Driven Solutions to Maternal Mortality Crisis

November 29, 2021 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 who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

It’s one thing to identify a problem. It’s quite another to find a solution. Yet that is what FNU Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Alumni Kimberly Jones-Beatty, CNM, DNP, Class 37, is striving to do.

The problem has become increasingly well known, as the alarming numbers depicting the maternal mortality crisis in the United States persist. In 2018, there were 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S. — a ratio more than double that of most other high-income countries, and the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries.^ The data is even more concerning for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women, who have pregnancy-related mortality rates that are over three and two times higher, respectively, compared to the rate for white women.*

The data confirm the problem, but it does not offer a solution. Jones-Beatty, who works as a certified nurse-midwife within the OB/GYN department at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, has been practicing midwifery for 12 years.

“I work in a dual clinical/research role through providing ambulatory obstetric care and overseeing clinical research in the Johns Hopkins Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine,” Jones-Beatty said. “As a clinical practitioner, I strive to provide evidence-based care. As a researcher, I see that we contribute to evidence-based care through translational research; by generating new knowledge or validating existing knowledge in both basic science and clinical research and applying it to clinical practice to improve patient care and outcomes. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Jones-Beatty put her research passion and skills to work in her DNP project, which focused on learning more about the maternal mortality crisis and its potential solutions.

“My DNP project focused on improving postpartum care,” she said. “Maternal morbidity and mortality are at an all-time high in the United States, and research shows that the majority of cases occur within the postpartum period. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) has called for a paradigm shift in postpartum care by moving away from the single six-week visit and instead incorporating an ongoing postpartum process beginning in the antenatal period to impact adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of the project was to increase effective postpartum care through patient preparedness, early one-to-three-week patient follow-up, and comprehensive postpartum visits from 0% to 80% in eight weeks.”

To implement the project, Jones-Beatty followed ACOG’s recommendations in creating a postpartum planning tool. The tool included reviewing the importance of postpartum care and postpartum warning signs that warrant further evaluation. It also incorporated a population health registry for early one-to-three-week postpartum follow-up to ensure that postpartum patients were recovering from childbirth as expected and a comprehensive postpartum note template to help provide complete documentation of recommended postpartum visit components.

“The project aim was met at 88%,” Jones-Beatty said. “The planning tool effectively increased patients’ knowledge of postpartum warning signs. The registry was effective in obtaining postpartum right care scores, which translates into patients recovering from childbirth as expected. The note template was effective in guiding effective postpartum care office visits. Next steps will include reviewing the impact of the interventions on clinic-specific patient populations, overall maternal morbidity and mortality rates, and examining differences by race.”

While more study and research are required to address maternal mortality, Jones-Beatty’s work was duly recognized for its significance. She recently presented her project as a poster presentation at the Society for Reproductive Investigation’s Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Attending the meeting was a great experience, with networking opportunities and the chance to hear about new practice perspectives, guidelines, and other original research within reproductive health,” she said.

Jones-Beatty’s love for research and information paired well with Frontier’s emphasis on data-driven analysis and decision-making.

“I decided to pursue a doctorate in nursing practice at Frontier due to its strong reputation, online format, and faculty expertise,” she said. “FNU’s DNP curriculum provides instruction on leading quality improvement in the clinical setting, as well as exposure to evidence-based practice, health policy and advocacy, and system/ organizational leadership. Collectively, I feel prepared to impact any healthcare setting I choose to work in through a deep understanding of the education and skills that exemplify nurse leaders who are ready to change the landscape of the current healthcare environment.”

Jones-Beatty is well-prepared to continue to excel as both a researcher and a clinician. Both roles hold equal value to her as she seeks to positively impact her current and future patients and colleagues.

“I plan to continue working both clinically and in research, contributing to evidence-based practice, improving obstetric healthcare, and decreasing adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes,” she said.

FNU is proud of Jones-Beatty for her dedication to research and midwifery. She is a shining example of bringing FNU’s Culture of Caring to her community.

Interested in reading more stories about our alumni? Visit the FNU Alumni stories page.

