FNU Quarterly Bulletin Winter 2023, Volume 97, Number 4

QUARTERLY BULLETIN

Celebrating Preceptors

Ayele Sonia Tete

(right) PGC, WHC (Class 192) with Preceptor Audrey Patterson, CNM, (Class 145)

Homecoming 2023: Register Now!

Registration for Homecoming 2023 is open! Held on our beautiful campus in Versailles, Kentucky, Homecoming is Saturday, March 25, 2023. This is a great opportunity to reunite with friends and tour the campus. We have a great list of activities and events planned, including a CE "Identification and Treatment of Mood Disorders", an awards banquet, campus tours, and more! All the details, including the full itinerary, lodging information, and the link to register, can be found at frontier.edu/Homecoming. We can't wait to see you at Homecoming 2023!

President’s Cabinet

Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM President

Shelley Aldridge, BA Chief Operations Officer

Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Emily Fangue, CPA, MBA, Chief Financial Officer

Bobbi Silver, Chief Advancement Officer

Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN Dean of Nursing

Academic Administration

Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC

FAAN

Department Chair of PsychiatricMental Health

Lisa Chappell, Ph.D., FNP-BC Department Chair of Family Nursing

Khara’ Jefferson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C DNP Director

Rachel Risner, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Eileen Thrower, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, CNE, FACNM

Department Chair for the Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health

Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

Many of us start a new year evaluating ourselves and our situations. We set goals for what we want to accomplish during the year. We make resolutions focused on ways we would like to improve ourselves – perhaps eating healthier, exercising more, or being more frugal.

At Frontier Nursing University, we also regularly conduct self-evaluation. Our internal review of what we have accomplished and what we need to improve results in a strategic plan for each year. This plan is developed by, voted on, and approved by the faculty, staff, and Board of Directors. While our overall plan carries many of the same themes from year to year, we make adjustments as needed to ensure that our curriculum effectively prepares our students for the changing healthcare needs of our country, to ensure that we are up-to-date with technology and resources, and to ensure that we are fiscally responsible for both the present and future of the university.

We do not make these decisions lightly. Our decisions are evidencebased and data-driven, and the resulting actions are always in line with the mission of the university. Accordingly, our mission statement also is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that we have the proper focus and direction. In January, the FNU Board of Directors approved a revised mission statement for the university that directly reflects our understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare and our commitment to DEI within all levels of our university. I encourage you to read the new mission statement and the meaning behind it on page 3 of this issue of the Quarterly Bulletin.

Self-evaluation has been part of my personal journey as well. I have been the President of Frontier Nursing University since 2001, but FNU has been a central part of my life for even longer than that. It is with very mixed emotions that I plan to transition into the role of Distinguished Chair of Midwifery at or near the end of this year. I will continue in my role as President until then and look forward to working with the new President, for whom a search committee has begun their work. You can learn more about this transition on page 2, and we will continue to keep you informed throughout the coming weeks and months. It continues to be my honor and privilege to serve as the President of FNU, and I am forever grateful for the amazing support I have received from the entire Frontier community.

In this issue, we also share the power and importance of giving back via precepting. We have a shortage of nurses and nurse-midwives in our country. We cannot be a part of that solution without the time, expertise, and commitment of preceptors. We are grateful for the many preceptors who have accepted this call to serve and advance

the profession. In these pages, we celebrate them and answer your questions about how and why to precept. Maybe you will be inspired to make precepting one of your goals for 2023.

You will read several features highlighting the wonderful contributions our students, faculty, and staff are making in their communities across the country. We also share with you some of the heartfelt thank you letters that were written by our scholarship recipients that will remind you why supporting these students is so important. It is impactful for them individually and for the communities in which they live and serve.

We thank you for your commitment to the university and for your support of our mission and our students. Our 2023 goals are lofty, but they reflect our mission, and we know that they are achievable with your continued support.

Sincerely,

Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone to Transition to Distinguished Chair of Midwifery

advocacy, education, and innovation. As a nurse-midwife herself, she has had a special focus on advancing the midwifery profession.

“FNU has been profoundly fortunate to have had the expert leadership and progressive vision of Dr. Stone during her long tenure,” said FNU Board Chairperson Michael Carter. “Her wise counsel and steady leadership of FNU has resulted in our many outstanding achievements

by the FNU Board of Directors, the purpose of this Chair is to promote midwifery both nationally and internationally. FNU is conducting a national search to identify Dr. Stone’s successor as the university President. The search is being led by Dr. Kerri Schuiling, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, FAAN, in collaboration with a recruiting firm.

“Since assuming the presidency in 2001, Susan Stone has worked tirelessly to achieve the vision of Frontier Nursing University as the premier online educational institution for advanced practice nursing,” said Dr. Schuiling, who is a member of the FNU Board of Directors. “Dr. Stone is a dedicated advocate for access; access to education for nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses and nurse-midwives and access to quality healthcare for all. Over her tenure these last two decades, she has been nationally recognized for exponentially increasing the number of nurse-midwives and other advanced practice professionals practicing in areas of highest need. FNU is fortunate that Dr. Stone has created a firm foundation upon which her successor can continue to build upon her legacy.”

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced that university President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, will transition into a new role as the university’s appointed Distinguished Chair of Midwifery. Dr. Stone’s transition into this role will tentatively occur at the end of 2023, pending the identification of her successor. Dr. Stone has served as the president of FNU since 2001. Whether as a practitioner, instructor, university president, presenter, or organizational leader, Dr. Stone’s professional career has been consistently directed toward supporting advanced practice nurses and nurse-midwives through

and positions us well for the future. The Board of Directors is very pleased to have her continued service to the university as she assumes the Distinguished Chair of Midwifery.”

Dr. Stone succeeds past Distinguished Chair of Midwifery Dr. Eunice (Kitty) Ernst, who passed away in December 2021. Appointed

Dr. Stone was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine Class of 2018 and is past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) from 20192020. She is a Fellow at both ACNM and the American Academy of Nursing. She was the recipient of ACNM’s Kitty Ernst Award in 1999, which recognizes “innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery practice and women’s health care.” Other honors include the 2011 American Public Health Association’s prestigious Felicia Stewart Advocacy Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a strong

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone

“Her wise counsel and steady leadership of FNU has resulted in our many outstanding achievements and positions us well for the future. The Board of Directors is very pleased to have her continued service to the university as she assumes the Distinguished Chair of Midwifery.”

commitment to advocacy on behalf of reproductive health and rights.

“Susan Stone has left a legacy of growth and transformation at Frontier,” said FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “She has demonstrated vision and leadership that have resulted in the exponential expansion of our programs while remaining staunchly true to our mission. I’m very pleased she will continue to serve FNU as the Distinguished Chair of Midwifery, where her primary focus will

Frontier Nursing University Announces New Mission Statement

Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for each of the past five years. Later this year, FNU will hold its 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference on June 8-9. This year’s virtual event theme is “Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare.” The conference is open to the public and features distinguished national leaders presenting on a wide range of DEI topics.

be to facilitate endeavors that support the education of midwives and the practice of midwifery.”

Throughout FNU’s growth and innovation, Dr. Stone has kept the university focused on its mission of educating advanced practice nurses and midwives to serve in rural and underserved areas. Her leadership at FNU has resulted in the tremendous growth of the university, from 200 students in 2001 to an enrollment of 2,500 today. Today, more than 8,700 FNU graduates practice in every state in the U.S. as well as several foreign countries.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Dr. Stone’s commitment to FNU and nursing are encouraged to donate in her honor to the Stone Family Scholarship or the Susan Stone Chair at frontier.edu/give.

At the January 2023 Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a new mission statement for the university: “Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing ethical, compassionate, innovative, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.”

The new statement directly reflects the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and improving healthcare by preparing nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives to effectively serve their communities. FNU’s commitment to DEI and subsequent actions have resulted in the enrollment of students of color rising from 9% in 2010 to over 27% percent. The university has received the prestigious Health Professions Higher

“We know that data clearly demonstrates that culturally concordant care improves healthcare outcomes,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We also know that there is a healthcare provider shortage in our country and that there are healthcare deserts where there is a pervasive lack of access to care. Not only do we need more nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives, but we also need them to represent the communities and people for whom they care. The new mission statement adopted by our Board of Directors is reflective of the scope and direction of our recent work and of our ongoing commitment to these goals.”

