Preceptor Spotlight | Frontier Nursing University

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.

Featured Preceptor: Renea Price, Bringing Compassionate Care to Rural Eastern North Carolina

August 23, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

This quarter’s Frontier Nursing University (FNU) featured preceptor is an FNU alumni Renea Price, FNP. Price brings a strong work ethic and immense compassion to the people of Inner Banks, N.C.

Growing up in rural North Carolina, Price always had an interest in health care and a heart for improving the health status of her community. She saw the need for care in her community and was determined to make a difference. Her first step in this journey began in 1998 when she worked as a certified medical assistant at a local OB-GYN practice. As soon as she dipped her toes into health care, she knew she was right in taking this path. In 2001, she became a registered nurse, working in a wide range of health care positions over the next nine years, including emergency medicine, urgent care, long-term care, and medical-surgical nursing.

In 2010, she graduated with her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master of science in nursing degree through Frontier. In 2015, she opened her own clinic in Plymouth, N.C. named Inner Banks Family Medicine. Today the practice goes by Roanoke Clinics.

The clinic’s location is rural and underserved. As with the majority of rural, blue-collar areas, Plymouth was in need of quality medical providers. Today, the clinic serves many logging and agricultural employees as well as paper mill and local government workers. When Price opened her practice, not only did she introduce an essential community service, she also established a new standard of care for her community.

FNP student Jessica Woodard nominated Price as this quarter’s featured preceptor. This is what Woodard has to say after her experience working alongside Price:

“The compassion Price shows to her community of Plymouth is profound, as well as the relationships she has and continues to create. Her altruistic character is not only shown in her practice but also in her call to precept students. I truly believe the students she precepts not only gain the experience of a nurse practitioner but also profit from the genuine, selfless nature of Renea. I can only hope to be as self-sacrificing as she is when I become an FNP.”

According to Woodard, when Price isn’t working in the clinic, she is volunteering at COVID-19 vaccination clinics or making house calls to her patients.

Price is a true example of FNU’s Culture of Caring, and the university is proud to have her as an alumni member and preceptor to current FNP students.

Thank you for your example to so many, Renea!

Are you interested in becoming a preceptor?

If you are a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, or a Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, there is no better way to give back to FNU than by becoming a clinical preceptor. Our distance education model thrives because of talented clinical preceptors which is why we ensure that every preceptor is supported with educational resources to help in their role as a clinical educator. We also offer an honorarium for precepting after the student finishes his/her clinical practicum. Are you interested in becoming a preceptor? Let us know by clicking here and filling out a preceptor information request form.

Featured Preceptor: Tami Osborne, A Heart for Her Home Community

April 22, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

This quarter’s Frontier Nursing University featured preceptor, Tami Osborne, PMHNP, was nominated by student Leslie Duff, for her dedication and compassion for the people of Eastern Kentucky.

Here is what Duff had to say about her experience studying under Osborne:

“I was honored to spend several hundred hours working under Tami’s leadership. She has a true passion for improving the stigma of psychiatric mental health that runs deep in Eastern Kentucky. The biggest way she does this is through education. As a daily part of patient care, Osborne educates her patients about the various disease processes and medications. She teaches them genetics, trauma, and other factors that play into a person’s mental health. With each patient, she had the ability to help them see their psychiatric mental health conditions does not make them weak but allows them to grow through their journey.

Osborne is especially dedicated to helping and advocating for those suffering from substance abuse in the region. The care and concern that she offers these patients who are so often stigmatized truly impressed me. As I worked along Osborne, several of her patients in the MAT program at Appalachian Wellness shared with me their recovery stories. I was often told how Osborne helped them realize that they did have the power to overcome substance addiction, and how she gave them the strength they needed to believe they could live a better life. The story I remember most was a young man who lost everything, including custody and visitation rights to his children. He is now over a year clean, working, and able to spend time with his children. Tami truly makes a positive difference in this world, one patient at a time.”

Osborne is a fantastic fit for her career because it is a dream she has had ever since she was a little girl growing up in Eastern Kentucky. “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse,” Osborne says, “it just took some life experience for me to realize the best way I could help my home community.”

Osborne was married young, and after a few years, found herself divorced and living in Lexington, Ky. with three little girls. She attributes fair salaries and the high demand for nurses with helping her get through those years raising her daughters alone.

