Episode 7 of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) All-Access Podcast introduces a fascinating discussion about the importance of advocacy and what it means to be an advocate for nursing care and autonomy. FNU faculty member Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, details her experiences as an advocate for nurse practitioners in Florida, where she lives and practices.

Dr. Stone-Gale details how she was first introduced to the idea of advocacy and how that led her to begin speaking out publicly about the healthcare gaps in Florida and the role that nurse practitioners could play in resolving those issues. She details her meetings with legislators, public speaking engagements, and collaboration with physicians to ultimately bring about new legislation and essential change.

Dr. Stone-Gale also explains her motivation for becoming an advocate, the importance of finding allies, and the role that other faculty, practitioners, students, and supporters can play in their own communities.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• What it means to be an advocate and how to become one.
• Why advocating for legislation to increase nursing autonomy matters and how it impacts the overall health of the community.
• How advocacy led to new legislation in Florida allowing for autonomous practice for nurses.
• Why Dr. Stone-Gale won the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Advocacy Award for 2022.

Episode 6 of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) All-Access Podcast features an in-depth look at birth centers and their place in the healthcare system. Frontier faculty Drs. Jill Alliman, DNP, CNM, and Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, are joined by Kate Bauer, MBA, from the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) in a discussion about a research project in which they were all involved. They share the findings of the project and what the data reveals about birth centers, including overall health outcomes and disparities, and the need for more midwives of color leading birth centers.

The conversation also includes an explanation of the differences between hospital-based birth experiences and birth center-based birth experiences. Additionally, the differences between midwifery-based maternity care and physician/hospital-based maternity care are discussed.

The trio also talks about the deep connection between FNU and the AABC, the role of the AABC, and their own roles and experiences at FNU and AABC, respectively.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• The difference between maternity care in birth centers and hospitals
• The study that Kate Bauer and Drs. Jill Alliman and Diana Jolles participated in, its purpose and findings
• What the data reveals about the impact of birth centers in overall health outcomes
• The need for more birth centers led by midwives of color
• The role of the American Association of Birth Centers and how to join the organization

Episode 5 of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) All-Access Podcast takes a close look at Frontier’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. Dr. Khara’ Jefferson, FNU’s DNP program director, and DNP clinical faculty Dr. Diana Jolles join the podcast to explain what makes FNU’s DNP program so unique and successful. The DNP is the highest degree for clinical nursing practice. Frontier Nursing University’s DNP program, which began in 2008, focuses on preparing students to make a change that better serves the people in their community.

Drs. Jefferson and Jolles also discuss the DNP projects which students complete as part of their curriculum. These projects teach students to implement change in clinical settings. The students partner with clinical sites and customize their projects based on the needs of their own communities and clinical settings.

As it has in virtually all aspects of daily life, the pandemic has impacted the DNP program and the DNP projects. Drs. Jefferson and Jolles explain how FNU faculty and staff managed to adjust quickly and ensure that students could stay on course and complete their DNP projects.

Drs. Jefferson and Jolles also discuss the unique affordability of the DNP program and the many ways earning a DNP can positively impact students’ careers and lives by building them into leaders in their communities and professions. They describe, too, how students are able to build life-long friendships through FNU’s Frontier and Clinical Bounds during which students come to campus and are able to meet their classmates in person.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• The structure and purpose of the DNP Program
• How the students’ DNP projects are guided by the needs of the clinical site and customized for their communities
• How the DNP program builds leadership skills and advances careers
• How the pandemic has impacted the DNP program
• The many ways in which FNU’s DNP program is unique and different from all others
• How Drs. Jefferson and Jolles came to Frontier and the leadership roles they have assumed

Episode 4 of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) All-Access Podcast takes a close look at Frontier’s Courier Program. This eight-week summer internship program that has long been a part of FNU has been paused the last two years amidst the pandemic and the university’s move to the Versailles, Ky, campus. Now, led by new Courier Program Coordinator Kayla White, the program is set to resume in the summer of 2022.

The program is an eight-week summer internship in which students live on the FNU campus and are immersed in activities to help them understand the unique challenges of rural health care and health disparities experienced by rural and underserved populations. Couriers volunteer at healthcare and community service agencies that partner with the Courier Program. The Couriers observe and learn while providing support to these agencies and the populations they serve.

During the podcast, Kayla shares some of the exciting plans for the restart of the program, including a new online course component that seeks to further enhance the Couriers’ experience. Additionally, FNU Board of Directors member Peter Coffin and former Courier Program Coordinator Nancy Reinhart join the podcast. Peter explains his deep connection to Frontier and how his company has developed an extensive relationship in support of the Courier Program. Nancy, who is also an FNU graduate, describes her experience as a Courier and the Courier Program Coordinator and how it inspired her to become a nurse-midwife.

This episode also includes a big surprise for both Nancy and Peter, as revealed by FNU All-Access Podcast host Angela Bailey, who also explains where to learn more about becoming a Courier or how to support the Courier Program.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• The structure and purpose of the Courier Program
• How the Courier Program is being restarted at FNU’s new location in Versailles, Kentucky
• About how one company with deep ties to the Courier Program supports the program in a variety of ways
• How one former Courier and Courier Program Coordinator was inspired to lead the program
• The current Courier Program Coordinator’s vision and plans for the restart of the program
• How the program will now include an online course to further enhance the participants’ understanding of rural and community health
• The winners of two prestigious FNU annual awards

Welcome to the Frontier Nursing University All-Access Podcast! This podcast provides a closer look at Frontier Nursing University through lively and entertaining discussions with a wide variety of guests and topics.

In Episode 3 host we welcome Dr. Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, Department Chair of Psychiatric-Mental Health at FNU. FNU launched the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program in 2018, and its rapid growth and success is an indicator of the need and importance of mental health providers in the United States. During the podcast, Dr. Calohan discusses the lack of mental health providers, and, in particular, the lack of diversity in mental health care. He shares his extensive experience and how it has played a role in developing the PMHNP program at Frontier. This is a lively, entertaining, and informative conversation that also includes discussion about the impact of a recently received federal grant, the impact of COVID on mental health and the PMHNP program, and some of the “hidden” support services offered by FNU.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• Why FNU created the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program
• How and why the PMHNP program has grown so rapidly
• How the PMHNP program applies to the mission of Frontier
• The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental healthcare
• How the PMHNP program adapted to the pandemic
• The role of academic advisors and the library staff at FNU
• The impact of the behavioral health workforce education and training grant

In Episode 2 “What the Heck is an RCF?”, host Angela Bailey welcomes Dr. Mary Jones and Stephanie Boyd to explain the role of the Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) at Frontier Nursing University. An assistant professor at FNU as well as an RCF, Dr. Jones explains the unique role RCFs play in supporting students throughout their journey. Boyd, who is FNU’s Director of Clinical Outreach and Placement, further explains the additional support that students and preceptors receive from her department. The trio also explains Case Days, discusses traveling on behalf of FNU, and shares their passions for their professions and exercise.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• The role of Regional Clinical Faculty at Frontier
• The role of FNU’s Clinical Outreach and Placement team
• What Case Days are and why they matter
• FNU’s connection to Every Mother Counts

This episode features a casual conversation with Dr. Susan Stone, whose history with Frontier Nursing University dates back to 1991 when she earned a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from what was then the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. Dr. Stone, who was inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Medicine in 2019, has served as Frontier’s president since 2001.

-The history and growth of Frontier Nursing University

-All about Frontier’s unique, innovative distance-learning model

-Some fun behind-the-scenes stories

-How Dr. Stone came to Frontier

-Dr. Stone’s summary of the university’s current status and the vision for the future