Preceptors | 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.

Telehealth Offers Solutions to Precepting During the Pandemic

February 15, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

Jeff Anderson, DNP, MS, PMHNP-BC, began his role as Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) in the PMHNP program at FNU in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 Pandemic became widespread throughout the United States. Just like the other RCFs and students, Anderson had to adjust quickly to a new way of work.

As clinics began to shut down or reduce on-site personnel due to the pandemic, many students were faced with the prospect of losing their clinical sites.

“There have been several instances where either the preceptor or the clinic stopped taking students as the COVID numbers went up,” said Anderson, who resides in Idaho and works with students primarily in the northwestern part of the country. “In those cases, we had to suspend the preceptor relationship because the student was no longer allowed in the clinic. We have had students who, because a clinical site shut down, had to go on academic hiatus.”

Anderson himself faced hurdles connecting with preceptors. Instead of meeting with preceptors face to face, as is the norm, the meetings have largely been held via video.

“In the time I’ve been with Frontier, I’ve only traveled once to meet with a preceptor face to face,” Anderson said. “It’s kind of the way business is done now.”

Not only has video conferencing enabled Anderson to meet with preceptors, but it has also enabled many of his psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students to continue to progress at their clinical sites. Anderson said that most of the roughly 30 students he has had over the past few terms have transitioned to at least some level of telehealth with their preceptors.

“For the students who have found a good situation with a preceptor, it has really been convenient for them to do telehealth from their own home,” he said. “We have had students do clinicals in which they stay at home and they log in to a Zoom type meeting with the patient and the preceptor. We have also have the situation where the preceptor is still going to their office and the student meets them in their office, so the student and preceptor are both in the office but the patient joins via telehealth.”

Though there are some drawbacks such as not being able to see a patient’s body language, Anderson said that telehealth provides a viable option, particularly for PMHNP students.

“Mental health is unique compared to the other specialties at Frontier because mental health treatment really lends itself to telehealth,” he said. “I don’t see a big drop in the quality with telehealth versus face to face. In my own practice, when I see patients, it’s 100 percent telehealth now. Because of the jumpstart provided by COVID, telehealth is going to be significantly more prevalent in the future. It is a very important part of the students’ education to participate in and understand telehealth because it may be a big piece of their practices going forward.”

Anderson said that even post-pandemic, telehealth might prove to be the preferred option for many patients who otherwise might have difficulty attending an appointment. In mental health care, virtual visits have not often been an option as insurance companies have been resistant to pay for telehealth.

“It is hard to say there’s anything positive coming from the pandemic, but if there was it would be that insurance companies that have in the past have been somewhat reluctant to pay for telehealth now will have a year’s worth of data showing that it is just as effective,” Anderson said. “In some ways, I think telehealth might be more effective because the no-show rates go down. Mental health patients can telehealth right from their home where they are more comfortable.”

Most of the PMHNP students who have been able to have face-to-face visits with patients have done so where the patients are admitted and living on-site. Other students have found telehealth to be a tool to acquire clinical hours with preceptors in other states.

“Telehealth actually opened some doors for precepting in that a lot of states are compact states where an RN license from one state is valid in the other state,” Anderson said. “What that allows is that, if we have a student in Colorado who can’t find any sites in their state, they can reach out to any other compact state and look for a provider that’s doing telehealth and willing to take on a student. They’re really not limited to their state anymore. I’ve actually had some students who have obtained an RN license in a non-compact state because they had a willing telehealth preceptor in that state.”

While an end to the pandemic will surely result in a significant return to in-person healthcare, Anderson said that the past year has shown that telehealth is here to stay.

“This is a real-world experience,” he said of the widespread adjustment to and implementation of telehealth. “Telehealth is definitely an important aspect of the psychiatric mental health NP student’s education at this point and moving forward.”

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.

FNU Honors National Rural Health Day

November 5, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

On November 19, Frontier Nursing University (FNU), along with healthcare providers across the country, will come together to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). NRHD gives the healthcare community a chance to celebrate the community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America while bringing light to the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face and showcasing the dedicated work of rural healthcare providers.

In previous years, FNU had celebrated with a weekend of virtual events educating others on the importance of rural health and spreading best practices to other healthcare providers. Last year’s CE session hosted by Dean of Nursing, Dr. Slager, can still be viewed here through the end of the year. With the ongoing pandemic this year, FNU had to make the difficult choice to allocate efforts elsewhere and instead continued to focus on the mission they share with NRHD of bringing quality care to rural communities.

Throughout the year, FNU students, faculty and alumni have been out on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 in rural communities. Some examples of FNU frontliners include Jamie Westlund, serving in rural Hawaii amidst a PPE shortage, Korah Schwab extending COVID-19 care to rural immigrant communities in N. C., and Kevin Scalf, PMHNP-BC, who has been increasing mental health care for citizens of rural Eastern Ky. It has been a challenging year, but even a pandemic can’t stop FNU from extending care to underserved communities.

