PRIDE | Frontier Nursing University

2018 Year in Review

January 2, 2019 By frontieredu

2018 is wrapping up at Frontier Nursing University (FNU)! From individual student accomplishments to the Versailles campus acquisition, it was truly an exciting year to be part of the FNU community. Below are some of our highlights from 2018. Be sure to watch the “2018 FNU Year in Review” video at the bottom of the post as well.

Excellence in Teaching

Frontier’s MSN and PGC programs received continued accreditation from the Board of Commissioners of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). ACEN granted the accreditation of each of the specialties offered in FNU’s master of science in nursing and post-graduate certificate programs, and the new psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) specialty, through 2025. The first PMHNP students graduated in March.

In July, FNU was awarded the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The grant totals $1,376,800 in funding from 2018-2020, including $600,000 in student scholarships.

First Students Graduate from FNU’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program

Frontier Nursing University Awarded $1.3 Million HRSA Program Grant

Diversity and Inclusion

June held FNU’s eighth-annual Diversity Impact Student Conference. With workshops and activities revolving around the theme, “We Are One: Uniting Dreamers with Diverse Voices,” the four-day event helped attendees explore how to create meaningful connections within diverse communities. FNU was honored to receive the 2018 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education in October.

FNU Diversity Impact Celebrates 8 Years

A New Frontier: Versailles Campus

FNU is creating a new, accessible campus in Versailles, Ky. In September, FNU secured a contractor and began the renovations to several buildings and plots on the property. With expected completion tentatively set for 2020, you can stay up to date on the progress by subscribing for email updates or visiting Frontier.edu/versailles-kentucky-campus.

Read more:

FNU to Begin Work on Versailles Campus

Successful FNU Programs

From June to August, three Couriers served a vast number of Appalachian community members through their work in clinics and nonprofits. FNU also hosted its annual virtual events for National Midwifery Week (Sept. 30- Oct. 6) and National Nurse Practitioner Week (Nov. 11-18). Themed “Answer the Call to Service,” the free online sessions and continuing education opportunities provided participants with fuel to improve their leadership in the field.

Explore Sessions from This Year’s National Midwifery Week Virtual Event

What to Expect for FNU’s National Nurse Practitioner Week Virtual Event

Faculty & Staff Accomplishments

A couple of new staff and faculty members joined the FNU team in 2018. Debra Turner was brought on as the new Wendover operations manager, and Dr. Joan Slager was named dean of nursing. FNU President Dr. Susan Stone also received professional accolades when she was inducted as president of ACNM and elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Several faculty members and alumni contributed to the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) book of the year. “Freestanding Birth Centers: Innovation, Evidence, Optimal Outcomes,” written by several FNU faculty members and alumni, was awarded first place in the 2017 AJN Book of the Year Awards in Maternal-Child Health.

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

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone Inducted as President of ACNM

Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Susan Stone Elected to National Academy of Medicine

FNU Alumni and Faculty Contribute to Textbook Awarded First Place in the 2017 AJN Book of the Year Awards in Maternal-Child Health

Student & Alumni Achievements

On October 26, more than 800 nurse-midwife and nurse practitioner graduates received their degrees at commencement. We wish each the best in their careers!

Alumni from 2017 showed the effectiveness of a properly-structured, affordable distance education nursing program as test-takers surpassed the national board examination averages. Graduates exceeded national averages in each of the CNM, WHNP, FNP, MSN and PGC examinations.

FNU Awards Degrees to Over 800 Nurse-Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Graduates

We are so proud of our accomplishments in the FNU Community in 2018. The support from our friends, alumni, faculty, students, staff, and Couriers has been invaluable to our growth and success. We welcome 2019 with open arms!

Students and Faculty Emphasize Diversity Through Conferences and Research

November 16, 2018 By frontieredu

Every year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU)’s diversity initiative sends student PRIDE ambassadors to conferences that highlight diversity in the primary care workforce. At these conferences, including ACNM Meeting & Exhibition and AANP National Conference, FNU creates a strong presence through faculty members, student mentees and booth volunteers providing information to prospective students. FNU made strong showings at the NAHN and NBNA in August (read about it here).

