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Frontier Faculty and Staff Recognized At 2021 ACNM Conference

July 1, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

Faculty, staff, preceptors and students of Frontier Nursing University (FNU) had the opportunity to attend the 66th Annual American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Meeting, held virtually from Sunday, May 23 to Tuesday, May 25, 2021. FNU is excited to highlight the many FNU representatives who were recognized and received awards during this year’s ACNM Conference. We commend all of these individuals for their excellent work as nurse-midwifery leaders.

Awards, Honors and ACNM Leadership:

Heather Clarke inducted as President-Elect

Charlotte Morris inducted as At-Large Midwife of Color Board Representative

Nena Harris, Linda McDaniel, Dwynn Golden – ACNM Nominating Committee Members

Anne Cockerham – Excellence in Teaching Award

Cathy Collins-Fulea will assist Heather Clarke in her transition to ACNM president while carrying out the remainder of her role until 2022. Read more about the 2021 ACNM Election Winners.

Newly Inducted ACNM Fellows:

- Laura Manns-James
- Ann Schaeffer
- Kim Baraona
- Donna Barisich
- Linda McDaniel
- Shaughanassee Vines

Linda McDaniel – ACNM Midwives of Color Committee (MOCC) Mentoring Award

Eileen Thrower – Incoming Program Committee Chair

Jane Houston – ACNM Planning Committee – Racism and Health Disparities Track Co-Chair, recipient of ICM scholarship

Shaughanassee Vines – ACNM Program Committee – Racism and Health Disparities Track Co-Chair

Mary Kay Miller – PAC board member and PAC rally

Faculty/Alumni Presentations:

Audrey Perry, Tanya Belcheff, Erin Tenney, Dwynn Golden, Katie Moriarty & Noelle Jacobsen: The Language of Interprofessional Communication

Tia Andrighetti: Interprofessional Education With Midwifery Students and Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents: What Difference Does It Make?

Charlotte Morris: Panel Discussion – Second Victim Phenomenon

Julie Daniels and Dawn Lovelace: Asthma: A Primer for Midwives

Diana Jolles and Minyon Outlaw: Safely Reducing Cesarean Sections Utilizing the PROVIDE Toolbox in a Faith-Based Hospital with a special thanks to Elliott Fields, IT Support Services Manager, for his assistance with videography.

Diana Jolles: Doctoral Degrees for Midwives: The Need and Value – Selecting the Degree That is Right for You

- Featured faculty, alumni, and current students:
  - Lauren Arrington DNP, CNM (FNU faculty)
  - Onidis Lopez DNP, CNM (DNP grad)
  - Minyon Outlaw DNP, CNM (DNP grad)
  - Andrew Youmans, CNM, Ph.D. student (CNEP Grad)
  - Protegenie Reed CNM (DNP Student)
  - Leslie Kwiatowski, FNP (DNP Student)
  - In memory of Susan Marie Hanafin MSN CNM (FNU Preceptor)

Donna Barisich: Affiliate Leader Workshop and track

Linda McDaniel: Affiliate Leader Workshop & Affiliate DEI work

- Second Victim Trauma & Resilience
- Equitable Midwifery Care for Women of Color with Breast Cancer with Dwynn Golden and Dawn Lovelace
- Diversity Statements & the Learning Context

Eileen Thrower:

- Virtual Delivery: Practicing Birth Skills and Building Community in a Distance-Learning Format
- Oral Histories: Empowerment through Preserving Our Voices

Kendra Faucett: Stand up and be Counted! Why Ensuring Birth Certificate Accuracy Should Be the Priority of Every Midwife

Lauren Arrington: Launching Perinatal Health Equity: A Quality Improvement Project

Becky Fay, Charlotte Swint, Eileen Thrower: Development of an Interprofessional Scholarship Workgroup: Systematic Process for Creating and Disseminating Midwifery and Nursing Knowledge

Becky Fay: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) 101 for Midwives

Kate Woeber:

- Structural Anti-Racism Strategy to Prevent Pregnancy Complications
- Workforce and Practice Effects of State Midwifery Licensure and Regulation During the Pandemic
- Maternity Care Changes in Response to Pandemic

FNU Celebrates the Virtual International Day of The Midwife through Online Conference

April 26, 2021 By Frontier Nursing University

The Frontier Nursing University (FNU) community is proud to once again celebrate and sponsor the annual Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM). VIDM is a 24-hour free online conference that will take place Tuesday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The event is intended for nurse-midwives and anyone interested in childbirth irrespective of international geographic borders.

