On November 21, 2019, healthcare providers and organizations across the country came together to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). Organized by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, NRHD is an opportunity to celebrate the “Power of Rural” by bringing to light the unique challenges that rural communities face and the efforts of rural healthcare providers to address these challenges.
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) participated in the NRHD festivities by offering free online sessions led by FNU faculty and alumni as they discussed how they address unique healthcare challenges faced by people in rural communities.
NRHD kicked off with FNU alumna and preceptor Estella Wetzel, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, in her session, “Improving Care through Drug Testing Education.” Studies show that misinterpretations of drug test results are quite common and can lead to many negative outcomes. Estella addressed commonly prescribed controlled medications by metabolites to simplify drug test interpretation.
FNU Dean Dr. Joan Slager CNM, DNP, FACNM went live to present a free Continuing Education Course, “Billing and Coding Tips and Tools: Is There a Hole in Your Bucket?” The workshop focused on how to select correct CPT and ICD-10-CM codes, especially for complex patient encounters, in order to accurately reflect services provided and enhance revenue.
Course faculty member Stacie Olson, DNP, PMHNP-BC gave a presentation entitled “Rural Health Opioid Overdose Prevention.” She spoke to viewers about general opioid overdose, public health prevention strategies, and identification of FDA approved medication for treatment of opioid use disorder.
Our last session, “Midwifery and Women’s Health in the Last Frontier,” was presented by FNU alumna and preceptor Ana Verzone, DNP, APRN, CNM, FNP-BC. Ana drew from her experience as a healthcare provider and educator in Alaska to discuss the unique challenges midwives face providing care for rural Alaskans and the Alaska Native Population.
Since its foundation more than 80 years ago, FNU has been committed to serving rural communities and meeting their unique healthcare needs. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate NRHD and the Power of Rural!
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) celebrated National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week by hosting a
Dr. Arterberry was taught the importance of reflection by her mother at a very young age, and she has certainly seen it ring true in her work in health care. In this session, Dr. Arterberry tells us that reflective practice is the foundation of professional development. It makes meaning from experience and transforms insights into practical strategies for personal growth and organizational impact. She emphasized that reflective practice is an active endeavor, not simply thinking about the past. Effective reflection allows leaders to challenge assumptions, review current practices, recognize harmful behaviors, and develop new ways of working. She gives us practical ways to implement critical reflection in our own lives, starting with structured journaling and through dialogue in a group setting.
In this informative session on post-traumatic stress disorder, Dr. Calohan outlined the new DSM 5 diagnostic criteria implemented in 2014 that categorized PTSD separately from anxiety disorders. He reviewed the physical and psychological symptoms of different forms of PTSD. He told us about emerging neurobiological theories that are influencing new treatment methods, including targeting the endocannaboid system and GABA-B receptors associated with fear extinction. Dr. Calohan reviewed potential evidence-based treatment courses, going into the different options (or lack thereof) in the categories of anti-depressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, and hypnotics. He also talked about the importance of sleep for PTSD patients and dove into evidence found in a recent study of the efficacy of Prazosin for trauma nightmares, giving advice on prescribing Prazosin. At the conclusion, Dr. Calohan provides a wealth of tools, external resources, and care models for PTSD patient care.
Sepsis is deadly with delayed treatment and constitutes the number one hospital cost in America. In this session, Dr. Bray describes a project she instituted in response to concerning results on a survey of sepsis charts in the Tippah County Hospital Emergency Department. The project focused on four main areas: team engagement, patient engagement, sepsis screening, and the sepsis checklist. Dr. Bray reviewed the one-hour bundle for sepsis best practice that was implemented in the project. She discussed the adjustments they made as the project went on to continue to improve sepsis patient care, including simplifying tools, nurse initiated orders, and more effective interventions. The project results exceeded goals in each of the four categories, and Dr. Bray is now working on expanding the project to the Tippah County EMTs.
In the final session of the week, FNU NP faculty shared with us how each are serving the rural, diverse and underserved in their own communities. Led by Associate Dean of Family Nursing Lisa Chappell, PhD, FNP-BC, the session kicked off with Nena Harris, PhD, FNP-BC, CNM, CNE who talked about integrating a comprehensive case management model of health care to homeless women and children in Charlotte, N.C. Nikita Duke, DNP, PMHNP-BC discussed the need for integrating behavioral access care into the urgent care environment in her Muscle Shoals, Ala. community. Diane John, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE told us about her work in Miramar, Fla., fostering relationships with community partners and community dwellers, and providing leadership opportunities for nurse practitioners.
National Nurse Practitioner Week is November 10-16, and Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is celebrating by hosting a 
Nurse Practitioners in Action Serving Their Communities
A Team-Based Approach to Improving Timely Sepsis Care
FREE CE: Evidence-Based Prescribing of Practices in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
FREE CE: Reflective Practice: A Leadership Enhancement Tool
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.
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) placed a specific call on nurse practitioners during its 
Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral (RADM) Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN brought practical ways to add innovation and leadership to nursing practice with her virtual presentation, “
Eileen T. O’Grady RN, NP, PhD carries Trent-Adams’ concept one step further in her presentation, “
National Nurse Practitioner Week is November 11-18, and Frontier Nursing University is once again celebrating with its annual virtual event. 
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation and is approved 
By: Dr. Susan Stone, Frontier Nursing University President
With the above statistics in mind, it is more important than ever to develop and begin working toward attainable solutions. 
Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives, including the development of a TRHT-focused campus climate toolkit. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016 and August 2022 Second edition).