“The new mission statement sends a strong message that Frontier Nursing University is not only committed to building upon its long history of excellence in education but also to leading by example as an institution fully invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the university,” said FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN.

“She has demonstrated vision and leadership that have resulted in the exponential expansion of our programs while remaining staunchly true to our mission.”

The FNU Mission and Philosophy Committee is co-chaired by Associate Professor Charlotte Swint, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, CNE (left) and Senior Grants Management Officer April Tabor (right)

Frontier Nursing University to Discontinue Participation in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will no longer submit its data and information to U.S. News & World Report for participation in the publication’s annual rankings of universities and colleges. The decision was made in response to concerns about the data that is collected and whether the report reflects FNU’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are very proud to practice holistic admissions, which gives credit to a wide variety of attributes related to our goals for creating a diverse healthcare workforce. We are also very concerned about 20% of the score coming from peer assessments. Most peers do not have enough information about other universities to complete that assessment accurately. While FNU has frequently received favorable rankings, including being ranked as the thirdbest Online Family Nurse Practitioner Master’s Program in 2022, the university’s leadership determined the selected data that is collected may not assess our goals at FNU as reflected in our mission statement. The specific data collected and peer assessment called into question the relevance of the annual rankings for FNU. U.S. News & World Report operates as a commercial entity rather than a collegiate governing body. FNU joins several other universities in making the choice to no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

“We are very appreciative of the efforts that U.S. News & World Report has put into creating these annual rankings,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM. “However, participation in the process comes at a cost of both time and money that we believe is better spent in our full commitment to our mission. Our faculty, staff, and Board of Directors are fully invested in

providing 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.”

Founded in 1939 as the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery, Frontier has more than 8,700 alumni and a current enrollment of 2,500 students representing all 50 states. In 2021, FNU students in the Family Nurse Practitioner program had a first-time pass rate of 100% from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as compared to the national pass rate of 87.6%. FNU nursemidwifery students had an overall pass rate of 86% from the American Midwifery Certification Board in 2021, versus the national overall pass rate of 81%.

In 2022, the nurse practitioner program rankings compiled by U.S. News & World

Report were based on the following categories: Engagement (30%), faculty credentials and training (20%), expert opinion (20%), services and technologies (20%), and student excellence (10%).

Outside of the criteria identified in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, FNU has also prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with annual goals of increasing diversity in student enrollment, as well as in faculty and staff. The diversity of student enrollment has risen from 9 percent in 2010 to a current rate of 27 percent. FNU’s DEI initiatives and focus have led to the university being named a recipient of the prestigious Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity for each of the last five years.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/medical-schoolsbail-on-academic-merit-and-intellectual-rigorus-news-rankings-diversity-equity-inclusion-racestudents-11675005330

FNU Community Participates in MLK Day of Service

Greater Philadelphia Diaper Bank. The Greater Philadelphia Diaper Bank provides diapers, menstrual products, adult incontinence products, and formula to those in need in the Greater Philadelphia area.

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) encouraged community members to participate in the MLK Day of Service Challenge. MLK Day, honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. FNU community members were encouraged to participate in community service with friends and family, then share their service hours and pictures with the Office of DEI.

Here are some of the ways community members gave back to their communities:

• Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, spent the day sorting food for Feeding South Florida. The group she was assigned to sorted 12,000 lbs of food, equating to approximately 95 meals for families.

• FNU faculty member Dr. Doreen Thomas-Payne provided service to her community with her son Jared, sorority sisters, and the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Thomas-Payne belongs to Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., a professional nursing sorority. Their mission is to provide “service to humanity.” Her chapter’s (Theta Chapter) service project was to collect and donate diapers to the

• FNU Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley packed canned goods for the Amen House in Georgetown, Ky. Part of their vision is, “We envision a hunger-free Scott County where food rescue is second nature

to every grocery, restaurant, farmer and gardener; where local businesses, churches, organizations, and families fight hunger by sharing their resources through food or cash donations.”

• FNU faculty member Dr. Kendra Faucett and her daughter Violet joined FNU Chief Operations Officer Shelley Aldridge and her daughter Josie in participating in the annual MLK Day March in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech spent the day sorting food for Feeding South Florida.

FNU faculty member Dr. Doreen Thomas-Payne with her son Jared.

“Everyone has the power for Greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.”

FNU Chief Operations Officer Shelley Aldridge (second from left), her daughter Josie (far left), FNU faculty member Dr. Kendra Faucett (second from right), and her daughter Violet (far right), attended the MLK Day March in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

FNU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley packed canned goods for the Amen House in Georgetown, Kentucky.

FNU Announces 2023 Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Fellows

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced the ten FNU faculty members to participate in the University’s inaugural Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Fellowship program. Through this initiative, which is fully funded by FNU, the faculty members attend a 12-week DEI training. This program rejects the traditional DEI approach and uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate faculty development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education. Upon completion of the program, each fellow will then be assigned to coach other members of the FNU faculty for 12 weeks. This was a competitive process, and the application was open to all faculty at FNU.

The 10 Nurse Educator Faculty Fellows are Drs. Tia Andrighetti, Joshua Barnes, Joanne Keefe, Heidi Loomis, Rebecca

Lopez, Doreen Thomas-Payne, Audrey Perry, April Phillips, Kevin Scalf, and Erin Tenney.

“This initiative came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” said FNU Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training for our faculty, who can then lead and learn from one another.”

A national as well as university leader, Dr. Alexander-Delpech presented “The Development of A Faculty DEI Fellows Program” at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Diversity Leadership Institute last June.

Suture Donations Needed for Clinical Bound

Clinical Bound is a week-long skills-intensive event that prepares students to begin clinical experiences with preceptors in their home communities. Students and faculty from the nurse-midwifery, family nurse practitioner (FNP), women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP), and psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) programs participate in Clinical Bounds. Students learn foundational skills, such as hand maneuvers for attending births, suturing techniques, and performing patient histories and physical exams that will prepare them to enter clinical sites. Students also practice conducting patient visits using clinical simulations that students perform under the observation of their instructors. These simulations allow students to experience patient interactions in a simulated environment. It is important that the simulations are realistic to help students gain confidence in their skills and clinical decisionmaking before working with actual patients.

One of the costly ongoing expenses for Clinical Bound is suture. Financial donations toward the purchase of suture may be made online by visiting Frontier.edu/give-to-fnu/ and selecting “Clinical Training Supplies.” Also, Frontier can accept donations of expired suture in its original packaging. Donations of suture can be sent to:

Frontier Nursing University

Attn: Dr. Joan Slager, Dean of Nursing

2050 Lexington Road Versailles, KY 40383

Frontier Personnel Active in Local Community

As Frontier Nursing University has settled into its campus in Versailles, Kentucky, the university has become an active entity within the local community, including Versailles and Woodford County. Here are two of the most recent examples of Frontier’s growing connection to the Woodford County community:

• Staff members Te’sia Carter (financial aid officer), Jelena Djuricic (enrollment coordinator), and Quincy Fuehne (social media and communications manager) were selected to participate in the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever Woodford Leadership Academy.

• FNU is a sponsor of and frequent presenter in the monthly Woodford County Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Round Table. Past presenters have included FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM; FNU Program Director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Dr. Khara’ Jefferson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CHC; Assistant Professor Dr. Kendra Faucett, DNP, CNM, CNE, FACNM; FNU Assistant Professor Dr. Joshua Faucett, DNP, MBA, FNPBC, CNE; and FNU course faculty Dr. Thomas George, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C.

Stay in the Know

We know you want to stay informed about all that is happening at FNU. To make sure you don’t miss communications such as the Quarterly Bulletin or our monthly e-newsletters, please take a moment to make sure we have your updated contact information. Please send your updated contact information, including your preferred email address, phone number, and mailing address, to alumniservices@ frontier.edu. Thank you!

Woodford Leadership Academy attendees (left to right): Te’sia Carter, Jelena Djuricic, and Quincy Fuehne.

