Preceptors | Page 4 | Frontier Nursing University

Featured Preceptor: Sonja Furse, DNP, PMHNP

December 10, 2018 By frontieredu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meet FNU’s New Dean of Nursing, Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM

October 8, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to bring on alumna Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM to spearhead FNU’s nursing education. Joan assumed her new position as dean of nursing in August 2018 after serving as interim dean beginning in March 2018. As dean, she is poised to address healthcare gaps by educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners amidst the transition to a new campus in Versailles, Ky.

Joan graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 1991 and completed her Master of Science in Nursing in 1993. She helped to establish Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, Mich., which is now the state’s largest midwifery service. She served over 20 years in full scope midwifery practice and returned to school to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2008. She is now serving a second term as the treasurer on the American College of Nurse-Midwives Board of Directors.

Frontier spoke with Joan about her passion for the Frontier mission, nurse-midwifery practice, and the challenges she will face as FNU continues to grow.

Where did your passion for caring for women and families originate?

“In a barn! I would sit for hours waiting for our cows to birth. Later as a nursing student, I saw a nurse care for a family during birth and thought that is how all women and families should be cared for. Later as a NICU nurse, I enjoyed attending the high-risk deliveries because I was so intrigued by labor and birth, so I transitioned to Labor & Delivery nursing and eventually midwifery.”

Learn more about Joan’s passion for women and families in this video.

Can you share your story of how and why you became a certified nurse-midwife?

“I worked with Southwest Michigan’s first Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and liked the partnership with this CNM in caring for women as a nurse, but also liked the care difference I observed. That is the kind of care I felt all women deserved, so I decided to pursue midwifery.”

Learn more about Joan’s calling to nurse-midwifery in this video.

We know you are a graduate of the first CNEP class at FNU. How does it feel to come back to the university you graduated from and assume the title dean of nursing?

“After working 25 years as a clinician, one would think a “new” career would be very anxiety provoking, but I have been involved in FNU as a midwife from the beginning – student, faculty, preceptor. It was like coming “home.” I did not anticipate becoming the dean, but leadership skills are the same no matter the job and with FNU’s strong team of associate deans and program directors, I felt as a team we would be successful.”

Learn more about Joan’s return to Frontier in this video.

What has been your career path so far and how did it lead you to joining the faculty at Frontier and to your current role as dean of nursing?

“In addition to the obvious career of full scope midwifery, I have spent a great deal of time teaching. I have been involved with Frontier since I was a student, including precepting nearly 100 FNU students as well as teaching courses in the midwifery program. Working collaboratively at a very large practice with multidisciplinary teams, along with gaining experience in business development and finance, were great preparation for this administrative role as a member of FNU’s leadership team. I felt those leadership skills could be used to successfully transition from clinical practice into working with an institution that had been a part of my life for a very long time.”

Learn more about Joan’s journey to Dean in this video.

How have you carried out the mission and vision that Mary Breckinridge set forth through your career thus far?

“By building a practice that has stayed true to midwifery core values and the midwifery model and helping others to do the same. Also, the entrepreneurial aspects of developing places where midwives can work to their fullest capacity and articulating the value of midwifery to protect practices has been a personal commitment. I think Mary Breckinridge would be proud to know her vision has stayed the same and we’ve stayed true to our mission and philosophy.”

Learn more about how Joan plans to carry out Mary Breckinridge’s mission for Frontier in this video.

What are you most excited about in your new role as dean of nursing and/or what goals do you have?

“The opportunity to work with an organization with thoughts and beliefs that match my own. I like developing processes, working to build teams and creating synergy to streamline processes. The move to the new campus and developing a business model that will allow for more growth as our capacity increases.”

Learn about Joan’s planned strategies as Dean in this video.

What are the biggest challenges that you will face in your new role?

“I look at challenges as opportunities. I like change. I think the challenge confronting all of FNU at this time is executing a seamless transition to the Versailles campus. I want to preserve what students value about FNU’s history and traditions and translate that to meaningful on-site experiences in Versailles.”

Learn more about the challenges Joan anticipates in her new role in this video.

How do you see technology and innovation having an impact on educating the next generation of nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners?

“I think technology can expand our exposure to knowledge and experiences. I’m very excited about the advancement in simulations and virtual learning, but I never want to see us lose touch with developing our people skills.”