Osborne attended Eastern Kentucky University as a single mother, where she earned her bachelor’s in nursing. She worked as an aid at the University of Kentucky Hospital, but following graduation, began a new career at Eastern State Hospital, a psychiatric care facility in Lexington.

During the time she was working at Eastern State, Osborne married a wonderful man. Unfortunately, he passed away from a heart attack at a young age within a few years of their marriage. It was after this loss that Osborne decided it was time to return home.

“Eastern Kentucky has always been home to me, I tried to leave, but my heart never really followed. When I was coming to terms with the loss of my husband, I knew the best thing for me was to return to my roots,” Osborne said.

When Osborne returned home, she began working as an administrator within the local prison. Her psychiatric care foundation from Eastern State Hospital played a significant role in supporting her co-workers and the incarcerated persons in her new role.

Osborne said that psychiatric-mental health was always the nursing sector that interested her the most, so, on her 50th birthday, with her girls grown up, Osborne decided to go back to school to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).

Shortly after finishing her degree, a past co-worker from the prison reached out. He was now the Juniper Health System CEO and wanted to hire Osborne as their first PMHNP.

In her current role, Osborne travels to five different Eastern Kentucky counties throughout the week, helping to break generational patterns of trauma that are unfortunately far too common in the region.

Osborne is especially passionate about treating women who have experienced trauma.

“I see so many women who were abused as children and then find themselves with one abusive partner after another. Unfortunately, this cycle continues as they have children of their own. They simply don’t know anything else,” Osborne said.

Although Osborne often only sees these women briefly for short medication appointments, she does everything she can in that time to uplift her patients and let them know there are other options.

“I will constantly correct negative self-talk and work to help them establish positive thoughts about themselves. I work on debriefing, grounding, and attempt to coach through fear-based issues. I am currently taking multiple continuing education units (CEU’s) on trauma so that I can continue to help women in these difficult situations,” Osborne said.

In addition to helping grown women, Osborne also works with high numbers of adolescents and teens overcoming trauma and neglect, cares for 30 medicated-assistant treatment (MAT) patients on their journey to overcoming addiction, and continues to step in at the prison whenever there is a need.

“My job is difficult, and I work a lot of hours, but that is because there is so much need in this community,” Osborne said. “I love the people of Eastern Kentucky, and I will always put my all into helping them overcome obstacles.”

Osborne is one of a limited number of PMHNPs in the area. Due to the lack of psychiatric care in Eastern Kentucky, precepting offers Osborne a look into a hopeful future for the region.

“I host three or four students at a time. All but one of them have been from Eastern Kentucky and plan on returning to the area to serve after graduation,” Osborne said. “Having this opportunity to bring new nurses to our region is critical work to me.”

Osborne enjoys many aspects of precepting and says she truly appreciates working with the students and listening to their ideas.

According to Osborne, the students always have great ideas and different approaches. She loves having multiple perspectives to learn from and to collaborate with one another.

“Eastern Kentucky will always be my home. I think it is the most beautiful place on earth, with the most genuine people you could ever meet. I am completely invested in advocating for these people and providing them with resources. Because this area has had fewer opportunities than many regions, there can be a lack of trust in professionals and outsiders. It is my goal that the people of Eastern Kentucky know that I have their backs.”

Thank you Tami for your hard work and dedication in bringing mental health resources to Eastern Kentucky. You are making positive changes that will impact these communities for decades to come.

FNU is always looking for preceptors like Osborne who will step up to the plate and educate the next generation of nurses. For more information on becoming a preceptor for FNU students, visit our preceptor page.

Preceptor Spotlight: Phyllis Lynn

January 8, 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 our FNU community members that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Mrs. Phyllis Lynn first became a certified midwife in 1967 while working as an RN staff nurse on a postpartum unit.

“In Jamaica, to move up in my career, I had to become a certified midwife. I didn’t want to do it, but my superior insisted I would be a great midwife and pushed me to get certified. I was young; it turns out she knew what I needed better than I did,” Lynn said.

A few years later, Lynn relocated to the United States, where she was recertified as an American nurse-midwife in 1974.

Lynn spent nearly 25 years at her first post in the United States at Interfaith Medical Center, where she worked her way up and spent many years as the supervisor of labor and delivery. In 1993, Lynn spearheaded and opened a new labor and delivery service within the Maimonides medical network in Brooklyn.

Maimonides Midwifery Practice has since served thousands of families and grown to a team of 14 licensed midwives who have completed their master of science in nursing. Since opening the midwifery practice, Lynn has made a point of precepting students, especially nurse-midwife students, whenever possible.

“It is our job as midwives to continue to grow the profession. If we don’t advocate for ourselves, who will? Many people don’t understand what midwifery is or why it’s such a valuable profession. As midwives, we must work every day to help them understand,” Lynn said.

Lynn also encourages all of the students she precepts to continue their education and get their doctorate.

“Schools like FNU make continuing your education very obtainable. I always tell my students that if this is truly something they love, why not go as far as you can with it to help as many patients as possible?” Lynn says.

Lynn doesn’t only believe in a better education for current nursing and nurse-midwife students but is also a strong advocate for patient education. She believes the best way to get a patient to follow necessary health measures is to educate them and provide them with a thorough explanation.

“We have all had patients that, despite our best efforts, don’t follow through on the things we’ve advised. I have found that the best way to encourage action is through constant education. Do not only tell them the ‘what,’ but you also have to explain the ‘why’.” Lynn said. “Then after educating, I break things down into simple steps so that lifestyle changes seem easier to reach.”

Lynn also has another secret for encouraging stubborn expecting mothers to follow health and diet changes- explain the impact of these changes to the husband or boyfriend.

“Women often have cravings and might ask their partner for a cheeseburger or a plate of chili fries, or something else that is not good for the baby. If I tell the father of the effect these foods could have on the mother and the baby, he becomes much less likely to get those foods. Instead, he will encourage healthy choices. I truly believe education is everything.” Lynn said.

Every day, Lynn is delighted to have spent nearly 60 years supporting mothers, families and students in a profession that she loves.

“I am 78. Over the years, there have been days where I’ve been tired, but I have never felt burnt out. I have found my life’s purpose, which is something I wish for everyone. I will retire someday, but I will probably still volunteer. Nursing and midwifery mean so much to me. I can’t imagine working in a more wonderful profession with more wonderful people,” Lynn said

Thank you, Mrs. Lynn, for your continued dedication to nurse-midwives and the nursing profession as a whole. You have made a significant impact on our community, and we are grateful for your continued service.

To read about previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor, click here.

Are you interested in becoming a Frontier preceptor? Learn more here.

Featured Preceptor Karl Lambert Offers Creative Solutions for Underserved Patients

June 9, 2020 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 healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Karl Lambert, ARNP, was honored as FNU’s Featured Preceptor for the 2020 spring term. Karl was nominated by Olga Rybakov (NP student).

Karl has been a nurse practitioner for more than 20 years. He started out at a large family practice organization but felt he could better serve his community of East Wenatchee, Wash. by opening RediMedi Integrative Clinic in 2006.

Since its opening, Karl has brought a warm approach to his work in serving his community. Olga said, “Karl is a professional, kind and compassionate provider. He thinks outside the box and is always looking for ways to improve patient care and provide more affordable services.”

As the CEO of RediMedi Integrative Clinic, Karl has been able to develop and implement the Direct Patient Care Model. For a set monthly fee, patients have unlimited access to their primary care practitioners. It has allowed him to help patients because they have unlimited access to health care without having to worry about what’s covered and what’s not.

“Karl takes care of many uninsured patients. His primary care model is exemplary,” Olga said. “If patients need care outside of primary care, he meets people where they are financially and finds ways to get them specialty care at a fraction of the price.”

Thank you, Karl, for answering the call to service in the East Wenatchee community and showing students how to do the same!

Visit Frontier.edu/Preceptors to read about previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor.

Winter Term Featured Preceptors: Patty Kandiko, Jeana Smith, Karin VanderVelde & Karen Ady

April 13, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

In the heart of Grand Junction, CO., four Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumni with a passion for nurse-midwifery are mentoring the next generation through precepting. Patty Kandiko, CNM, Jeana Smith, CNM, Karin VanderVelde, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, and Karen Ady, CNM are all being honored as FNU’s 2020 Winter Term featured preceptors. Patty, Jeana, and Karin V. are currently catching babies at Bloomin’ Babies Birth Center, while Karen A. works at Mesa Midwives on the Western slope of Colorado.