Dr. Khara' Jefferson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C DNP Director

Assistant Professor Dr. Joshua Faucett, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC, CNE

Assistant Professor Dr. Kendra Faucett, DNP, CNM, CNE, FACNM

A Message from Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager

Precepting: More Impactful Than You Know and Easier Than You Think

Each of us has our own reasons for why we chose a career in healthcare, but common amongst us is a shared desire to serve others. We are heartened by the mission of Frontier Nursing University to care for underserved people and provide care to all those in need. We all chose to answer the call to serve. It is not an easy road to travel, and all of us relied on the support of others –friends, family, classmates, instructors, and preceptors – to achieve our goal of becoming nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives.

How can we thank all the people who helped us achieve our goals? We can thank them by being devoted and skilled professionals, yes, but also by paying it forward to those who come after us. Even with our more than 8,700 alumni, Frontier Nursing University cannot meet the needs of all of the healthcare deserts in our country. That is why we continue to educate and prepare 2,500 students per year to answer the same call we did. Those are 2,500 students who are reliant upon the support of their friends, family, instructors, and, yes, preceptors.

In the following pages, you will find out much more about precepting and how to do it. Frontier’s Clinical Outreach and Placement Services team is ready to answer your questions and guide you through the process. That process begins by simply registering to be a potential preceptor. You are eligible to do so one year after you have graduated from your educational program.

Registering as a potential preceptor comes with no commitment other than being open to a student contacting you about possibly having you as their preceptor. As you know. FNU students come into the clinical setting highly trained and well-prepared, which is supported by our preceptor survey results (see page 12). Precepting comes with an honorarium and free CEs, but mostly it comes with the satisfaction of giving back to those who supported you by paying it forward. It is a rewarding experience and one that is vital to each and every FNU student.

Even if every FNU alumnus precepted just one FNU student, think of the impact that would have on our communities across the country. So, we are asking you to once again answer the call to serve, this time as a preceptor sharing your knowledge, expertise, experience, and dedication to students so that they, too, might provide excellent and compassionate care in their own communities.

Thank you for representing FNU every day through your passion and commitment to your patients. Thank you also, in advance, for registering as a potential preceptor for FNU students. I assure you that you won’t regret it.

With gratitude,

Dr. Slager’s Top Reasons to Precept

1. Seeing a student’s “light bulb” come on is so exciting.

2. You get to evaluate potential new hires.

3. Someone needs YOU as badly as you needed your preceptor.

4. Taking a student is an inexpensive investment in your practice’s future.

5. Opportunity to be a role model.

6. Students bring the most up-to-date information to your practice.

7. Students’ enthusiasm breathes energy into a practice.

8. Your patients love the added attention – they get two for the price of one!

9. Having trouble finding the perfect partner for your practice? Take a student (or three) and see if there is a match.

Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN Dean of Nursing

Dr. Joan Slager

• Nurse-Midwife

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Are You Qualified to Be a Preceptor? Let’s Check!

FNU needs preceptors with the following credentials and qualifications:

• Valid, unencumbered U.S. license to practice required

• One year of relevant experience in an advanced practice role

• Master’s Degree or higher in nursing related field (we do allow BSN for midwives, but an MSN is preferred)

• MDs and DOs (clinical time % based upon program)

• For PMHNP students: therapists with a master’s degree and licensure in the state of practice

Precepting Facts and Figures

• The average FNU student needs three clinical sites to complete all required experiences.

• The need is great, and the competition for clinical sites is heavy.

• The demand for preceptors is constant.

We are seeking preceptors from the following specialties:

Preceptor Tanya VaughnDeneen, CNM, FNP, with Ashley Chamberlain (right), MSN, CNM (Class 181)

Anna Hamman (left), MSN, CNM (Class 179) with preceptor Michele Holzman, MSN, CNM (Bridge 141)

Preceptor Beverly Holmes, CNM (left) with Mary Sepkowitz, PGC, CNM (Class 191)

Preceptor Jessica Stevens (left), MSN, PMNHNP, DNP (Class 45), with PMHNP student Melissa Knutson (Class 203)

FNU Student Kristine Oglesby Wins National Preceptor of the Year Award

public voting for a week, and I was chosen for my category. I am told I will be receiving a stateroom on NurseCon at Sea with Nurse Blake in April in the Bahamas.”

Oglesby’s experience with military life introduced her to a whole new community. She recognized the value of helping the members of that community connect and communicate with one another over their shared experiences.

“To keep myself in the game per se, I volunteer for the U.S. Army healthcare system as a fully credentialed provider/ CNM,” Oglesby said. “I do everything I would do as a CNM in the U.S. but without pay.”

Oglesby’s experience with military life introduced her to a whole new community. She recognized the value of helping the members of that community connect and communicate with one another over their shared experiences.

“In 2003, I created a Facebook group called Blue Star Nurses for military spouses who are nurses and military spouses who are nursing students,” Oglesby said. “The page has grown over the years, with thousands of members at some point. I cannot take credit for the success of the group because

Current FNU student Kristine Oglesby, MSN, CNM, MiLC (Military Lactation Counselor certification), knows very well the importance of precepting. It is a rewarding experience for anyone to be a preceptor, but perhaps even more so in Oglesby’s case, as she recently received a Preceptor of the Year Award from Nurse Blake, aka Blake Lynch, a registered nurse who has a large social media presence and is a nursing advocate.

“A friend, Gretchen Alaniz, who is an FNU midwifery alum (CNM, Class 167), submitted the entry for me to Nurse Blake’s Preceptor of the Year award,” said Oglesby, who is currently enrolled in Frontier Nursing University’s DNP Class 48. “Nurse Blake chose the three top entries for each category out of about 5,000 submissions. It was all a surprise to me, as I had no idea that Gretchen submitted this on my behalf. The top three people were then advertised for

Oglesby, who has been a labor and delivery nurse since 2002, worked as an obstetrics clinical instructor for associate degree nursing students at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado. She also worked for Clemson University’s BSN program before becoming a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) in 2014.

“I have precepted three FNU CNEP students who are now amazing midwives, as well as other midwifery students from various schools,” said Oglesby, who has previously worked as an adjunct professor in the midwifery program at the University of Cincinnati. “When I worked in Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, I had the pleasure of being a part of the faculty to OB and family practice residents, physicians assistant students, CNM students, new grad military midwives, and nursing students.”

Oglesby, whose spouse is an active duty U.S. Army officer, is also a Red Cross volunteer CNM for the U.S. Army. Together, they are currently stationed in Europe.

“To keep myself in the game per se, I volunteer for the U.S. Army healthcare system as a fully credentialed provider/CNM. I do everything I would do as a CNM in the U.S. but without pay.”

we all play a part in mentoring, precepting, and supporting each other. We are a unique demographic with quite a few challenges in this lifestyle. We have encouraged each other to earn higher degrees, to continue even when it gets hard, and to believe in ourselves. We have also helped each other find employment and preceptors.”

Kristine Oglesby

Oglesby has always seen the value of volunteering, giving of herself and her expertise in order to assist others. Precepting is a natural extension of her desire to lift others up and help them succeed.

“My passion is in maternal and infant health in general but especially in communities at the intersections of society, such as families of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and military communities,” she said. “Precepting and mentoring are ways to give back to help bridge gaps and make for an equitable society. It’s important to me not only to take care of families and patients but also to ensure that there will be more professionals that can meet people where they are and take care of them in the future.”

Somehow, Oglesby continues to find time to advance her own education and expertise, currently as a student at FNU. She credits her experience precepting FNU students with piquing her interest and ultimately leading her to enroll.

“I’ve known so many people who have had wonderful experiences at FNU through the CNEP and DNP programs, and it just felt like I had to see it for myself and be a part of it,” she said. “FNU lives and breathes diversity, equity, and inclusion which are very important to me. I’m so glad to be here.”

Why Become A Preceptor

• Help expand access to quality, compassionate care to diverse, rural, and underserved populations.

• Earn an honorarium based on the percentage of time spent precepting students.

• Gain access to FREE CEUs, including sessions on pharmacology and other current topics.

• Promote your profession through the education and guidance of your future peers.

• Access to the latest clinical guidelines in order to stay current in practice.

• Earn a 10% discount on all non-matriculating courses at FNU.

Contact Us!

To learn more about precepting, contact The FNU Department of Clinical Outreach and Placement. Our staff will be happy to:

• Answer questions about the process to become a preceptor

• Provide support to preceptors when using the online preceptor profile portal

• Provide information regarding our Master and Expert Preceptor programs

• Answer questions regarding preceptor honorariums

You can reach our department via email at ClinicalAdvising@frontier.edu

and

Left to right: Preceptor Polina Goldenberg, MSN, CNM (Class131), Nicole Ramirez, MSN, CNM (Class 181), and preceptor Courtney McMillian, CNM.

Left to right: Janelle Janer, MSN, CNM (Class 175), preceptor Katrevia Campbell, MSN, CNM (Class 72),

Ayla Charm, MSN, WHNP (Class 175)

Survey Says!

What Our Preceptors Say About Precepting

We surveyed our preceptors from the past year and this is what they told us about their experience as preceptors for FNU students. Total respondents: 746

How satisfied were you with your experience serving as a Preceptor for an FNU student?

How well prepared did you feel the FNU student was when they began their clinical experience with you?

Do you feel supported by FNU if you have concerns or issues while precepting?

Did you find the process for setting up your Preceptor Profile information easy to understand?

How likely will you serve as a Preceptor for an FNU student again?

Become a Monthly Donor TODAY!

By making a recurring gift to FNU, you are investing in the lives of Frontier students year-round. Your generous monthly gift will make long-lasting impacts on the FNU community across the country. Help Frontier continue its mission of providing accessible educational opportunities to prepare competent and compassionate leaders in primary care. To learn more about monthly giving and other ways to give, please contact Director of Annual Giving and Courier Program Lisa Colletti-Jones at lisa.collettijones@frontier.edu or (859) 2514728. To make your donation today, please click the “Give Now” button on the home page of our Frontier.edu website. Thank you!

FNU Scholarship Recipients Say Thank You

Crystal S.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

Flossmoor, Illinois

Board of Directors Endowed Scholarship for African American, Black, Native American, and Alaskan Native Students

“I want to thank you for the Endowed Scholarship for African American, Black, Native American, and Alaskan Native Students. Without it, I would not be able to attend clinical bound and continue my academic journey at this time. I am honored and very appreciative to receive this great opportunity. This is life-changing, and I am excited to start my clinical rotations in pursuit of my post-graduate certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I am looking forward to making a change in my community. Thank you all again. I am forever grateful.”

Bethany C.

Family Nurse Practitioner Student

Tallahassee, Florida

Preceptor Scholarship

“Thank you for your generous financial support. Scholarships like this one are part of the reason working mothers like myself have the opportunity to thrive at Frontier Nursing University.

Your generosity ensures that I can complete my degree and this incredible program without sacrificing my academic commitments due to financial concerns.

You have given me an opportunity to excel at Frontier, and I hope to pay it forward, in turn, someday. Thank you again for your generosity.”

Alyssa T.

Nurse-Midwifery Student

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Preceptor Scholarship

“I cannot say thank you enough for the generous scholarship money that was granted to me because of you. It is such a blessing to have support from generous donors who are passionate about the future of Midwifery! I promise to use the money responsibly to work hard to become the best Midwife I can be. Thank you again SO much for your kindness.”

Lauren N.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Breckinridge Capital Advisors Scholarship

“Thank you for this scholarship! It means so much to my family and me. Completing this degree while caring for my 1.5-year-old twin boys has been challenging and exciting. This scholarship makes it a little bit easier for me to continue to stay home with them while I complete my degree.”

Oladunni F.

DNP student

Loganville, Georgia

Board of Directors Endowed Scholarship for African American, Black, Native American, and Alaskan Native students

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation for considering me for this scholarship which I believe will be helpful through my DNP program. Thank you for this great privilege.”

Matisse D.

Family Nurse Practitioner Student

Kamuela, Hawaii

“Mahalo Nui Loa for your Kokua!! This was highly unexpected, and I am grateful to be awarded the FNU Scholarship. This will cover my plane ticket and car rental while I am clinical-bound, and I am very thankful for it! “

Scholarship Received: FNU Student Scholarship

Shelby S.

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Student

Mason, Ohio

“I wanted to convey my sincere appreciation to all the preceptor donors for the financial gift for my last term of didactic courses here at Frontier. I can’t even begin to tell you the ways this will lessen my stress for the Winter term; allowing me to save additional funds for when I start clincials so that I can pay for health insurance, and just generally soften the financial blow of not working for 6+ months to finish school as a single woman. Just knowing that I was picked when there were many other deserving candidates just really feels like I have the support of my future colleagues to finish off my WHNP program strong. I hope one day to

support a future APRN in the way that you all have supported me today. Thank you!!”

Scholarship Received: Preceptor Scholarship

Erika M.

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Student

Tuscon, Arizona

“I wanted to extend my most sincere thank you for the FNU Student Scholarship I was awarded in the amount of $2,000. This is meaningful to me and will help me greatly to continue working towards my degree and future practice as a WHNP. I appreciate it so very much!”

Scholarship Received: FNU Student Scholarship

Sheila Z.

Nurse-Midwifery Student

Seattle, Washington

“I want to extend this note of thanks for choosing me to be a recipient of the Helen Barber scholarship. This tuition assistance will result in my ability to maintain enrollment and focus within the CNEP program. I am deeply grateful for this scholarship and will make the most of the opportunity it affords in my quest to become a Midwife.”

Scholarship Received: Helen Barber Scholarship

Elizabeth M.

Family Nurse Practitioner Student

Greensburg, Kentucky

“I would like to extend my appreciation to you for your support as I work toward achieving my goals here at Frontier Nursing

University. Your kindness and generosity mean so much during this time. I can continue to focus on my education without the worry of financial burdens due to your financial support.”

Scholarship Received: Kentucky Mountain Club Scholarship

Kelly D.

Family Nurse Practitioner Student

Jacksonville, North Carolina

“I just wanted to thank you for your donation to the scholarship fund I will receive this Winter Term. It means a lot to my family and me and will certainly help with the financial burden of school. It is heartwarming to know people like you are interested in helping people like me to achieve their goals.”

Scholarship Received: FNU Student Scholarship

Andrea R.

Nurse-Midwifery Student

Bend, Oregon

Jesse Smith Noyes Scholarship

“Words can not describe the gratitude my family and I have and how this will help us during the final stretch of my master’s in Midwifery. The majority of my schooling has been financed through federal loans that I work to pay toward, so when I was awarded your scholarship, I was ecstatic to receive this gift. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Jessica Bacon Answers the Call … From the White House

said of the hour-long meeting with the White House representatives. “They were just trying to gather ideas from different people. We discussed where we currently are at with our program and what our hopes are going forward.”

Their goals are ambitious but attainable, much like Bacon’s were growing up in Ludlow, Massachusetts. By the time she was in high school, she already knew she wanted to work in women’s healthcare. She went to nursing school and worked as a nurse for 12 years before graduating from Frontier Nursing University as a nursemidwife in 2012.

“It’s an example of something that is being developed out of need, unfortunately,” Bacon said. “In New Hampshire, we have a high rate of opioid use disorder. It’s especially concentrated in the area that we live and work in. The New Hampshire Maternal Mortality Review Committee

When the White House calls seeking your expertise, it is a pretty good indication that you are doing something right. That is exactly what happened to Jessica Bacon, CNM, APRN, MSN, and her colleagues at Wentworth-Douglas Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire.

Among her duties in the hospital’s Women and Children’s Unit, Bacon is part of Seacoast STRENGTH, the multidisciplinary care team for pregnant people with substance use disorder. She and her colleagues, Katie White, RN, and Lindsay Ginter, Case Manager, met with Federal officials via Zoom to answer their questions about their approach to caring for pregnant people who have substance use disorder.

“As they were getting ready to roll out their recommendations for programming, they reached out to different hospitals that have programs for substance use and pregnancy just to talk about the barriers and what has been working well,” Bacon

Bacon has worked at Wentworth-Douglas in various capacities since 2008. It is a community hospital serving the seacoast of New Hampshire, as well as southern Maine and northern Massachusetts. Bacon says

recently cited that 62 percent of our maternal mortality is related to a drug overdose. In our area, it’s not really the postpartum hemorrhages and untreated hypertension that’s killing people. It’s a drug overdose, particularly seven to 12 months postpartum.”