This year’s conference will be exceptionally informative with over 40 speakers presenting – a record for the event. Event speakers will be streaming from 23 countries, with presentations offered in both English and Spanish. The majority of topics will revolve around this year’s conference theme, Birth Equity for All.

The celebration will kick off Tuesday, May 4, with a pre-session event featuring World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Nurse and Midwife Elizabeth Iro and WHO Midwifery Advisor Fran McConville, discussing “The State of the World’s Midwifery”. FNU has been highlighting these heroes over the past year by profiling faculty and students who have worked to help patients amidst COVID-19. These stories can be found in the university’s frontline blog.

FNU’s Jane F. Houston, DNP, CNM, MSN, FACNM, will continue to serve as master facilitator of this year’s event. Dr. Houston has served on this committee for many years and has previously participated as a speaker and facilitator. This year’s keynote speakers will include Soo Downe, Kaveri Mayra, and Sandra Oyarzo Torres. The full schedule of events can be found here.

VIDM is an excellent learning opportunity to hear from some of the brightest minds in midwifery. Students, faculty, alumni and the public are invited to tune in for free. To join the meetings log on to www.vidm.org for directions. To learn more about the history of VIDM and the visionary process of building an international online conference, read this article by FNU DNP program director, Jane Houston DNP CNM FACNM.

2020-2021: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to support and join the World Health Organization’s international campaign designating 2020 and 2021 as the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.” In recognizing the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, FNU joins the efforts to raise awareness of healthcare shortages in the U.S. and abroad; demonstrate the need for more nurses and nurse-midwives; educate the public of the value of nurses and nurse-midwives in their communities and advocate for access to quality healthcare for every individual.

Looking Back At FNU’s 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony

October 16, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) hosted its first virtual commencement ceremony. The event celebrated the 817 wonderful nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate programs this year.

Despite the hardships this past year has brought, it is an exciting time to graduate from FNU as the University celebrates the 50th anniversary of their Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program and the birth of the FNP program in the United States.

It has also been a year when the world has recognized just how vital nurses and other healthcare professionals are to society, as FNU President Dr. Susan Stone shared in her address to the graduates.

“You represent the calm in the storm. You are the stabilizing force, the givers of care, and of hope,” said Dr. Stone.

This sentiment was further described by the keynote speaker for the commencement, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Rear Admiral (RADM) Sylvia Trent-Adams, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. RADM Trent-Adams served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health from January 2019 until August 2020 and has held various positions in the United States Department of Health & Human Services. A large portion of her work has been to improve access to care for poor and underserved communities, and her values align closely with the FNU mission. As expected, Trent-Adams gave a moving speech in which she inspired students to go forward into their communities and compassionately serve those who need it most.

“We as a profession stand in the crossroad of community and healthcare systems,” said Trent-Adams. “We have an obligation to deliver the best possible care with intention that includes being self-aware and conscious of our actions, our word, and our intent.”

Additional videos of faculty and staff congratulating and encouraging this year’s graduates can be found here.

Although the event took a virtual format, FNU was committed to a ceremony that retained all of the major elements of previous commencements. One of many traditions kept was honoring the students who have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional leadership to their peers. Here are the winners of this year’s Leadership Awards:

The Kitty Ernst Nurse-Midwifery Student Leadership Award: Autumn Fuselier

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Student Leadership Award: Gina Kristiansen

Family Nurse Practitioner Student Leadership Award: Brandy Camperlino

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student Leadership Award: Kristin McColly

Doctor of Nursing Practice Student Leadership Award: Dr. Minyon Outlaw

Exemplary DNP Project Award: Dr. Kristin Gianelis.

A special congratulations is in order for Dr. Gianelis, who was also recently appointed as a new member of the FNU faculty!

As part of the annual commencement activities, FNU also honors the faculty members who have inspired and impacted students throughout the year. Here are this year’s student choice winners:

Student Choice Excellence in Teaching Academic Faculty Award: Dr. Eileen Thrower

Student Choice Excellence in Teaching Regional Clinical Faculty Award: Dr. Kevin Scalf.

Congratulations again to all of the spectacular students who put in the time and effort to reach these wonderful accomplishments. We are so proud to have you as part of our FNU family and cannot wait to see how you will impact nursing, nurse-midwifery, and the future of healthcare.

To watch FNU’s 2020 commencement ceremony in full, click here!

National Nurses Week Will Be Celebrated Throughout May

April 30, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Every year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) participates in the American Nurses Association (ANA)’s National Nurses Week, honoring the hard work and dedication of nurses across the country.

This year, as part of the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife as appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the ANA is expanding National Nurses Week, traditionally celebrated from May 6 to May 12 each year, to a month-long celebration in May to expand opportunities to elevate and celebrate nursing.

The ANA could not have anticipated the significance that would be placed on nurses in our country’s current COVID-19 crisis, but the National Nurses Week expansion could not be more apropos. According to a statement from the ANA, National Nurses Month will be the perfect opportunity to honor these heroes.

Now more than ever we must support and recognize nurses who work with courage and compassion and under extremely challenging circumstances. Whether it is a national health emergency or routine daily care, nurses’ vital contributions impact the health and well-being of our communities, which is why ANA selected the theme for May as Nurses Make a Difference. To honor nurses and support the nursing profession, ANA will promote weekly themes and activities. While continued physical distancing may limit our face-to-face activities, we encourage everyone to think of creative ways to virtually engage.

Each week during National Nurses Month will celebrate a different theme:

Week 1: Self Care

May 1-9, 2020

FNU is going virtual and offering resources during the COVID-19 crisis: read more about those here. Also, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program director Dr. Calohan has produced videos on self-care and psychological first aid – give them a look!

Week 2: Recognition

May 10-16, 2020

Many FNU alumni have displayed tremendous bravery and represented our Culture of Caring as they fight on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Read their stories at frontier.edu/courage.

Week 3: Professional Development

May 17-23, 2020

FNU has many opportunities for continuing education (CE) across a wide range of topics. View all your CE opportunities at frontier.edu/CE.

Week 4: Community Engagement

May 24-31, 2020

During the last week of National Nurses Month, we want to hear from you, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives!

We are all in this fight together, yet we are all experiencing it differently. As time permits, we hope you will share your stories with us. Please message us or email us at FNUnews@frontier.edu with photos, videos and a story to share with others. We want to hear what you’re experiencing, what challenges you are facing, and what successes you are celebrating.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

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

FNU Sponsors the 2020 Virtual International Day of the Midwife May 4 – 5

April 28, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is proud to sponsor this year’s Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM)! In the spirit of the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO), VIDM is a 24-hour free online conference taking place on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, 2020, for nurse-midwives and anyone interested in childbirth.

This year, expect to hear from several fantastic keynote speakers and student speakers during the online virtual conference. The live link will appear on the VIDM website closer to its date.

This year’s celebration will kick off on Monday, May 4, with two special pre-conference sessions led by WHO associates:

WHO Chief Nurse and Midwife Elizabeth Iro and WHO Midwifery Advisor Fran McConville will discuss the organization’s guidance on maternal and newborn health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mary Renfrew will discuss sustainability in nurse-midwifery care in a pandemic, on behalf of a group of global colleagues.

The Virtual International Day of the Midwife will feature several informative sessions covering a wide range of subjects for 24 hours on Tuesday, May 5. The free virtual event, which uses online conferencing software, brings all interested in childbirth matters together irrespective of international geographic borders.

FNU’s Jane F. Houston, DNP, CNM, MSN, FACNM will serve as Master Facilitator of this year’s sessions. Dr. Houston has served on the committee for many years and has also participated as a speaker and facilitator. She isn’t the first of the FNU community to participate – in 2018, FNU president and certified nurse-midwife Dr. Susan Stone served as one of five keynote speakers, speaking on the importance of a diverse nurse-midwifery workforce.

This year’s keynote speakers are Sheena Byrom, who will begin the conference, Dr. Vijaya Krishnan, Saraswathi Vedam, and Susan Crowther. See the full schedule of events here.