Throughout September and October, more strides have been made through the AAPINA, AAMN and GLMA conferences as well as a project by FNU faculty member Dr. Diane John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC in providing better care for diverse populations.

AAPINA Conference

Karen Ojeda and Dr. Valentin-Welch at AAPINA 2018

Dr. Valentin-Welch and Karen Ojeda at 2018 AAPINA Conference

The 15th annual Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA) conference was held in Durham, N.C. from Sept. 22-23, 2018. FNU PRIDE Student Ambassador Karen Ojeda, along with Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch, attended the conference and represented the university with information on FNU’s distance education and specialty tracks.

The conference theme, “Local to Global: Future Directions for Research on Health Disparities,” embraced the overall goals that AAPINA has to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, including current statistics and national information on the health status of Asian American/Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

Conference workshops focused on healthcare issues facing the AAPI population, information on evidence-based research related to health disparities across the globe and the value of advanced practice opportunities for API nurses.

Attendees were encouraged by the AAPINA President, Dr. Alona Angosta, to carry the mission of AAPINA by addressing the current trends and future directions of health disparity research among API’s within their workplace and communities. The conference gave AAPINA members the opportunity to network and collaborate with nurses and researchers in various healthcare fields.

Frontier Nursing University provided a visible platform at the conference to inform prospective students of FNU’s specialty programs and its diversity initiatives. AAPINA continues to serve as an organization with a mission to increase visibility and diverse collaborations for Asian American and Pacific Islander nurses within the healthcare profession.

AAMN Annual Meeting & Exhibit

FNU PRIDE students at 2018 AAMN Annual Meeting & Exhibit

The 43rd American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) annual meeting and exhibit was held in Milwaukee, Wis. on Oct. 4-6, 2018. FNU PRIDE members and students Steve Carver and Jason Hone represented FNU as winners of the annual Student Ambassador essay contest hosted by FNU PRIDE. The essay contest is a writing initiative aimed at fostering student-leadership, academic retention, and professional development within nursing education.

The AAMN conference supports the professional growth of men in nursing. Sessions centered on increasing gender diversity in healthcare, and to bring awareness on discrimination towards men in the nursing field.

“Having experienced discrimination…it was heartening to know that I was not alone and that efforts are being made to improve these disparities,” said Hone.

Group discussions also focused on innovative solutions to combat the opioid crisis across the nation. “This event has enhanced my desire to specialize in addiction medicine and to become an active participant in decreasing this [opioid] epidemic and saving lives,” said Carver.

FNU PRIDE member and doctoral student, Homecia St. Clair, presented a poster entitled, “Don’t Push Me! I’m Close to the Edge! A Prospective Study of Depression in Men, Suicide Rates, and How It’s Affecting the Medical Community.”

Citing the fact that suicide is one of the biggest killers of men between ages 20-49, St. Clair’s presentation focused on some of the challenges men face with mental health when trying to seek help.

FNU received interest from prospective students for FNU’s new Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty program, among other programs. The conference also provided a platform to inform students of FNU’s Diversity PRIDE student organization. CNFP students Jean Volm and Rachel Sixberry volunteered to represent FNU at the exhibit booth.

“Working at the FNU booth with other students was great,” said Hone. “Meeting them, hearing their stories, and engaging conference patrons with them was a highlight for me at this event.”

The networking opportunities at the AAMN annual conference continue to serve as a platform to increase FNU’s visibility and diversity initiatives with the organization. “This event has enhanced my desire to earn a DNP from Frontier Nursing University in order to make a difference in my community,” said Carver.

GLMA Nursing Summit

Holly Howell and Bethney Seifert at 2018 GLMA Nursing Summit

The goal of the 36th annual GLMA Nursing Summit that took place in Las Vegas, Nev. on Oct. 10-13, 2018 was to build an inclusive home that promotes capacity building for LGBTQ nurses, nurse allies and nurse supporters.

The summit provides a forum for mentorship, support, and networking to develop and refine skills necessary to promote health equity for LGBTQ individuals. Conference workshops focused on healthcare issues facing LGBTQ nurses and marginalized LGBTQ populations.