^Roosa Tikkanen et al., Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care in the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countries (Commonwealth Fund, Nov. 2020). https://doi.org/10.26099/411v-9255

*Artiga, S., Pham, O., Orgera, K., Ranji, U. (2020). Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant

Health: An Overview. Issue Brief. Kaiser Family Foundation, November 10, 2020

FNU Reflects on Rural Healthcare Efforts in Celebration of National Rural Health Day

November 18, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

On Thursday, November 18, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will join healthcare providers and organizations across the country to celebrate the “Power of Rural” on National Rural Health Day (NRHD). Organized by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, NRHD is an opportunity to bring awareness to the unique challenges that rural communities face and the efforts of rural healthcare providers to create positive change in these regions.

Founded in the Appalachian area of Kentucky, serving rural communities has always been at the heart of Frontier. FNU strives to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to leaders in primary care to serve all individuals, with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations. Today, 73 percent of FNU students live and complete their clinics in rural areas throughout the United States, including various regions of Alaska, Montana, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

Throughout the year, FNU shares inspiring stories on its blog about the impact alumni, students and preceptors have on rural communities. As we celebrate NRHD, here are some ways the Frontier community is paving the way for better health conditions in these often underserved regions.

Preceptor Terry Sims, FNP

For the past 13 years, Sims has worked in rural South Carolina, helping patients at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Primary Care Center in Great Falls. The rural town of Great Falls once had a thriving economy but has fallen on hard times in recent years due to the closing of a cotton mill. Like many rural areas, Great Falls faces poverty, lack of healthcare education and the need for a complete spectrum of healthcare. Sims hosts up to three preceptors at a time and sees up to 40 patients a day; however, according to those who have studied under him, Sims always takes the time to provide genuine, personalized care to everyone he treats. He also puts his preceptor students at ease with jokes and casual quizzing throughout the day.

“I am forever thankful that Terry will always be my mentor,” Alice Dalena, one of his precepting students, said after finishing her Clinical Practicum with Sims.

Alumni Patty Coldiron, MSN, FNP

Born and raised in rural Harlan County, Ky., Coldiron dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to give birth to her son Joshua, born with spina bifida. Joshua’s condition, and her connection to her homeland, led Coldiron on a journey to improve healthcare in her community. Throughout the past 20 years, Coldiron has worked across the healthcare field as a certified nursing assistant, an ER nurse, and a home health specialist. She earned a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner from FNU in 2015. In January of this year, Coldiron opened Hometown Urgent Care to meet the gap in care in Harlan County.

“My community had never had an urgent care medical center, and I knew from working in the ER that these were services we desperately needed in Harlan County,” Coldiron said.

Coldiron’s clinic operates daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help make healthcare a feasible option for working families, a model that she plans on expanding. Coldiron hopes to open more Hometown Urgent Care clinics in other rural areas where citizens rely on emergency rooms for minor and urgent illnesses. She knows that accessible healthcare is key to helping communities like Harlan County thrive.

Alumni Marli Parobek, DNP, MS, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-C

After working a dozen years as a nurse practitioner in Yakima, Wash., Parobek decided to take her career to the next level to meet a growing need for mental health services in her hometown. Becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from FNU, Parobek now serves the mental health needs of her community, composed of predominantly blue-collar workers and minority races facing poverty and substance abuse struggles.

Parobek is currently head of the inpatient psychiatric unit at Astria Toppenish Hospital, where her focus is on voluntary and involuntary inpatient psychiatry, medical withdrawal and detox. The voluntary detox program for alcohol and opiate addicts is 3-5 days of 24/7 nursing care in the hospital. Parobek’s role is to prescribe detox medications and perform psychiatric evaluations for these patients until they are discharged to outpatient programs. Marli and the Astria psychiatric unit received federal and state grants to implement their programs, offering vital services that had previously not existed in eastern Washington.

Alumni David Moore

Serving as the only nurse practitioner at the Front Street Clinic in downtown Juneau, Alaska, David Moore is dedicated to bringing a better quality of life to the people of his rural town. Moore is joined by a registered nurse, two behavioral health specialists, and two case managers at his clinic. Most of his patients are homeless and medically underserved, with many battling chronic illnesses.

“Most of the people we see aren’t coming in to be treated for a cold. The majority of our patients are present with chronic illness, and they’re transient, so we only see them when some crisis arises,” Moore said.

Although his patient load can undoubtedly be challenging, Moore credits FNU for helping to cultivate his desire to serve in rural areas and helping him to think outside of the box.