The overwhelming data demonstrated the need, and Bacon and her colleagues began to develop a plan. With the support of the hospital administration, Seacoast STRENGTH became reality. The learning curve was steep, however.

they deliver just under 1,500 babies per year. Bacon also works at Hope on Haven Hill, a residential facility for pregnant and parenting people with substance use disorder.

Like the rest of the country, substance use is prevalent in New Hampshire, Bacon says. A sad fact that led to the creation of the Substance Use Disorder Team.

“From precepting different students, I think that there is now some integration of substance use disorder into the midwifery programs, but it wasn’t a thing when I was in school, and the same was true for most of the providers here,” Bacon said. “We just kind of jumped in and learned everything that we could about it because we were having people present to us in withdrawal. Unfortunately, even though we had local prescribers of buprenorphine, a lot of them wouldn’t prescribe to people that were

Jessica Bacon

From precepting different students, I think that there is now some integration of substance use disorder into the midwifery programs.

Like the rest of the country, substance use is prevalent in New Hampshire, Bacon says. A sad fact that led to the creation of the Substance Use Disorder Team.

pregnant because they were concerned about the effect on the pregnancy. There is, in recent years, lots of data establishing that both methadone and buprenorphine are appropriate medications for opioid use disorder in pregnancy.”

The care provided is free of judgment and infused with compassion and a simple desire to help someone who is ill. Treating the immediate threat and establishing a level of trust are essential first steps toward longterm positive outcomes.

“We try our best to normalize it like any other chronic condition – just like people with diabetes need extra care or extra medications,” Bacon said. “This is a chronic disease.”

All patients are screened verbally when they present for alcohol or opioid use. With consent, they may also be drug tested. Bacon says those tests almost always indicate that the street drugs are being laced with any number of other drugs, such as meth, cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.

“When we get these test results, it reveals that the drugs are contaminated,” Bacon said. “That’s what is contributing to a lot of the overdoses because you don’t know what you’re getting. It’s no longer a single

Transportation, insurance, finances, and lack of trust are imposing hurdles. Bacon said the Unit treats between 40 and 50 patients with opioid disorder per year, dating back to 2017.

“Pregnancy seems to be a pretty motivating time for people,” Bacon said. “It’s a time when people want to make changes in their life, but it’s really hard. So it’s not uncommon to make contact with people

Bacon said, noting that they have applied for grants to support this goal. “We have a small team of us that are going to provide continuity of care for the prenatal care. They will be able to get their prenatal care and recovery services all at the same time. They are going to come once a week for a two-hour session. An hour of that will be group work with a curriculum where we discuss safety planning, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and other similar topics. They also will attend classes such as childbirth education and breastfeeding. Included an hour where they can meet individually with me for prenatal care or their case manager to work on the social determinants of health and get the resources that they need.”

These types of projects and planning come naturally to Bacon, who is also the nursing practice specialist at WentworthDouglas. She is responsible for being up to date on current evidence-based practice and working with her team to implement policies, procedures and programs as needed to fill gaps in care. Because of those responsibilities, Bacon came back to Frontier and is currently enrolled in the DNP program (Class 48).

three or four times before they are even willing to attempt medications. We are in the process of developing a program where people can come to us, and we will support them with initiation for either buprenorphine or methadone. With help of the hospital’s Substance Use Response Team, we have done a lot of training with our providers and nurses for trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and all things substance abuse related. With time, the staff has gotten really comfortable with the process.”

“In this role as the nursing practice specialist, I’m doing a lot of quality improvement work, and I want to do it right,” Bacon said of her decision to pursue her DNP.

The decision to return to Frontier was just as easy as her initial choice to attend Frontier to become a certified nurse-midwife.

substance in most cases. So, we have to keep in mind the model of risk or harm reduction, where anything we can do for them is better than them getting opioids off the street and having these lethal overdoses.”

There are many hurdles to keeping these patients off the street, starting with getting them to ask for help in the first place.

As one process is perfected, the next looms on the horizon. Transportation and childcare remain the most significant hurdles for most patients. The thought of having to go to obstetric appointments, recovery services, and their buprenorphine prescriber can be overwhelming.

“Our goal this year is to integrate that recovery care with prenatal care as well,”

“The initial draw was the ability to do the course in my own community,” she said. “I had young kids, and I had a job here. Picking up and moving and going to a brick-and-mortar school was not feasible for me because there are none in my area. Frontier has been doing distance learning for a very long time, and they’ve worked out a lot of the kinks. I think now you’re seeing more and more institutions offer that as an option; they’re still having to work through a lot of those issues, whereas Frontier had done that work long before I got there. My experience there was great.”

There are many hurdles to keeping these patients off the street, starting with getting them to ask for help in the first place.

As one process is perfected, the next looms on the horizon. Transportation and childcare remain the most significant hurdles for most patients. The thought of having to go to obstetric appointments, recovery services, and their buprenorphine prescriber can be overwhelming.

Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Gray has found a fulfilling home at the Boise VA Medical Center

before assuming her current full-time position in August 2022.

In her position treating military veterans, she has found the unique, challenging, and fulfilling work she sought. She splits time between the Women’s Wellness Clinic and working on building a new program that will manage lung cancer screening for all patients in the Boise VA’s care.

Gray said

While some people know at an early age exactly what kind of work they want to do, Elizabeth Gray, FNP-C (Class 188), MSN, is probably like many of us in that even upon graduating from college, she wasn’t sure where her next step would take her.

“I considered many different occupations,” she said. “I have a degree in history and had considered veterinary sciences, zoology, anthropology/museum sciences, and photography, amongst others. I ended up in nursing because I desired challenging, fulfilling work and the ability to work anywhere in the world.”

Currently, that place in the world is Boise, Idaho, where Gray works at the Boise Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. A 2021 graduate of FNU, she joined the VA in August 2021 and completed their primary care nurse practitioner residency program

“Veterans are a very distinct population, as most of them have experienced either combat, extremely stressful scenarios, toxic exposures, and other military-specific situations,” Gray said. “As their provider, this presents particular challenges because it is not uncommon to see rare conditions such as multiple myeloma, cancers at young ages, and others. It’s important to keep these less common conditions higher in my differential process and always consider how military exposures could be impacting their long-term health.”

Gray said that there is also a high rate of chronic mental health conditions. These

conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impact all aspects of care.

“Particularly with the women’s population, there is, unfortunately, a notable prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST),” Gray said. “Many veterans have been through a great deal of hardship. It is so important to build a strong foundation of trust and ensure they feel seen and heard while engaging with the healthcare system.”

In the Women’s Wellness Clinic, Gray manages wellness screenings, chronic conditions, acute care needs, mental health conditions, and transgender healthcare. The scope of cases is broad and includes diagnosing and managing a wide spectrum of acute and chronic conditions in every body system. Commonly seen issues include coronary artery disease, diabetes, COPD/asthma, thyroid disease, family planning, hormone replacement, depression/anxiety, fibromyalgia, spine/ orthopedic issues, and others. Gray also provides access to specialty OB/GYN services for more complex women’s health needs and maternity care by way of early referral to obstetric or midwife services.

“I have a panel of primarily female patients and several transgender patients,” she said. “One great thing about the VA is that we have access to almost every specialty inhouse, and there is a lot of opportunity to build great working relationships with the providers. I think this is really beneficial to providing high-quality care because if I have a complex patient or am unsure how comorbidity, say something like multiple sclerosis, could be playing into the symptoms I am evaluating, the specialists are very accessible.”

Elizabeth Gray

that there is also a high rate of chronic mental health conditions. These conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impact all aspects of care.

The other half of Gray’s responsibilities include working as a Lung Cancer Screening Coordinator. She is part of the start-up team that will be developing this program at the Boise VA. Once fully operational, it will involve identifying veterans who qualify for lung cancer screening following the United States Preventive Services Taskforce guidelines, then managing and tracking findings to ensure no one falls through the cracks. Gray will be part of the team that closely monitors identified lung nodules for suspicious changes and facilitates quick referrals to pulmonology or oncology as needed. She will also assist with bronchoscopy and lung nodule biopsy procedures.