Discussions included research related to health equity, awareness of workplace policies for LGBTQ employees, sexual violence among LGBTQ identifying persons, trans-inclusive healthcare, and shared experiences of LGBTQ nursing students during their clinical and educational studies. Attendees were encouraged by Keynote Speaker, Dr. TaMara Griffin, Sacred Soul SEXucator and Holistic Healer, to practice self-care and to heal old traumas.

Two students volunteered to represent the university at GLMA with information on FNU’s distance education and specialty tracks, Holly Howell (CNEP) and Bethney Seifert (CDNP). GLMA continues with a mission to increase visibility for LGBTQ nurses within the healthcare profession.

Dr. Diane John’s research on heart disease in Broward County

Diane Y. John PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC

FNU Associate Professor Dr. Diane Y. John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC is improving the health outcomes of residents of Broward County, Fla. through a new project to reduce the risk of heart disease. Dr. John and a group of nurse practitioners, supported by the Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation (NPFH)/Astellas Promoting Heart Health Across the Age Span Award Program, attend community health events and talk with attendees to help them make positive health changes.

Dr. John’s clinical practice as an FNP includes working with populations across the lifespan, as well as community work with diverse populations. 16% of the people Diane serves are

65 and older; 51% are female; 30% are Black or African American; 29% are Hispanic or Latino, and many are of other minority ethnicities. This population also has a small percentage of persons living without health insurance under the age of 65, with a disability and/or in poverty.

Diane Y. John NP, Vicky Stone-Gale, NP and Diana Arrieta, NP participate in Community Health Fair sponsored by Broward County Public Schools, TRUE Back School Committee, First Baptist Church

Tom Schlepko, NP, Christine Lewis, NP, Jodi Pearson, NP and community advocate Dioxy Herrera participate in The Worshipers House Community Health Event in Hollywood, Fla.

Her project, “Nurse Practitioners’ Influence on Heart Healthy Behaviors,” will integrate motivational interviewing into a community education initiative to help patients change behaviors associated with heart disease.

Thank you to each of our FNU PRIDE ambassadors, students, staff and faculty members for continuing to make FNU’s presence known and respected in these diversity-oriented settings.

FNU Graduates Answer the Call with a Focus on Diversity

November 8, 2018 By frontieredu

On October 20, 2018, a melting pot of over 800 newly-minted nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners from 47 states and three countries was charged with improving the landscape of maternity and family care. Each graduate that was recognized at the commencement festivities had completed his or her respective programs between October 2017 and October 2018.

While enrolled in distance education programs, these Frontier Nursing University (FNU) students learned more than just the technical aspects of their health care specialty. The FNU education model places its focus on preparing a diverse workforce of competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate leaders in primary care that will provide culturally-concordant care, improving health outcomes for women and families in diverse, rural and underserved populations.

DiversityNursing.com recently featured FNU on its blog for realizing this goal through diversity-related programming, initiatives and partnerships with like-minded organizations. Read the full article here – FNU Makes Diversity in Nursing a Reality.

With that focus instilled in each one, the 2018 graduates are poised to answer the call and change their communities.

Statistics find that approximately 700 women around the U.S. die of pregnancy complications per year, while 50,000 cases are near misses. Many of those cases are disproportionately correlated to race.

For example, African American women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die in and around childbirth than their white counterparts. However, only 6 percent of the current midwifery workforce in the U.S. is made up of men and women of color.

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN advocates for building a diverse midwifery workforce among the FNU community as well as through the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), an organization for which she also serves as president.

Under Stone’s charge, FNU’s initiative is to diversify the nursing workforce in primary care to provide better health outcomes for women and families across the nation. FNU has recently brought on two executive team members in Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch, DNP, MPH, CDP, CNM, FACNM, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Devon Peterika, MS, Assistant Director of Diversity & Inclusion. The new hires in these inaugural posts will guide FNU on matters of equity, diversity and inclusion. Former PRIDE Coordinator, Wilvena McDowell-Bernard, was recently given the title of Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator to better reflect her expanded responsibilities to serve all of FNU.