“The way the FNU nurse practitioner program is designed, I had to be independent and dig for resources,” Moore said. “FNU taught me to go above and beyond to get the job done.”

The Frontier community is proud to develop healthcare leaders in rural America. When modern resources are provided to underserved areas, our country grows closer to reaching a more equitable healthcare system with brighter futures for so many.

Frontier Nursing University Named Gold “COVID Stops Here” Workplace

October 18, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) in Versailles, Kentucky, has been recognized as a Gold COVID Stops Here workplace for achieving over a 90% vaccination rate.

The COVID Stops Here campaign recognizes Kentucky workplaces that have achieved widespread vaccination against COVID-19. Organizations that have achieved at least a 70% vaccination rate are eligible to receive a designation.

“I am very pleased to report that currently 92% of our 88 Kentucky-based employees have been vaccinated against COVID,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone said. “We are very proud of the leadership that our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have displayed in their communities all across the country during the pandemic. Locally, we were honored to partner with the Woodford County Health Department and serve as a vaccination site last spring. We hope that our example inspires others in the community to get vaccinated as well.”

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce developed the COVID Stops Here campaign as a way to celebrate workplaces that are leading the fight to stop COVID-19 — and to encourage more organizations to join their ranks.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is Kentucky’s pathway to recovery. Frontier Nursing University is helping set the bar for vaccination in Kentucky by achieving Gold COVID Stops Here status — meaning at least 90% of their employees are now vaccinated against COVID-19. This is a great achievement and we thank them for helping our state stop this dangerous virus,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts. “Employers are playing a very important role as we work to encourage vaccination in Kentucky. In order to finally put this virus behind us, we need Kentuckians to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Together we can stop this virus, let’s make sure that COVID stops here!”

Learn more at kychamber.com/CovidStopsHere

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About Frontier Nursing University:

The mission of FNU 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. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Post-Graduate Certificates. In 2021, Frontier was named a “Great College to Work For” by the Great Colleges to Work For® program. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

FNU Featured Preceptor Sari Maenza: Building Relationships with Underserved Immigrant Families in New York

October 14, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to celebrate Sari Maenza, FNP as this quarter’s featured preceptor. Each quarter, FNU chooses a nominated preceptor who goes above and beyond to help graduate nursing students take the next step of their educational journey. These preceptors highlight the FNU Culture of Caring by exemplifying professionalism, inclusivity, respect, positive communication and mutual support.

Maenza is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) in White Plains, N.Y., where she is the White Plains Family Health Center manager. White Plains Hospital (WPH) is a voluntary, not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of offering high-quality acute health care and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit the surrounding areas.

The family health center is a critical community resource for the medically underserved. Maenza provides care to vulnerable populations and mentors aspiring nurse practitioners and medical students who desire to do the same. This passion supports FNU’s mission to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education, preparing leaders in primary care to serve individuals in underserved populations.

Nurse practitioner program graduate Julie Rosenbluth, MPH, FNP-BC, recently had Maenza as a preceptor and nominated her, impressed with her kindness, professionalism, and dedication to her patients.

Working at White Plains Family Health Center for 20 years, Maenza has developed strong relationships with her patients, primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants who are currently undocumented. Because of their status, most of her patients do not have health insurance. Despite this, Maenza provides them with unmeasured and complementary care, knowing that, without White Plains, their only other option is the emergency room, which comes with hard-to-meet fees.

Many of Maenza’s patients suffer from multiple co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. According to Rosenbluth, Maenza provides each patient with personalized plans and unending compassion.

“She treats each patient holistically and as an individual, often going above and beyond to identify and break down barriers to care,” Rosenbluth said. “As a result, she has long-standing relationships. Her patients trust and rely on her for the treatment of their entire families.”

Rosenbluth continued by remarking on what an excellent example Maenza was when she studied with her.

“Sari is not only an amazing provider to her patients, caring, empathetic and on top of her game clinically, but she is also a phenomenal teacher to her FNP students. She teaches by example as well as taking the time to educate students on the clinical process and best practices.”

Thank you to Maenza and all of the other exceptional preceptors who are helping to shape the next generation of nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners! Preceptors are instrumental for FNU students, providing them with a mentor and the clinical experience needed for long-term success. If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a Frontier preceptor, click here to learn more on how you can make a difference in the healthcare community.

Read the inspiring stories of previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor.