Get to Know FNU’s Clinical Support Teams

February 21, 2022 By Frontier Nursing University

At FNU, students are not alone in their search for clinical site placement. Our clinical support teams are with them every step of the way.

FNU students complete coursework online and a clinical experience in their home communities across the country. The convenience and flexibility that distance education brings to nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner students is one of FNU’s primary advantages. Another great benefit to students is FNU’s dedicated staff and faculty teams who assist in identifying and selecting qualified preceptors and customizing a clinical experience to each student’s unique needs and interests.

Preceptors (nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners and other healthcare providers) play a crucial role in mentoring students and helping them gain the clinical experience they need for long-term success. Our Clinical Outreach and Placement Services Team helps students connect with preceptors in their program area, ensuring the student’s needs, interests and goals are met during their clinical experience.

I found the Clinical Outreach and Placement Office very helpful in helping me navigate what steps I should be taking next and as a sounding board for my ideas and concerns.”

- Crystal Miller FNU Student

The team is led by Director of Clinical Outreach and Placement Stephanie Boyd and supported by Clinical Advisors Katie Graves, Caitlin Rivard and Jamie Wheeler, as well as Clinical Services Coordinator Brittany Bachman. Katie, Caitlin and Jamie assist students with placement for clinical rotations, and Brittany provides attentive customer service to our preceptors. This team partners with students to:

Provide assistance and resources in locating clinical sites and preceptors
Troubleshoot challenging situations
Work one-on-one with students to navigate the overall clinical search process
Bring support and customer service to FNU's vast preceptor network

We just want to make sure that our students know that we are here to help them any way we can. We have tools and resources to help them conduct their search and are always happy to hear their success stories.”

- Katie Graves Clinical Advisor

FNU’s other clinical support resources include:

Community Map. FNU students have exclusive access to our Community Map which houses a network of nearly 13,000 clinical sites and 16,000 preceptors throughout all 50 states with new preceptors and sites continually added.
Insurance. FNU provides general and professional liability insurance for all clinical students.
Case Days. Case Days are held in-person or virtually across the U.S., where students who are in their clinical practicum present cases to facilitate group discussion of management options. These seminars provide opportunities for group learning and networking with students, faculty, alumni, and local practitioners within the region.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner, we are now accepting applications on a rolling basis. Applicants can learn the status of their application as soon as four to five weeks after complete and valid application materials are received by FNU’s Admission Services.

To learn more about FNU’s dedicated clinical placement services, visit our website.

To learn more about becoming a preceptor, visit Frontier.edu/preceptor.

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.

Preceptor Spotlight – Susy Furr, FNP

December 4, 2017 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Preceptor Susy Furr, FNP, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the fall term. Susy was nominated by FNU nurse practitioner alumna, Beth Morrell.

Susy has practiced at Leesburg Sterling Family Practice for the past 15 years, which has allowed her to form remarkable relationships with her patients. As she treats multiple generations in the same family, she goes above and beyond to create strong bonds with families, making them feel heard, valued and important.

“Susy is an incredible teacher,” said Beth. “She gently teaches her students without ever making them feel scared or as if they do not know anything.”

Susy guides her students in understanding why they are performing each plan of care. She also teaches her students how to form strong bonds with their patients and how to make them feel like a part of their medical decision making.

Susy Furr, FNP and FNU nurse practitioner alumna, Beth Morrell

“She has a way with patients that puts them at ease and makes them keep coming back to her,” said Beth.

Susy has been voted Loudoun Now‘s favorite nurse practitioner for several years running in Loudoun County, Virginia’s third-most populous county with a population of more than 375,000.

Susy will receive a gift card as a small token of our appreciation for her being a great preceptor. Thank you for investing your time and talent in our Frontier students, Susy!

Go here to read more on previously recognized preceptors, or to nominate a preceptor.

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.