Gray has quickly become an integral member of the team at the Boise VA – a group that consists of several fellow FNU alumni, including Elizabeth Ballweg, FNP (Class 158), Megan Fitzmaurice, FNP, DNP (Class 20), and Megan Simenc, FNP-C (Class 155). Gray said they also share her willingness to take on unique challenges in addressing patients’ healthcare needs.

“My impression is that FNU graduates are more motivated to take on the challenges of working with higher-risk and more vulnerable patient populations,” Gray said. “I think that the type of student FNU attracts are those who are not afraid to face settings that demand thinking outside the box and providing solutions for some of the greater issues in our healthcare systems.”

What unique challenges lie ahead for Gray are yet to be seen, but for now, she is embracing the fulfilling work she is doing at the VA.

“I am still getting miles and experience under my belt,” she said. “I intend to continue growing my career in the VA system, building my patient panel, and expanding my knowledge through additional specialized training. I am also now doing some precepting on the side for the VA’s nurse practitioner residency program and hope to become more involved with it down the road.”

FNU Prepares to Re-Launch Courier Program

of Annual Giving and Courier Programs

Lisa Colletti-Jones. “We look forward to working with students from across the country and hope they gain insight into the challenges facing our rural and underserved communities. The Courier Program is one of Frontier Nursing University’s finest traditions, and I’m so glad we can share it with Woodford County and the surrounding areas.”

Frontier Nursing University began accepting applications for the resumption of its Courier Program this January. The Courier Program is an eight-week rural and public health summer service-learning program for college students with an interest in public health, healthcare, or a related field. Eight students will be accepted into the program, which will run from May 31 to July 28.

This marks a resumption of FNU’s Courier Program, which has been suspended for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the university’s move to its Versailles campus in Woodford County, Kentucky. FNU’s Courier Program was launched in 1928 in Frontier’s original home in Hyden, Kentucky. Since then, more than 1,600 students have participated in this unique service-learning program.

“We are proud and excited to relaunch the Courier Program,” said FNU Director

The Couriers will live in the newly renovated Courier House located on the FNU campus. Couriers will be immersed in service learning throughout Woodford County and surrounding communities. They will begin with a two-day orientation which will introduce them to the university and to the role they will play as Couriers in the community. The students will participate in online modules guided by a faculty advisor to learn about the importance of rural and public healthcare. They will also observe at local clinic host sites where they will apply what they have learned in real-life situations in the community. As they gain experience, the students will proceed to participate with a host site in creating a project designed to help the underserved community in which they are working. The Couriers’ service-learning experience will include a presentation on a health assessment they have conducted through their observations in the clinical sites, and they will work with their host organization to create a service project for that site and the people it serves.

For more information about FNU’s Courier summer service-learning program, please contact Lisa Colletti-Jones, Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs, at lisa.collettijones@frontier.edu or 859.251.4728.

FNU Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs Lisa Colletti-Jones

Lindsay Adams Joins Los Angeles Midwives

Beebe Healthcare Welcomes Sarah Brissey

Reba Harward Joins St. Joseph’s Hospital of Buckhannon

Los Angeles Midwives (from left): Naomi Drucker, Lilit Baldjyan Sarkissian, and Lindsay Adams (Photo

Lindsay Adams, CNM (Class 179), RN, MSN, recently joined Los Angeles Midwives as a certified nurse-midwife. Fellow FNU alumni Naomi Drucker, CNM (Bridge 138) RN, MSN, and Lilit Baldjyan Sarkissian, CNM (Class 143), RN, MSN, own and operate Los Angeles Midwives, which opened on December 16, 2020.

Dalisa Barquero and Amber Shapton Published in Women’s Healthcare

Sarah Brissey, CNM (Class 170), MSN, recently joined Beebe Healthcare’s Women’s Health Rehoboth in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware as a certified nurse-midwife. Brissey provides comprehensive obstetrical care, including prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum services. Additionally, she sees patients in need of routine gynecologic care, covering annual GYN visits, preventive screenings, and contraceptive guidance.

Whitney Clark Joins Grand Lake Health System

Grand Lake Health System in St. Mary’s, Ohio, recently welcome Whitney Clark, CNM (Class 151), MSN. Clark worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery prior to becoming a nursemidwife.

Community Physician Group Welcomes Wendy Flansburg

St. Joseph’s Hospital of Buckhannon in Buckhannon, West Virginia, recently welcomed Reba Harward, CNM (Class 196), MSN, to its Center for Women’s Health team. Her scope of practice includes caring for women throughout their pregnancies and across their lifetimes.

Ebony Hollins Joins Choptank Community Health System

Choptank Community Health System’s Chestertown Health Center in Chestertown, Maryland, recently welcomed Family Nurse Practitioner Ebony Hollins, FNP (Bridge 162), MSN, CRNP, AAHIVS. Hollins specializes in chronic illness prevention and management and providing care to HIV and HCV patients. She also has experience in primary care, infectious disease, medication-assisted treatment services, and outpatient substance abuse care.

Dalisa Barquero Amber Shapton

Dalisa Barquero, DNP (Class 19), and Amber S. Shapton, DNP (Class 26), FNP-C, are the co-authors of “Management of headache in pregnancy and during lactation,” published in Women’s Healthcare, a clinical journal for nurse practitioners in February 2023. Dr. Shapton is the medical director at Lincoln Avenue Medical-Dental Center at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Yakima, Washington. Dr. Barquero is a women’s health nurse practitioner and clinical lead at Mountain Park Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Wendy Flansburg, PMHNP-BC (Class 198), recently joined the Community Physician Group in Missoula, Montana, as a psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner. She specializes in psychopharmacology medication management, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders.

Chelsea Lundgren Joins Penn Highlands Healthcare

Penn Highlands Healthcare in DuBois, Pennsylvania, recently welcomed Chelsea Lundgren, FNP (Class 205), MSN. She is a nurse practitioner at Penn Highlands Endocrinology.

courtesy of Los Angeles Midwives)

Andrea Phillips Opens Spectrum Reproductive Health and Gender Affirming Care

Spectrum Reproductive Health and Gender

Affirming Care was recently opened by Andrea Phillips, ARNP, CNM (Class 158) in Bellingham, Washington. “You deserve to leave healthcare visits feeling educated and empowered,” Phillips states on Spectrum’s website. “I practice sex and body positivity and gender-affirming care with an awareness of power dynamics and how they shape care while using trauma-informed practices for every patient.”

Meggan Smith Named Interim Health Director

Meggan Smith, FNP-C (Class 169), MSN, has been appointed as the interim health director by the Graham County, North Carolina, commissioners. Smith is a nurse practitioner at Smoky Mountain Urgent Care in Bryson City, North Carolina. She provides urgent care for acute illness and injury, as well as primary care for members and visitors of the community.

CHI Health St. Francis

Welcomes Brandi Stein as Community’s First NurseMidwife

CHI Health Clinic

Women’s Health in Grand Island, Nebraska, recently welcomed certified nurse-midwife

Brandi Stein, CNM (Class 91), APRN, MSN. Stein is the

first nurse-midwife on the medical staff at the Maternity Center at CHI Health St. Francis and in the Grand Island community. Stein provides a full range of primary health care services for women throughout their lifespans, including gynecologic care, family planning, preconception care, prenatal and postpartum care, childbirth, and care of the newborn.

Bronson Healthcare Names Ruth Tatara

Compassionate Advanced Practice Professional of the Year

In December, Bronson Healthcare, which serves southwest Michigan and northern Indiana, honored four of its providers as Compassionate Physicians and Compassionate Advanced Practice Professional of the Year awards. Ruth Tatar, CNM (Class 112), MSN, was named the Advanced Practice Professional of the Year. Tatar is a certified nurse-midwife at Bronson Obstetrics, Gynecology & Midwifery Specialists in Kalamazoo. She also volunteers within the Kalamazoo Public Schools and hosts various blanket-making events for hospitalized children.