Learn more about how Joan will handle technology and innovation in nursing education in this video.

What is a fun fact about you?

“My dad used to race thoroughbred horses and I grew up on a horse when most kids had bikes, so Kentucky horse country is a very cool place for me to work.”

Learn more about Joan in this video.

What do you do for fun when you are not busy being the dean?

“The 3 Gs – grandchildren, gardening and golf. My Achilles heel is my grandchildren. I’m absolutely crazy about all of them.”

Learn more about Joan’s life outside of Frontier in this video.

We wish you luck as you settle into your new role, Joan! We are glad to have another alumna making a difference at FNU!

Featured Preceptor: Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM

September 10, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM, from Seven Hills Women’s Health Centers in Cincinnati, Ohio, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the Summer 2018 term. Cheyenne was nominated by recent nurse-midwifery graduate and DNP student Michelle Gragg.

Cheyenne is a certified nurse-midwife with a master’s degree in public health. She spent many years serving the underserved population of Cincinnati before relocating to work in the Seven Hills birth center. Now, she is working to establish a low-intervention birthing room at one of the local hospitals. Her hope is that this step may lead to another birth center in the future.

“One thing I noticed as a student is how much Cheyenne cares for her patients,” said her preceptee, Michelle.

Cheyenne strives to make each patient feel valued. She begins her appointments by asking how the patient is doing. She listens and then asks, “What else?” and gains the patient’s trust as she elicits an enormous amount of information from them.

DNP Student Michelle Gragg, CNM with Preceptor Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM

She has formed incredible provider-patient relationships using this method, and by remembering each patient’s name and details.

“I have learned so much more than skills from Cheyenne. I am learning true patient-centered care,” said Michelle. “She is passionate about midwifery and its advancement, and she meets all patients where they are at in a supportive manner.”

Michelle, a fall 2017 CNM graduate, has an anticipated DNP graduation date of June 2019.

While precepting Michelle, Cheyenne shared with their patients about Mary Breckinridge and the history of FNU. She plans to precept more FNU graduates in the future.

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

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

FNU Asks AANP Attendees to Answer the Call to Service

July 19, 2018 By frontieredu

A new wave of preceptors is signing on with Frontier Nursing University (FNU) as a result of many inquiries at the 2018 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Conference. FNU faculty and staff traveled to the Denver Convention Center on June 27-30 for the annual AANP event. For three days FNU exhibited at its booth, displaying information and taking inquiries.

With over 3,000 in attendance, FNU received dozens of inquiries as to how attendees could become involved in precepting at FNU.

FNU Exhibit Hall booth

As most of the AANP conference attendees are nurse practitioners (NPs), FNU faculty are encouraged that the NPs who inquired will become a vital part of the FNU student experience as preceptors.

Other attendees expressed interest in Post-Graduate certificates and FNU’s DNP program.

Throughout the conference, several FNU faculty members and students presented posters and presentations:

Poster: “The APN: Resources in the Face of Disaster”

Presenters: Dr. Diane John, Dr. Kate Moriarty, Dr. Charlotte Morris, Tamara Vasquez

Presentation: “Rapid Fire: Caring for LGBT Patients: The Call for Culturally Competent Care”

Presenters: Dr. Joanne Keefe and Dr. Amber Littlefield

“Innovation in Care: Bringing Behavioral Health Services to the Primary Care Setting” presented by April Dobroth

Poster: “Innovation in Care: Bringing Behavioral Health Services to the Primary Care Setting”

Presenter: Dr. April Dobroth

Poster: “Medical Mission Revival: Meeting Unmet Medical Needs in Underserved, Underprivileged Areas of the U.S. While Providing NP Students an Innovative Clinical Experience”

Presenters: Dr. Stephanie Collins and Dr. Melanie Morrison

Students Neander Tobingo and Jennifer McCammond, FNU PRIDE Ambassadors

Two FNU students, Neander Tabingo and Jennifer McCammond, represented the PRIDE program and were integral in running the FNU booth.

During the conference, FNU also engaged its extensive network with a breakfast, inviting all Frontier alumni, students, faculty and preceptors to attend. FNU Clinical Director Dr. Irma Jordan and Associate Dean of Family Nursing Dr. Lisa Chappell spoke to the group of more than 40 who attended.