Preceptors play a significant role in a nurse-midwife’s education – especially in recent FNU graduate Heidi Phillips’ case. According to Heidi, she first crossed paths with her preceptors in an unusual but oddly meant-to-be way. In 2018 during her cross-country move to Oregon for a hospital clinical site, Heidi and her husband made plans to stop in Grand Junction, Colo. to see Community Hospital which her great-grandfather Dr. Kenneth Graves founded in 1946. Heidi began searching on Google for the hospital and came across Bloomin’ Babies Birth Center. She looked further into the website and became intrigued when she realized an FNU grad founded the center. Heidi connected with Patty during that visit in 2018, and a year later when her Oregon hospital site fell through, Patty offered her a preceptorship position at the birth center. Heidi reached out to Karen A. with Mesa Midwives, a hospital midwifery practice in Grand Junction, who was also willing to be her preceptor.

“It is a huge blessing to have four Frontier nurse-midwives as preceptors because we all have the same vision to serve rural and underserved populations,” said Heidi.

Heidi knows that her preceptors sacrifice a lot for her to become a nurse-midwife. Karin V., for example, has not caught a baby with her own hands in months. She and many other preceptors choose to give up that privilege for a time so students like Heidi can pursue their own dreams.

According to Heidi, her preceptors were particularly supportive during the period of time from August 2019 to February 2020 as she was on call 24/7, meeting her clinical requirements.

“My preceptors’ attention to detail, instruction of critical skills and overall care have influenced me to do the same for students in the future. I am looking forward to being a preceptor one day once I get more experience under my belt,” said Heidi.

Upon graduating, Heidi will join Patty, Jeana, and Karin V. at Bloomin’ Babies Birth Center, where she is excited to continue to fulfill the vision of Mary Breckinridge and FNU to meet the needs of women in Grand Junction.

“What an honor to be serving the rural populations of Western Colorado, just as my great-grandfather did over half a century ago. I am overjoyed by the opportunity to provide the midwifery model of care alongside the most passionate and empowering nurse-midwives I know,” said Heidi.

Thank you, preceptors, for investing in FNU students and the future of nurse-midwifery!

Click here to read about previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor. Interested in becoming a Frontier preceptor? Learn more.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

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

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

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

Featured Preceptor: Ramona Scott, DNP, WHNP

December 12, 2019 By frontieredu

For the Fall 2019 term, Frontier Nursing University (FNU)’s featured preceptor is Ramona Scott, DNP, WHNP.

For 30 years, Ramona has served at Women’s Care Group in Knoxville, Tenn. where she is currently a women’s health nurse practitioner. She sees a wide variety of GYN and OB patients, taking the time to get to know each one and understand their needs. She is also a certified menopause practitioner.

“Ramona provides excellent care to her patients and it is clear that they place a lot of trust in her,” said FNU alumna Sarah Martina, who nominated Ramona for the award.

Sarah describes Ramona as a life-long learner committed to providing up-to-date, evidence-based care. Ramona is always looking for new and better ways to help her patients.

In addition to her clinical work, Ramona is a passionate advocate for the nurse practitioner (NP) profession. She is currently helping to develop a new WHNP program at Tennessee Tech University, and she consistently precepts multiple students every year.

“She is an excellent teacher with high standards but is also warm, welcoming and funny! I learned so much from her!” said Sarah.

Ramona is also an FNU alumna: she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2013.

Thank you, Ramona, for serving women well and teaching students to do the same!

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

Preceptor Spotlight: Tina Babinski & Kerry Pham

September 12, 2019 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Preceptors Tina Babinski and Kerry Pham were honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptors” for the 2019 Summer Term. Tina and Kerry were nominated by Katrina Kemp (FNP Class 152).

Both FNU alumni, the duo opened Stand and Delivery Midwifery, a homebirth practice in their Pensacola, Fla. community, two years ago. They reach a client base whose needs were not previously being met in the Pensacola area, which had no birth centers and few non-hospital options.

Stand and Delivery Midwifery constantly operates at full capacity as Tina and Kerry take on more patients than planned in an effort to fill the nurse-midwifery void in their community. They frequently travel over an hour to patients’ homes for births, sacrificing time with their families in order to meet their patients’ needs.

Tina and Kerry have positioned themselves as co-preceptors and, having experienced the struggle of finding a preceptor when they were completing their degrees, have made it a goal to precept as many FNU students as possible.

“Kerry and Tina willingly took me as a student even though I did not have any labor and delivery experience,” Katrina said. “I am going to be a better Certified Nurse-Midwife because of the time I spent with them in their practice.”

Thank you, Tina and Kerry, for answering the call to service in your community and inspiring FNU students to do the same!

Visit Frontier.edu/Preceptors to read about previously recognized preceptors or to nominate a preceptor.