The Frontier Nursing University Office of Alumni Relations is here to support YOU! Our purpose is to offer helpful programs and services that support our graduates. Alumni are an integral part of FNU’s development because you demonstrate the excellence of FNU in everyday practice. You are also our primary recruiters and most loyal donors. We deeply appreciate your commitment to FNU.

We are looking to spotlight FNU community members in our blog! Tell us your story by scanning the QR code and filling out the form or email stories@frontier.edu. Then, someone will contact you soon. These spotlight stories help us shine a light on all of the amazing accomplishments and the impact our community members have on their home communities and the University community.

The Alumni Association is open to all graduates of FNU. We currently have more than 8,000 alumni in all 50 states and many countries around the world. We encourage you to explore the services, programs, and activities offered and become involved. There are several ways to stay in touch with friends and connect to FNU including conference receptions; case days; e-newsletters; and the FNU Alumni Facebook Group. To take advantage of all member services, please make sure we have your most recent contact information. Email us at alumniservices@ frontier.edu.

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tia Andrighetti, Podium presentation

Andrighetti, T., Scalf, K, & Lomax, J. (January 2023). Building a Telehealth Simulation Center: pre and post-pandemic. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare. Orlando, Florida. Podium Presentation.

Megan Arbour, Podium presentation

Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Instructional Strategies to Support Student Success. ACNM 2023, Orlando, FL

Joshua Barnes, Podium presentation

Barnes, J. S., Whitehead, T., & Littlefield, A. (2023, April). Navigating Ambiguity Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals. 35th Annual Coalition Conference. Lexington, KY; Central Bank Center.

Joshua Barnes, Article in peer-reviewed journal, first author

Barnes, J. (2022). Using SBAR to Facilitate Effective Learning During an Icebreaker. Nurse Educator. https://doi-org.frontier.idm.oclc. org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001302

Mary Ellen Biggerstaff, Article in peerreviewed journal, second author

Hoch K, Biggerstaff ME, Weiss J, Bunge P. The Importance of Community Partnerships in Nonprofit and Business Responsiveness to COVID-19; Success Stories From the Field. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. July 2022. doi:10.1177/00221678221113890

Mary Ellen Biggerstaff, Article in peerreviewed journal, first author

Biggerstaff, M. Review of Best Practices for Nurses Caring for Refugee and Immigrant Populations. Journal of Nursing Radiology. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2022.05.007

Anne Cockerham, Book chapter in a scholarly textbook, second author

Keeling, A.W., & Cockerham, A.Z. (2023). History and evolution of advanced practice nursing. In M.F. Tracy, E.T. O’Grady, & S.J. Phillips (Eds.), Hamric and Hanson’s advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (7th ed.) (pp. 2-30). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Catherine Collins-Fulea, Article in peerreviewed journal, first author

Collins-Fulea, C., & Jefferson, K. (2022). Improving Timeliness of Obstetrical Triage Throughput in an Urban Tertiary Care Hospital.\ Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice. Vol 15 issue 3, 173-181. https://doi-org.frontier.idm.oclc. org/10.1891/JDNP-2022-0001

Jana Esden, Article in peer-reviewed journal, first author

Esden, J. L. (2022). Pneumococcal vaccination for adults: history and updates. The Nurse Practitioner, 47 (11), 40-47.

Mary Hunt, Podium presentation

Wetzel, E., Hunt, M. (2023, June 20-25). Simplified urine drug test interpretation [Podium presentation]. American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference 2023.

Diane John, Podium presentation

John, D., Gayle, D., & McElroy, S. A (2023, Feb 21). A brave space for students of color in a virtual mentoring environment. [Podium presentation]. Meaningful Living and Learning in a Digital World 2023.

Diana Jolles, Podium presentation

Jolles, D (2022) Curator, Frontier Nursing University Sponsored Poster Session, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Scholarly Project, American Association of Birth Centers Birth Institute, San Diego, September 15-Sept 18th, 2022.

Diana Jolles, Article in peer-reviewed journal, second author

Kwiatkowski LR, Jolles DR, Edwards C. Overuse, underuse, and misuse: Improving effective primary care at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Nursing forum. March 2022. doi:10.1111/ nuf.12718

Diana Jolles, Article in peer-reviewed journal, second author

Jones-Beatty, K, Jolles, D, Burd, I, Thomas, O. Increasing effective postpartum care in an obstetric clinic using ACOG's postpartum toolkit. Nurs Forum. 2022; 1- 7. doi:10.1111/nuf.12831

Diana Jolles, Article in peer-reviewed journal, second author

Davies E, Jolles D. Safe prevention of Clostridium difficile using infectious disease guidelines at an urban hospital in North Carolina. BMJ Open Quality 2022;11:e000618. doi:10.1136/ bmjoq-2018-000618

Diana Jolles, Article in peer-reviewed journal, first author

Jolles, D., Hoehn-Velasco, L., Ross, L., Stapleton, S., Joseph, J., Alliman, J., Bauer, K., Marcelle, E. and Wright, J. (2022), Strong Start Innovation: Equitable Outcomes Across Public and Privately Insured Clients Receiving Birth Center Care. J Midwifery Women's Health.. https://doi. org/10.1111/jmwh.13439

Tia Andrighetti, DNP, CNM, CHSE, CNE Associate Professor

Megan Arbour, Ph.D., CNM, CNE, FACNM Associate Professor

Joshua Barnes, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NP-C, CCRN, CNEn Clinical Faculty

Mary Ellen Biggerstaff, DNP, MPH, FNP Assistant Professor

Anne Cockerham, CNM, WHNP-BC, Ph.D., CNE Professor

Catherine Collins-Fulea, DNP, CNM, FACNM Assistant Professor

Heidi Loomis, DM, CRNP, CNM Instructor

Laura Manns-James, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM Associate Professor

Sarah Obermeyer, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, IBCLC, CNE Associate Professor

Nancy Pesta Walsh, DNP, FNP Assistant Professor

Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNPBC, FAANP, FNAP Associate Professor

Charlotte Swint, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, CNE, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, FACNM Associate Professor

Christopher Kennedy, Article in peerreviewed journal, second author

Rowland, P, Kennedy, C. Implementing effective care by improving attendance to the comprehensive postpartum visit in urban hospital practice. Nursing Forum, 57(6), 1606-1613. doi:10.1111/ nuf.12796

Amber Littlefield, Podium presentation

Littlefield, A. & Stone-Gale, V. (April 2023). Common Addictions in Mental Health. Invited podium presentation, Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, Lexington, KY.

Heidi Loomis, Virtual Presentation

Loomis, H. (2023) Midwifery Students' Experiences of Bias in the Clinical Setting, Midwifery Forward, PA-ACNM

Laura Manns-James, Article in peerreviewed journal, first author

Manns-James, L., Pfeifer, K., & Gillmor-Kahn, M. (2023). Ethical care for patients with self-managed abortion after Roe: What should nurses know? American Journal of Nursing, 123 (1), 32 – 38.

Laura Manns-James, Poster Presentation

Manns-James, L. (2022). Online office visit simulation boosts clinical preparedness for midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner students (poster presentation). NETNEP 2022: 8th International Nurse Education Conference, Sitges, Spain, October 19-22, 2022

Sarah Obermeyer, Podium presentation

Obermeyer, S. (2022 - September 18). The use of tranexamic acid in community birth settingsClinical implications. [Conference presentation]. American Association of Birth Centers Birth Institute, San Diego, CA, United States.

Nancy Pesta Walsh, Book chapter in a scholarly textbook, second author

Pesta Walsh, N. & Arthur, R. Urinary tract disorders. In K.T. Grace, C.L. Farley, N. Jeffers, & T. Tringali (Eds.), Prenatal and postnatal care: A person-centered approach, (3rd ed., pp. TBD). John Wiley & Sons.

Vicky Stone-Gale, Podium Presentation

Littlefield, A. & Stone-Gale, V. (April 2023). Common Addictions in Mental Health. Invited podium presentation, Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, Lexington, KY.

Vicky Stone-Gale, Poster presentation

John, D & Stone-Gale, V. (2023). Intimate partner violence: The impact on women and the community, Poster presentation for American Association of Nurse Practitioners conference, New Orleans, LA

Charlotte Swint, Podium presentation

Swint, C. (2023, March 30-April 1). DNP student impressions of synchronous health policy learning sessions. [Concurrent session]. 2023 Nursing Education Research Conference. National League for Nursing. Washington, DC.