FNU Alumni and Friends Reception

Brittney Edwards, Director of Marketing and Communications, took the opportunity to unveil FNU’s brand new Development Video. Genny Little was also introduced as Frontier’s Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations. Her new role includes expanding the Wide Neighborhoods program, among many other items.

To find out more about the AANP Conference, go here.

See the FNU 2018 AANP photo album.

Featured Preceptor: Sandi Hayes, APRN, CNP

June 11, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Sandi Hayes, APRN, CNP, from St. Cloud Medical Group in Clearwater, Minn., was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the spring 2018 term. Sandi was nominated by recent DNP graduate Kelly Papesh.

Sandi has been practicing Family Medicine at Clearwater Clinic in rural Minnesota since 2012. Through her practice at Clearwater, an outpatient family practice clinic, she upholds the values of Mary Breckinridge by serving a rural community and giving access to populations who might not otherwise have healthcare. In the clinic, Sandi serves a wide range of patients across their lifespan. The majority of Sandi’s patients are adults and geriatrics, whom she treats for chronic and acute conditions.

As a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Sandi also works with all the diabetic patients at the clinic. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) as well as a public health nurse.

Sandi Hayes with preceptee Kelly Papesh

Sandi completed her FNP at Frontier in 2012. She began precepting her nominator, Kelly, for a family practice rotation as Kelly was finishing up her FNP in 2016. Though it was just her first time precepting, Sandi’s attentiveness and open approach to precepting was hugely beneficial to Kelly.

Kelly included the following statement in her nomination:

“I learned so much from her and she worked with me so patiently to give me the best learning opportunity. Sandi is compassionate, thorough, and she cares deeply about her patients as evidenced by the relationships she has established. I so appreciate all of her time and commitment to helping build the nurse practitioner community.”

Sandi will continue precepting for FNU, and has another student slated to begin with her in the summer.

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

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

The Gift of Precepting – Susan Clapp, CNM

March 30, 2018 By frontieredu

In the life of Susan Clapp, CNM, precepting is a gift that is both given and received. Susan was working in Labor & Delivery after receiving her LPN in 1992. At the time, one of her instructors who was a nurse-midwife got Susan very interested in the profession, but life took over. Between a husband and two babies, Susan’s dream of being a midwife sat in the wings until another midwife started working on her floor.

Susan enrolled in Frontier Nursing University (FNU) in Class 81 and received her CNM in 2012. During her time as a student, she was the recipient of mentoring by three different preceptors.

“I was so blessed. They were fantastic and they were lovely,” Susan says of her preceptors.

Now, as a full-scope nurse-midwife for the Department of Defense at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Ft. Hood, TX, Susan gets to pay that gift forward.

As many nurses know, precepting is not an easy task. Many students are leaders in a medical setting, and being a novice under the direction of a preceptor can prove a difficult transition for both parties. It can also be hard for students to find preceptors, and when they do, the hospital may not accept a preceptee or give first choice to medical residents.

Preceptors also face a challenge, because it adds so much work to their already-full plate of patients. A good preceptor expends extra hours for teaching and demonstrations while precepting, which can be draining and stressful.

Despite the difficulties that come with precepting, Susan estimates she has precepted around 20 students since her graduation from Frontier six years ago. Her team of nurse-midwives strives to constantly have a preceptee in rotation, so that the students can benefit from being in their practice.

One of her recent preceptees had a triumphant moment during a complicated, emergency case. Though Susan could tell she was nervous, she let her preceptee take the lead – and was ecstatic with how she took control of the situation.

“She did so good and it made me incredibly proud. We got out of the room and I was squealing like a teenager,” says Susan.

Moments like these are what Susan lives for – and the reason she continues precepting.

“I think it’s important because you need to give back to your community,” she says. “You need to grow the nurse practitioner and the provider profession. You’ve got to give back so that those students can grow. If you don’t do it, then nobody is going to do it.”

Susan doesn’t stop at precepting in her mission to give back to the midwifery community. She was President of the FNU Alumni Association Advisory Council president for 5 years, and now serves on the council as the Development Committee Chair. She also participates in FNU’s SAGE Mentoring Network and Wide Neighborhoods Ambassador Program. Frontier clearly takes a special place in Susan’s life.