Those interested in joining FNU to further rural community outreach can take NRHD’s Power of Rural Pledge and commit to advocating for rural communities in four ways throughout the coming year.

Collaboration

Seek out new relationships that will bring additional resources into the rural healthcare fold. Once these relationships are established, it becomes easier to share ideas, resources and information as supporters work together in the common interest of rural health and wellness.

Communication

Use all available channels and mediums to spread the word about the Power of Rural. Stay connected with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) throughout the year and then follow, like, forward, post, and pin stories, ideas, facts, and opportunities to further build partnerships with those working to make a difference in rural healthcare.

Innovation

Share facts and information about the need to improve access and outcomes in rural communities with those who influence policy and resource allocation. Then, inform those entering the healthcare workforce about the many fulfilling opportunities available in rural communities.

Education

Engage partners from non-healthcare industries to help create additional solutions to prevailing challenges by developing ideas, programs, and models that continue to transform and positively impact rural healthcare. Together we can explore and implement new approaches to reach these at-risk rural populations.

Although FNU’s primary focus is education, the university works hard each day to follow all four portions of the Power of Rural Pledge. FNU collaborates with existing rural nurse practitioners by engaging them as preceptors for their students and growing the network of nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives throughout rural America. A wide variety of FNU’s communications are also focused on spreading awareness about the importance of rural healthcare. Follow FNU on Facebook, Twitter, or visit their blog to keep up to date on rural health initiatives. Additionally, FNU is consistently updating methods and curriculum to best serve rural communities. One part of every Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student’s journey includes collaborating with their clinical site to lead a rapid cycle quality improvement project. These projects work to improve a specific area of the student’s clinical site to better care for the community they serve.

Individuals interested in working alongside FNU to advocate for NRHD can visit the NRHD website’s toolkit, which features an array of downloadable resources such as flyers, social media graphics, and event ideas that can be used to spread the word. Further support for NRHD can also be given through fiscal contributions here.

Since its foundation more than 80 years ago, FNU has been committed to serving rural communities and their unique healthcare needs. It is the university’s mission to continue supporting these communities by encouraging new health care workers to go out and provide care to these essential American regions.

Thank you to all of the FNU staff, faculty, students, and preceptors who make rural America a priority!

Frontier University Celebrates Their 2020 Homecoming Award Winners

October 20, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Each year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumni and faculty gather for fun, fellowship, sharing memories and to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers at the annual Homecoming event. Although COVID-19 prevented the university from hosting an in-person gathering this fall, the university still worked hard to honor those who have shined exceptionally bright this year through its annual Homecoming awards.

The annual Homecoming awards fall into two primary categories including The Distinguished Service to Society Award, which provides recognition for alumni who go above and beyond to provide exceptional service in their communities; and The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award, which honors alumni who have supported Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support. Additionally, FNU also presents its Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award and Unbridled Spirit Award for members of the FNU community who have shown unyielding support to the school.

The community at FNU is proud of the accomplishments of these award winners and the many ways in which they have represented FNU and its mission. Here are this year’s Homecoming award winners:

Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award:

Rebeca Barroso, DNP, MSN, RN, CNM, FACNM

Rebeca Barroso lives in St. Paul, Minn., where she was in full-scope nurse-midwifery clinical practice for more than 20 years, after 22 years in direct-entry midwifery practice. Dr. Barroso, who earned both her nurse-midwifery certificate and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from FNU, served as an assistant professor at Frontier from 2011 to 2016. She is currently an associate professor at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minn., where she teaches the graduate level maternal-infant content and pathophysiology for the nurse practitioner students.

Dr. Barroso has an extensive clinical midwifery background, working with vulnerable women experiencing health disparities from multiple cultural backgrounds. In 2008, Dr. Barroso was the recipient of the Community Service Award granted by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis for her work with patients from these underserved populations.

Dr. Barroso is a co‐editor of Best Practices in Midwifery: Using the Evidence to Implement Change, Second Edition (2016), and DNP Capstone Projects: Exemplars of Excellence in Practice (2015). She is a fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2011, Dr. Barroso won ACNM’s W. Newton Long Award for the Advancement of Midwifery.

Throughout her career, Dr. Barroso has been a dedicated supporter of FNU. She has precepted more than a dozen Frontier students and has been a generous donor for more than 20 years. FNU thanks Dr. Barroso for her remarkable commitment to her profession, her community, and to Frontier. FNU is proud to present her with the 2020 Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award.

Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award:

Rebecca Feldman, CNM, PMHNP

Rebecca Feldman is a nurse-midwife, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and psychotherapist in maternal mental health. She sees clients in private practice in the offices of Boro Park Ob/Gyn and Midwives, and at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, N.Y., as part of the perinatal psychiatry team.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from FNU and a Post Master’s in Psychiatric Nursing from NYU. Feldman, who has delivered more than 70 babies, has a broad range of nursing experience, as well as ten years of experience as a nurse-midwife. Her vast experience helped her identify an area of need in women’s health care -perinatal mental health. She applied for grants to start mothers’ groups in English and Spanish. She made these evidence-based support groups available to mothers at no cost and continues to provide mental health services to clients with underlying mental health diagnoses or perinatal mood disorders.

Feldman provides mental health care during all aspects of family building, including preconception planning, families struggling with infertility, postpartum parents, as well as those surviving pregnancy, infant or child loss. She facilitates a weekly group for pregnant or postpartum clients struggling with depression and/or anxiety, and payment is only by donation.

In addition to her service to her patients, she is also a leader and advocate. She is a frequent guest speaker on maternal mental health and is an advocate for making maternal mental health care accessible to all families in need. Feldman has seemingly always been willing to give her time and expertise to assist others. Even as a student at FNU, she hosted case days in her home. As a graduate, she has precepted FNU students every year since becoming eligible to do so in 2016.

Feldman is a credit to her FNU training and a most worthy recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award.

Distinguished Service to Society Award:

Rachel Lien, FNP

Rachel Lien, who earned her MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from Frontier, quickly applied what she learned at the school. Shortly after graduation, she signed on at a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Massachusetts, where patients from all over the world came for specialized treatment.

Based on Lien’s work with patients from Arabic-speaking countries, her community service in interfaith dialogue groups, and a Moroccan American community group, she was awarded the Kathryn Davis Peace Fellowship. This fellowship allowed her to study Arabic for a full summer. An additional scholarship from One Nurse At A Time led her to Pakistan, where she volunteered at a hospital and clinic. Lien worked in the newborn inpatient unit and taught classes to promote health and wellness among the staff and students.

Next, Lien traveled to Greece to work at a clinic in a refugee camp. Working abroad taught her that one person traveling to volunteer was not enough and how politics, culture, and organizational structure contribute to the vast disparities in health worldwide.

With these experiences and new insights, Lien returned to Massachusetts to continue learning and preparing herself to be a more significant agent of change. She is now pursuing her DNP at Frontier and working at Franklin Family Practice. Her tireless efforts to learn how to best serve her community, paired with her commitment to improving health outcomes worldwide, are inspiring. Rachel Lien is an outstanding example of providing service to others, and, for that reason, FNU is proud to honor her as the winner of the 2020 Distinguished Service to Society Award.

Distinguished Service to Society Award:

Melva Craft-Blacksheare, DNP, MS, RN, CNM

Dr. Melva Craft-Blacksheare is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing. She has been a registered nurse (RN) for over 40 years and a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) for 26. Dr. Craft-Blacksheare, who earned her CNM from FNU, practices as a centering pregnancy facilitator with the St. John Providence Health System in the Metro Detroit area.

Dr. Craft-Blacksheare is the lead faculty at the University of Michigan-Flint for Maternity Nursing and Issues in Women’s Health courses. She also co-chairs DNP student research projects and serves on the curriculum committee, student concerns committee, and is a former advisory member of the Women’s Educational Center. She is a co-chair for the A.C.T.S (A Chance to Succeed) Mentoring Program. She is on the steering committee of Genesys Hospital Centering Pregnancy.

Dr. Craft-Blacksheare is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and the Greater Flint Black Nurses Association. She has been the project director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant “New Careers in Nursing” to increase nursing workforce diversity. She is a chartered member of the Chi Eta Phi, Sorority Inc. Iota Chi Chi Chapter, an international professional nursing sorority whose mission is “service for humanity.”

As a leader in her field and at her university, Dr. Craft-Blacksheare embodies the spirit of Frontier. A preceptor to FNU students, she continues to give back to FNU and the nurse-midwifery profession as an educator, researcher, and practitioner. For her decades of service and commitment to FNU, Dr. Melva Craft-Blacksheare is the very deserving winner of this year’s Distinguished Service to Society Award.

During each Homecoming Ceremony, FNU also presents awards to some of their most dedicated and passionate supporters. This year’s winners include:

Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award:

Dr. Susan Graham and Dr. Jon Kucera

Dr. Susan Graham, a member of the extended Breckinridge family, and her husband, Dr. Jon Kucera, are longtime FNU supporters. They have inspired others to give as well, such as matching donations to FNU on Giving Tuesday.

Their gifts have supported many FNU initiatives, including student scholarships and the Kitty Ernst Midwifery Endowed Chair Fund. In 2019 they made a pledge for the construction of a walking path around the Versailles campus.