Tanya Tanner, Podium presentation

Tanner, T. & Olson, S. (2022, October 19-22). Women’s Mental Health Care from Adolescence to Pregnancy and Beyond [Pre-Conference Podium Presentation]. APNA 36th Annual Conference. Long Beach, CA.

Tawny Tseng, Podium presentation

Tseng, T. K. (2022, September). Dear Sir. American Association of the History of Nurses. Lexington; Hyatt.

Shaughanassee Vines, Podium presentation

Vines, S. (2022, September 18). Racial Health Equity and Cesarean Birth in the Birth Center Model of Care: Current Status and Future Directions [Breakout session]. Black Maternal Health Conference, Washington, DC.

Sally Weiss, Poster Presentation

Stone-Gale, V. & Weiss, S. A. (2022). Mast cell disorders: More common than you think.

Estella Wetzel, Virtual Presentation

Wetzel, E. (2022, December 15). Implementing effective management of patients prescribed opioids in a suburban clinic [Abstract presentation, virtual]. Institute for Healthcare Improvement Scientific Symposium 2022.

Estella Wetzel, Podium presentation

Wetzel, E., Hunt, M. (2023, June 20-25).

Simplified urine drug test interpretation [Podium presentation]. American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference 2023.

Estella Wetzel, Poster presentation

Wetzel, E. (2022, December 5-8). Implementing effective management of patients prescribed opioids in a suburban clinic [Poster presentation]. Institute for Healthcare Improvement Forum 2022, Orlando, FL.

Estella Wetzel, Podium presentation

Wetzel, E. (2023, June 20-25). Simplified urine drug test interpretation [Podium presentation]. American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference 2023.

Jana Esden, DNP, APNP, FNP-BC Assistant Professor

Mary Hunt, DNP, CNM, ENP-BC, FNPBC, PMHNP-BC Regional Clinical Faculty

Diane John, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, CNE Associate Professor

Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM Clinical Faculty

Christopher Kennedy, DNP, FNP-BC, CNP Assistant Professor

Amber Littlefield, DNP, FNP-C, MEd Assistant Professor

Tanya Tanner, Ph.D., MBA, APRN, CNM, PMHNP-BC, FACNM Assistant Professor

Tawny Tseng, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC Assistant Professor

Shaughanassee Vines, DNP, CNE, CNM, FACNM Assistant Professor

Sally Weiss, EdD, APRN, FNP-C, CNE, ANEF Instructor

Estella Wetzel, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Regional Clinical Faculty

Trustees Board of Directors

Mrs. Tia Andrew, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda

Ms. Sarah Bacon, Brooklyn, NY

Mrs. Andrea Begley, Hyden, KY

Dr. Heather Bernard, Hamilton, NY

Gov. Steven Beshear, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Betty Brown, Louisville, KY

Mrs. Amy Pennington Brudnicki, Richmond, KY

Dr. Timothy Bukowski, Chapel Hill, NC

Dr. Wallace Campbell, Berea, KY

Miss Anna Carey, Hyden, KY

Mrs. Jean Chapin, Oldwick, NJ

Mrs. Lois Cheston, Topsfield, MA

Bill Corley, Indianapolis, IN

Mrs. Julia Breckinridge Davis, Winston-Salem, NC

Mrs. John Dete, West Liberty, OH

Mrs. Selby Ehrlich, Bedford, NY

Mrs. Robert Estill, Raleigh, NC

Mrs. Noel Smith Fernandez, Pomona, NY

Ms. Mary Ann Gill, Versailles, KY

Mr. John Grandin, Chestnut Hill, MA

Dr. Joyce Fortney Hamberg, Southgate, KY

Dr. Horace Henriques, Lyme, NH

Mr. & Mrs. John Hodge, Berwyn, PA

Mrs. Robin Frentz Isaacs, Lincoln, MA

Mrs. Rosemary Johnson, Versailles, KY

Mrs. Mary Carol Joseph, Hyden, KY

Ms. Deborah M. King, Westport, MA

Mrs. Patricia Lawrence, Westwood, MA

Mrs. Marian Leibold, Cincinnati, OH

Dr. Ruth Lubic, Washington, DC

Mr. William Lubic, Washington DC

Mr. Robert Montague, JD, Urbanna, VA

Mr. Wade Mountz, Louisville, KY

Dr. Judy Myers, Ph.D., RN, New Albany, IN

Ms. Barbara Napier, Irvine, KY

Ms. Sandra Napier, Stinnett, KY

Dr. Spencer Noe, Lexington, KY

Mr. Dean Osborne, Hyden, KY

Mrs. Helen Rentch, Midway, KY

Mrs. John Richardson, Washington, DC

Mrs. Linda Roach, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Georgia Rodes, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Sandra Schreiber, Louisville, KY

Maria Small, MD, MPH, Durham, NC

Mrs. Sherrie Rice Smith, Franklin, WI

Mrs. Austin Smithers, Lyme, NH

Mrs. Robert Steck, Arlington, MA

Mrs. Mary Clay Stites, Louisville, KY

Mr. Richard Sturgill, Paris, KY

Ms. Mary Frazier Vaughan, Lexington, KY

Mrs. LouAnne Roberts Verrier, Austin, TX

Dr. Patience White, Bethesda, MD

Mr. Harvie Wilkinson, Lexington, KY

Ms. Vaughda Wooten, Hyden, KY

CHAIR

Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP

New Orleans, LA

VICE CHAIR

Michael T. Rust

Louisville, KY

SECRETARY

Wallace Campbell, Ph.D.

Berea, KY

TREASURER

Emma Metcalf, RN, MSN, CPHQ

Louisville, KY

Board Members

Carlyle Carter, Evanston, IL

William (Bill) Corley, MHA, Carmel, IN

Nancy Hines, Shepherdsville, KY

Jean Johnson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Cabin John, MD

Marcus Osborne, MBA, Bentonville, AR

Kerri Schuiling, Ph.D., CNM, FAAN, FACNM, Marquette, MI

Peter Schwartz, MD, Port St. Lucie, FL

Dr. Maria Small, MD, MPH, Durham, NC

Nancy Fugate Woods, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Seattle, WA

May Wykle, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FGSA, Cleveland, OH

Foundation Board Members

Peter Coffin, Chair, Frontier Nursing Service, Inc Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA

Derek Bonifer, Louisville, KY

Peter Schwartz, MD, Port St. Lucie, FL

Board Members Emeritus

John Foley, Lexington, KY

Marion McCartney, CNM, FACNM, Washington, DC

Kenneth J. Tuggle, JD, Louisville, KY

Frontier Nursing University

Special Knit Items Needed!

Homemade blankets and scarves continue to be very needed for our FNU Students. Frontier nurse-midwifery students present a baby cap to the family of a baby whose birth they attend, and our nurse practitioner students present lap quilts or scarves to their patients. We have plenty of baby caps at this time but desperately need more blankets and scarves. The size needed for lap quilts is approximately 40 by 42 inches.

We greatly appreciate the many knitting groups and friends who send items to us. These items circle the globe as our students pass them on to women and families and share the story of the Frontier Nursing Service. It’s such a special way to pass on the vision and mission of Frontier.

Please send your donated items to: Frontier Nursing University

Attn: Dr. Joan Slager, Dean of Nursing

2050 Lexington Road Versailles, KY 40383

Memorial Donations

The following people gave contributions to Frontier in memory of their friends or loved ones. The names in bold are the deceased.

Microscopes Needed

Harriette S. Barnes

Ms. Mary Ann Barnes

M. Brenda Doyle

Dr. Timothy Bukowski

FNU is seeking donations of microscopes in good condition for our students to use as they develop their clinical skills. If you would like to donate, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver at (859) 251-4739 or bobbi. silver@frontier.edu.

Alumni Collection

Added to the Online Gift Shop!

Great news, FNU alumni and students: our online gift shop is now officially open! We’re excited to finally have a virtual storefront offering a variety of apparel and accessories from t-shirts to cotton masks for you to show your FNU pride.

Frontier.edu/FNUalumnigear

frontier.edu/FNUgear