In addition to a staff and faculty that emphasize diversity, FNU students also have programming opportunities such as hosting and attending the annual Diversity Impact Student Conference and membership in the PRIDE Program, which promotes recruitment and retention to increase diversity in nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education. The PRIDE Program will soon be renamed “Diversity Impact Program,” to support the vision and strategy that champions the importance of a diverse and inclusive environment that values and supports all members of the university’s community. The program is being relocated to reside within the Diversity and Inclusion office.

Today, 23% of FNU students are men and women of color – up from just 9% in 2010. Over half of FNU’s 2,200 currently-enrolled students hail from a federally-designated rural area.

Because of its diversity and inclusion efforts, FNU recently received the 2018 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

The HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health, and other health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. This was the first time FNU has received the prestigious award.

“We believe in the benefits of a diverse university and in the positive impacts our diverse graduates can make in communities across the country,” said Dr. Stone.

“Our graduates serve people of all races and cultures and are increasingly coming from diverse backgrounds. It is imperative that our students, faculty and staff have cultural awareness and competency in order to effectively advance our mission of servant leadership.”

Dr. Stone, the Diversity and Inclusion department and the entire FNU staff and faculty will continue to push FNU forward in its efforts to diversify the health care workforce and educate nurse-midwives and nurse-practitioners that will answer the call to change their communities.

Frontier Nursing University Receives 2018 Health Professions HEED Award

October 18, 2018 By frontieredu

Versailles, Ky. – Today, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) received the 2018 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health, and other health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — FNU will be featured, along with 34 other recipients, in the December 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“We are deeply honored to receive the prestigious HEED Award,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone. “We believe in the benefits of a diverse university and in the positive impacts our diverse graduates can make in communities across the country. Our graduates serve people of all races and cultures and are increasingly coming from diverse backgrounds. It is imperative that our students, faculty and staff have cultural awareness and competency in order to effectively advance our mission of servant leadership. We have demonstrated our ongoing commitment to diversity by implementing programs and structure to ensure we reach our goals. The HEED Award is a validation of those efforts and provides additional inspiration to maintain our commitment to achieving and exceeding our diversity and inclusion goals.”

Since the implementation of the FNU PRIDE Initiative (Promoting Recruitment and Retention to Increase Diversity in Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse Practitioner Education) in 2010, which spearheaded many targeted recruitment activities, FNU has increased the student of color enrollment from 9% in 2010 to 23% in 2018. This success has been achieved through a comprehensive marketing effort targeting prospective students from underrepresented groups. Advertisements, conferences, events, and public relations have been focused on reaching and recruiting new students from underrepresented groups.

FNU has also held annual three-day Diversity Impact Student Conferences since the PRIDE Initiative began. The purpose of the Diversity Impact Conference is to ensure that nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives understand the challenges and opportunities offered by diversity in rural and underserved healthcare systems. Moreover, Diversity Impact advances solutions to problems posed by contemporary health care policy.

To further demonstrate its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, FNU created the position of Chief Diversity Inclusion Officer (CDIO) in 2017 and named Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch to that office. Dr. Valentin-Welch was named one of the Top 25 Women in Higher Education by Diverse Magazine earlier this year.

“The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both; continued leadership support for diversity; and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus.”

About Frontier Nursing University:

The mission of FNU is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

About INSIGHT Into Diversity

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.

FNU PRIDE Students Attend NBNA and NAHN Conferences

August 30, 2018 By frontieredu

Students, staff and faculty in the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) PRIDE Program represented FNU at two nurse association conferences in July.

The PRIDE Program at FNU promotes diversity in nursing and nurse-midwifery by recruiting and retaining underrepresented students with the goal of becoming nurse-midwives or nurse practitioners.

PRIDE members attended both the National Black Nurses Association and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses annual meetings in July of 2018.

FNU booth representatives with NBNA President Eric J. Williams

The 46th annual National Black Nurses Association Conference and Exhibit was held in St. Louis from July 31 – August 5. FNU Diversity PRIDE Program Coordinator, Wilvena Bernard, along with FNU Faculty Dr. Diane John and FNU PRIDE Student Ambassador Homecia St. Clair, attended the conference. The trio represented FNU as they gave out information to prospective students on the DNP program and employment opportunities at the university.