Not only do they support FNU with financial gifts, but also with gifts of time and expertise. Susan is an active member of FNU’s Leadership Council and stays closely connected to the university and its mission.

With the deepest gratitude for their support, FNU proudly presents Dr. Susan Graham and Dr. John Kucera with the Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award.

Unbridled Spirit Award:

Ellen Bayard

Ellen Bayard served as a Frontier Nursing Service Courier from the early fall of 1968 to the late spring of 1969. Since that time, her generous annual contributions have helped to further the mission and work of Frontier. In addition to her financial commitment, Ms. Bayard has volunteered her time and talents as a member of the Courier Advisory Council.

In recognition and gratitude for her service as Courier, advisor, and supporter, FNU is proud to present the Unbridled Spirit Award to Ellen Bayard.

Thanks again to all of FNU’s dedicated alumni, friends, and supporters. We couldn’t do this without you, and we wouldn’t want to! To learn more about other alumni activities and how to stay involved, visit FNU’s alumni page. For more information on how to become a donor and help Frontier spread quality care to underserved communities, click here.

Building the Future of the Healthcare System: The Value of Becoming a Preceptor Today

August 20, 2020 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is a community of students, educators, graduates and staff working together to expand access to quality, compassionate care in rural and underserved populations. To continue placing attentive, responsible advanced practice nurses into the field, we need partners who believe in our mission. With more than 2,400 nurse-midwife and nurse practitioner students from all 50 states, we are always in need of kind, intelligent, professional preceptors to lead our passionate students through their clinical experience. Will you be the one to answer the call?

By volunteering time and services as a preceptor, qualified nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners can touch innumerable lives and make a vital difference in the future of nursing and midwifery. Preceptors serve as the graduate nursing student’s teacher, supervisor and evaluator during their clinical practicum, giving them incredible influence over what kind of nurse the student will become.

In recent months the world has seen an increased need and appreciation for those in the nursing profession. More than ever, it is imperative that our country has educated, quality healthcare workers. When a certified nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner steps up to become a preceptor, they choose to meet the needs of communities across the country by bringing energetic new nurses to the field during these unprecedented times.

“My preceptor is very valuable to me,” said Stephanie Allotey, MSN, CNM, DNP, Class 31. “You can feel and know that they want you here and want you to become the best nurse-midwife.”

Nephthalie Hypolite, CNM, was inspired to become a preceptor because of her experience being “challenged and pushed” to become the midwife she is today.

“I would encourage anyone who is considering being a preceptor to go for it. You have nothing to lose, and you have everything to gain,” said Hypolite. “The friendships that you build with the new generation of midwives, the fact that you learn along with your students, and that you’re giving back to the midwifery community is just invaluable.”

She had many more great things to say in her video for our “Becoming a Preceptor” series.

Our faculty and staff are aware that choosing to become a preceptor is a big decision, and we are eager to support our preceptors throughout that journey. FNU’s clinical services coordinator will work with preceptors to help them utilize the online preceptor profile portal, provide information regarding FNU’s Master and Expert Preceptor programs, and answer questions regarding preceptor honorariums. In addition, Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) are available to support the preceptor by providing guidance in student clinical issues.

In addition to providing faculty support to our preceptors, FNU also makes sure to reward those willing to help create dedicated nurses through various benefit programs. All preceptors at FNU gain access to free Continuing Education Units (CEUs) on essential topics like pharmacology and online training courses like, “The Gift of Precepting” and “The Master Preceptor,” which our faculty designed to help our preceptors have the best experience possible. Additionally, preceptors will earn a 10 percent discount on all non-matriculating courses at FNU, obtain documentation of their precepting hours for recertification purposes, and receive an honorarium based on the percentage of time spent precepting students.

According to Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC, preceptor in Spindale, NC, precepting presents an excellent opportunity to give back to the community of family nurse practitioners (FNPs).

“I want to help the next generation of FNP providers as I had help along the way too,” said Cave. “I also learn from students. Precepting keeps me on my toes.”

FNU is a school founded on making a difference in our world through honest, compassionate nursing and midwifery care. We believe we further that mission when we onboard excellent preceptors to help us bring confident, new nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners into the field. Our preceptor program is centered around providing a productive and beneficial program for both student and preceptor, and our testimonials show just how impactful this program can be.

If supporting a future generation of nurse-midwives as a preceptor sounds like an excellent fit for you, please fill out our preceptor inquiry form. An FNU representative will follow up with you on the next steps for taking on this inspiring role. You can also learn more about precepting in our “Becoming a Preceptor” video series on YouTube.

For additional information, email our Department of Clinical Outreach and Placement at ClinicalAdvising@frontier.edu.