“I went [to Frontier] and I found this whole, big huge community,” Susan says. “You have to find your people; I went there and found a huge community.”

Of the 20-or-so students that Susan has precepted, the cycle is coming full circle for a few of them as they are beginning to precept others. It’s a proud moment for Susan. But she also reminds the ones that haven’t started precepting that they don’t have to know everything.

“Ninety percent of your job is caring,” she says.

And for anyone doubting their qualifications as a preceptor, Susan has an answer:

“At first you feel so unworthy. You think about your preceptor as this huge mentor, they’re all-knowing, they’re like superheroes. And you think to yourself, ‘I’m not that person.’ But you are that person. You just have to step out there and do it.”

Featured Preceptor: Jana Sund, CNM

March 12, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Jana Sund, CNM, from Kalispell Regional Health Care, Kalispell, MT, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the winter term. Jana was nominated by recent nurse-midwifery graduate, Debbie Miller.

With a genuine interest in molding new and future CNMs, Jana constantly gives of herself as a teacher, mother, and women’s care provider. In her position at FamilyBorn Maternity and Women’s Health, she takes a holistic, patient-centered approach to care for all of her patients, which include women from the start of menstruation through menopause.

Jana serves as an National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provider as well as cares for women’s with health insurance coverage. She also started a nonprofit community postpartum depression/mood disorder support group. At its beginning, it served women from her clinic, and since has grown to serve women in the entire Flathead Valley and outlying counties. Jana recently precepted her nominator Debbie, who said she gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from Jana’s practice.

Jana Sund, CNM, helps student nurse-midwife Debbie Miller, celebrate her 24th birth.

“She has a giving heart and thrives on caring for others,” said Miller. “Each of her patients leave the office with a sense of security, having been heard and their concerns and fear validated.”

Jana is the secretary treasurer of the Montana ACNM affiliate group. She was also the recipient of the Varney award during her time at the University of Utah midwifery program.

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

G0 here to read more on previously recognized preceptors, or to nominate a preceptor.

In Search of a Preceptor: Roxanne Lapointe Finds Beverly Wilson

January 8, 2018 By frontieredu

Searching for a preceptor, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) 2017 graduate Roxanne LaPointe didn’t expect to find a mentor and friend through just a sweatshirt, yet that’s exactly what happened.

During her first days as an FNU student, Roxanne purchased a university sweatshirt, thinking of nothing more than supporting the school at which she’d recently enrolled. A few months later in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Roxanne took her daughter to a day surgery center to have tubes put in, wearing her sweatshirt. There, she met a woman who not only worked at the center, but who was also an FNU alumna and ended up connecting her to the local chapter of nurse practitioners.

A loyal member to the chapter, Roxanne attended meetings and paid dues, meeting fellow nurse practitioners in her area. When it came time to find a preceptor, she noticed a fellow member with a street address that matched her own. One of her neighbors was a member of the same chapter!

Roxanne consulted her husband, asking whether she should introduce herself. They decided to make the connection; Roxanne made banana bread and bravely knocked on her neighbor’s door, asking Beverly Wilson to become her preceptor.

Despite being nervous she would be turned away, Roxanne instead found that Beverly had also graduated from FNU. After working through details, Beverly became Roxanne’s preceptor and eventually one of her greatest mentors and influencers.

“I learned so much,” said Roxanne. “Beverly was kind, patient and so encouraging. She is absolutely amazing with a wealth of knowledge.”

According to Roxanne, even though FNU is an online program, it maintains a strong community dispersed all over the country.

“Frontier has a community,” she said. “You may have to dig a little to find it, but once you do, you fall in and you’re embraced wholly. I’ve never had that with any other school.”

What began with a simple sweatshirt ended in a great friendship and a rewarding preceptor-student relationship. Although FNU students, faculty, alumni and friends are spread throughout the globe, Roxanne and Beverly remind us that it truly is a tight-knit community – one that wouldn’t be the same without our extraordinary preceptors.

We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of our past and present preceptors who play an integral role in molding and inspiring tomorrow’s nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives.

Are you a health care professional with a desire to give back to students as they begin their journey? FNU is always looking for new preceptors to be teachers and role models to our students. Please visit our preceptors page for more information.