FNU students at NBNA

FNU also sent students from the NWD HRSA Professional Mentorship program to the NBNA conference. The mentorship program is a new university initiative to connect currently enrolled nursing students with faculty mentors at FNU. The mentorship program allowed FNU students Shani Pitts, Essence Williams, Catherine Orji and Ameenah Jackson to attend the conference with faculty mentor Dr. Tracy Hicks. Each left with invaluable experiences.

Student Ameenah Jackson presents at NBNA

Student Catherine Orji attended a Nurse Doctorate Symposium as part of her NBNA itinerary.

“l have a deeper understanding of the difference between a doctoral prepared nurse DNP and a PHD nurse,” she said. “l also embrace the importance of networking in my career.”

During the conference, student Ameenah Jackson presented a session entitled “A Nursing Call to Action: Black Maternal Mortality Crises.” Wilvena Bernard and Dr. John gave a presentation called “Unconscious Bias: The Impact of Communication and Healthcare Outcomes.” Both sessions received an enthusiastic regards from attendees.

FNU students also received honors at the conference. PRIDE member Essence Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM was presented with the NBNA “Under 40” Award, and newly-admitted student Crystal Norman, BSN, RNC-OB received the “Staff Nurse of the Year” Award.

See photos from FNU at the NBNA Conference

FNU booth representatives at NAHN

On the same weekend, the 43rd annual National Association of Hispanic Nurses Meeting and Exhibition was held in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference began July 31 and concluded August 3. FNU Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch attended as a mentor for several students in the NWD mentorship program, and all represented FNU with information on its specialty tracks and educational opportunities.

FNU attendees with NAHN President Anabell Castro-Thompson

The students attending through the mentorship program were Leticia Fernandez, Onidis Lopez, Elizabeth Martinez, Elizabeth Aviles, Martha Travieso, & Kalena Lanuza.

This year’s conference theme, “Latino Health Care: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity,” focused on addressing timely issues surrounding Latino healthcare regarding equity, diversity and inclusivity to bring awareness to health inequities affecting Hispanic communities of color.

Students attended workshops and sessions diving into that theme, and came away with powerful reflections.

Kalena, a DNP student at FNU, created a video sharing a synopsis of what she learned at the conference and why her mentorship experience was important.

FNU students with renowned Nursing Caring Theorist Dr. Jean Watson

“Seeing a group of dedicated, mostly Latino nurses, working together to navigate the current healthcare nursing landscape, while seeing to it that their cultural values and traditions were infused into the process was one of the highlights of this experience!,” she said.

See photos from FNU at the NAHN Meeting

Thanks to our students and mentors who attended and represented FNU!

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.

FNU Diversity Impact Celebrates 8 Years

July 16, 2018 By frontieredu

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) continued its initiative for a more diverse, culturally-conscious health care workforce through the 8th annual Diversity Impact Student Conference, held from June 7-10, 2018.

Diversity Impact is hosted by FNU’s PRIDE program (Promoting Recruitment and Retention to Increase Diversity in Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse Practitioner Education). The conference is open to any FNU student who wants to make a difference in providing care to rural and underserved communities.

The theme for Diversity Impact 2018: We Are One: Uniting Dreamers with Diverse Voices. The four-day program was designed with workshops and activities to help attendees explore how to fully experience, live and create meaningful connections within diverse communities.

Presenters at this year’s conference spoke on mental health and cultural care, transcultural nursing and the current state of mortality rates in the African American community. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Nancy López, Ph.D, titled Intersectionality: Examining Race, Gender, Class, Ethnicity, and the Results of Inequalities. Nursing students were challenged to foster their leadership skills to improve minority health among underrepresented and marginalized groups.

The conference programming also includes interactive learning opportunities for attendees. On the second day of the conference, participants took a cultural field trip to the memorial site of the 1970 Finley Mine Explosion in Hyden, Ky., tracing historical events to further explore rural health in the Appalachian region.

Another group activity promoted cross-cultural communication in an emergency environment. Student groups recreated the scene of a natural disaster or global epidemic and used artistic expression to inform an international population about a disease outbreak in a foreign country.