VIDM is a fantastic learning opportunity and offers a great chance to hear from some of the brightest minds in midwifery. Students, faculty, alumni and the public can tune in for free to the 2020 VIDM on www.vidm.org.

To learn more about FNU’s distance education degrees and specialty tracks, please visit our website.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

FNU to Host 10th Annual Diversity Impact Conference as Virtual Event

April 24, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

The Diversity and Inclusion Office at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is hosting its 10th annual Diversity Impact Conference as a virtual event, June 11-13, 2020. While this is the first year the event is being hosted online, it marks a decade of bringing together national thought-leaders and speakers to engage with the FNU community on important topics facing the nursing and midwifery workforce.

The event opens the door for nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery students to join FNU faculty and staff in collaborative discussions, address health disparities, and find proactive solutions to improve minority health among underrepresented and marginalized groups.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020: Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” going hand-in-hand with the World Health Organization’s designation of 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife was established to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives, highlight the challenging conditions they often face and advocate for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.

“The nurse and the midwife roles have morphed, diversified, and elevated to innovative heights over the centuries with cutting edge research, education, practice, and policy on the trajectory of caring for those who are unable to care for themselves and continue to evolve for the cause,” said FNU’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Geraldine Young, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP.

“We believe in the benefits of a diverse university and the positive impacts our diverse graduates can make in communities across the country,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “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.”

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the keys to the future success of the health care delivery system,” said Dr. Young.

The annual Diversity Impact Conference is open to FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff who want to become part of FNU’s legacy of providing care to rural and underserved communities. Those that participate will engage in cross-cultural activities and intercultural workshops, along with nurse-leadership strategies on how to effectively care for diverse populations within their communities.

In years past, the Diversity Impact Conference themes have included celebrating 80 years of FNU’s legacy and exploring how to create meaningful connections in diverse communities.

This year’s three-day virtual event is expected to unite more than 100 FNU students, alumni, faculty, staff and community leaders, and will include:

Sessions hosted by nationally recognized nursing leaders
Cross-cultural activities and intercultural workshops
Team-building exercises, cultural competency awareness training, and open dialogues
Virtual networking with FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff to strengthen collaborative discussions
Nurse-leadership strategies and much more!

FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff can find out more about and sign up to attend the Diversity Impact Conference at Frontier.edu/Diversity.

2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

Frontier Embraces Its Culture Of Caring During Crisis: Frontier Bound Event Turns Virtual

April 20, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) commitment to fostering a culture of caring has never been more evident than in our country’s current time of crisis.

In recent days, organizations across the U.S. have been forced to make urgent decisions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. To protect students and faculty, FNU transitioned its most recent Frontier Bound event, a multi-day orientation that normally takes place on campus in Kentucky, into a fully virtual event for incoming students.

Using video webinar technology, Frontier Bound attendees were able to see and talk to one another in real-time, share information and nurture dreams.

FNU associate dean of midwifery Dr. Tonya Nicholson said, “As presenters, we could share our screens in order to have the incoming students ‘see’ and get to know us as faculty, learn how to utilize the technology and connect face-to-face with fellow incoming students.”

Students exiting the Frontier Bound experience left feeling connected to one another and the university, inspired in their career choice and ready to start their FNU journey.

A Culture Of Caring

Everything we do at FNU is built on a foundation that embraces a culture of caring, recognizing that every individual has value and worth. The ripple effect of this culture of caring spreads far beyond FNU community members to the wider healthcare system, with the goal to improve patient outcomes all over the country and the world.

The five elements of FNU’s culture of caring include:

- Professionalism (Excellence, responsibility, transparency, consistency)
- Inclusivity (Equality, awareness, sensitivity, humility)
- Respect (Importance, uniqueness, friendliness, genuine interest)
- Positive Communication (Understanding, thoughtfulness, openness)
- Mutual Support (Helpfulness, awareness, patience, concern, kindness)

Frontier Bound Goes Virtual

To kick off their virtual Frontier Bound experience, students met together for a general welcome and a glimpse into the rich history and heritage of FNU. They saw pictures and heard stories from the early days of Frontier Nursing Service (FNS). Students enjoyed learning about the nurses who served the rural population of eastern Kentucky on horseback and were amazed at the fortitude and ingenuity of the early FNS nurses.

Nurse-midwifery (CNEP), Family nurse practitioner (FNP) and women’s healthcare nurse practitioner (WHCNP) students met together in small groups to review their curricula, learn about their roles, and develop mission statements for their future practices. Groups came up with inspiring mission statements such as these:

We will be a present force that empowers and educates through service. We will educate families to change and enhance their dynamic for generations to come.

Our mission is to provide holistic quality, evidence-based care, while empowering and educating women and their families across the lifespan. We will create a feeling of community and be fully present during moments of joy and grief, while continuing to remember the mission, values, and legacy of the midwives before us.

One of the most valued sessions was with FNU’s Mary Breckinridge Chair, Kitty Ernst, as she shared the history of the distance education program and highlighted the importance of the three Rs: Relationships, Resilience, and Reflection.

Each day of Frontier Bound began with acknowledgments of the stress and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak and strategies for coping positively. Faculty actively engaged in supporting and meeting students’ needs by allowing extra time to resolve IT issues and offering frequent Q&A sessions. A sense of community was instilled through team-building activities and students left the experience having made friends for life!

Much like they would have at an on-campus Frontier Bound, students concluded their time with reflection and the ringing of a virtual bell signifying the achievement of the first step in their graduate education journey. The bell-ringing echoes Frontier’s history, recalling FNS nurses who were called to action when the bell outside their nursing center was rung.

Initial anxieties expressed by many students were quelled by the time the virtual Frontier Bound wrapped up, and at the conclusion, students reported that they felt the culture of caring in action.

One student said, “Frontier Bound was terrific! The staff and faculty were so engaged and helpful. I was anxious when I heard we were not coming to campus, but you all did a great job of easing our stress and answering all our questions; thank you.”

Another commented, “The staff was great, and most importantly, they expressed their willingness to support us throughout this program. I can honestly say, after this experience, any doubt I may have had is out the window! I can’t wait to become a fantastic nurse-midwife.”

FNU’s commitment to maintaining a culture of caring despite unexpected challenges was proven in the transition to a fully virtual Frontier Bound, and we can’t wait to continue to support students along every step of their journeys. FNU also plans to hold upcoming orientation sessions virtually through June.

2019: Year In Review

December 26, 2019 By frontieredu

2019 is drawing to a close at Frontier Nursing University! Below are some of our highlights from a truly wonderful 2019. Be sure to watch the “Year in Review 2019” video at the bottom of the post as well.

Commencement

FNU celebrated its 80th anniversary this year! Commencement took place in Lexington, Ky. for the first time, where 265 graduates attended with their families and friends. We welcomed keynote speaker Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the second woman and the first African American to serve as U.S. Surgeon General. FNU awarded 852 total degrees in 2019.

Conferences

Students and alumni represented FNU at a multitude of conferences in 2019, including the 64th Annual ACNM Meeting, the AANP National Conference and the NBNA Conference and Exhibit among many others.

FNU also hosted its 9th annual Diversity Impact conference in June. Students engaged in open dialogue and participated in interactive activities including storytelling through dance and an exploration of Polynesian culture through creating an extended lei to honor the land.

Faculty & Staff Accomplishments

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone was formally inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. She was one of only two nurses inducted and the only inductee from the state of Kentucky.

To help meet the needs of students searching for quality clinical sites and preceptors, the Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit was created.

Several faculty and staff were awarded and honored for their efforts as leaders in nurse-midwifery at this year’s ACNM Conference.

For the second consecutive year, FNU received the 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award honoring its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Programs & Events

FNU hosted virtual events for National Midwifery Week and Nurse Practitioner Week. Faculty members and alumni gave informative sessions on a variety of relevant topics, and many sessions offered continuing education credit for viewers.

FNU also hosted a one-day virtual event for National Rural Health Day with four sessions on all things impacting rural and underserved communities.

The 2019 Couriers left their mark on rural and underserved communities during their summer of service, earning recognition from the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, one of the state offices of the National Rural Health Association.

We recognize and honor the past 80 years of impact and growth as we head towards an exciting future for FNU and our community. Here is to a 2019 full of memories and a successful 2020. We’re 80 years down and 80 (and many more) to go!