To finish the conference, students engaged in collaborative discussions to address health disparities and find proactive solutions to improve minority health among underrepresented and marginalized groups. This year, the featured topics for the forum discussions were: environmentally-sustainable healthcare; mental health in patient and police interactions; and vulnerable populations and sexual IQ risk reduction.

The 2018 Diversity Impact conference reinforces FNU’s strong initiatives to improve health care for mothers, babies and families. See local news coverage of this year’s Diversity Impact.

Photos from the event can be viewed here.

Interested in how you can get involved? Visit the Diversity Impact Student Conference page.

Listen to recordings from the live premier speaker sessions here:

FNU Attends the 2018 ACNM Conference

June 14, 2018 By frontieredu

FNU Fellows at the ACNM 2018 Reception

A record number of attendees was tallied at The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) 63rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Savannah, Ga. from May 20-24, 2018. Over 2100 were in attendance – among them, several Frontier Nursing University (FNU) representatives. Faculty, staff, alumni, students, preceptors and friends of FNU attended the four-day conference, as well as FNU PRIDE ambassadors and student mentees that helped out at the FNU exhibition booth.

The booth was open for exhibiting from Monday evening until Wednesday afternoon and the conference ended on Thursday morning. FNU’s theme for 2018: “It’s no SECRET, we want you to answer the call to SERVICE.”

FNU “Secret Service” Exhibition booth

The chosen theme reflected FNU President Dr. Susan Stone’s induction as the President of ACNM on the last day of the conference. The booth was outfitted in secret service decor, complete with “Answer the Call” badges, microfiber cloths, and pens to give away to booth visitors.

Just as the legacy of FNU founder Mary Breckinridge demonstrated nearly 80 years ago, “answering the call” to service manifests itself in many different ways. Even if an attendee did not have Frontier ties, FNU representatives urged all Nurse-Midwives to answer the call to service, whether in education, precepting, or serving their community.

Photos with Kitty Ernst

FNU's Secret Service themed exhibition booth

FNU representatives in “Secret Service” gear

During the exhibition time, more than a dozen attendees expressed interest in precepting FNU students. FNU gifted sunglasses to those who showed interest in precepting as well as its current preceptors. Many other booth visitors inquired about getting a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health.

The FNU booth also boasted interactive activities, including taking photos with FNU legend Kitty Ernst and entering answers to the question “How are you answering the call to service?” through FNU’s app. Attendees could text their answer or enter it in using the provided laptop at the booth, and responses were then displayed on the monitor in a word cloud.

Word cloud created based on attendees' answers

Word cloud created from attendees’ answers

In addition to the “Answer the Call” activity, FNU showed a historic timeline video on the booth monitor.

As an ACNM industry partner, FNU enjoyed several benefits during this year’s conference.

FNU hosted an Alumni and Friends Frontier Reception on Monday night. FNU Associate Dean of Midwifery and Family Nursing, Dr. Tonya Nicholson, preempted the reception with a Facebook Live event, interviewing many of the FNU faculty and staff leading up to the start of the reception. You can see the video here. There were nearly 200 attendees, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, preceptors and friends at the reception. The FNU Development unit showcased their new fundraising video to help relay the theme of answering the call to service.

FNU “Nurse-Midwife” t-shirts for sale

FNU also took part in the Midwifery Market, which was open from Tuesday to Wednesday during exhibiting hours. For sale at the market were Nurse-Midwifery T-shirts, Frontier Logo T-shirts, plush horses, and several Alumni items. FNU hit record-high sales this year, selling over 90 T-shirts.

Wednesday night, FNU representatives attended the ACNM Gala, where several FNU community members were awarded based on their outstanding service. The vast number of award winners created a strong recognition among conference attendees of how FNU community members work together to uphold the FNU mission and “answer the call” every day. All award winners will be posted on ACNM’s website.

On the last morning of the conference, FNU hosted the Frontier Breakfast for faculty and staff in attendance. The conference concluded with the ACNM Business Meeting, during which Dr. Stone was officially inducted as the ACNM President.

With new preceptors, potential student inquiries, and FNU’s own Dr. Stone now serving as its president, the 2018 conference was a success for all involved.

See more: View the FNU photo gallery from the 63rd Annual ACNM Annual Meeting