FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY | VOL. 95, NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2020
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
FNU Answers the Call to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic
Top Row (L-R) Chantielle Maclin Blackwell; Ginny Bowers; Jaime Westlund Middle Row (L-R) Joy McElyea; Jennifer Cameron; Miriam Stricklan and Aaron Cohlmia Bottom Row (L-R): Korah St. Germain; Dee Polito (front row, left) and UK Midwife Clinic staff; Heather Friend
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 1
The FNU Student Emergency Fund Aids Students in Times of Need
By now you’ve heard the stories about the extraordinary efforts nurses are making to meet their patients’ needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many are coping with limited medical supplies and all are sacrificing time with their families to provide the care patients need. Our students, who are registered nurses, face these and other challenges as they try to complete their advanced practice degrees. FNU’s Student Emergency Fund provides grants to students who have unexpected financial situations that threaten their ability to continue their studies. It gives them the financial assistance needed to continue their programs by addressing the monetary shortfalls resulting from personal misfortunes or natural disasters. Let me be clear, the Student Emergency Fund does not cover tuition or the routine costs of attending FNU such as participating in classes or taking exams. These grants are given only to meet significant loss due to true emergencies such as fire, natural disaster, catastrophic medical injuries and/or illness. We recently added pandemics to that list. The grants are given to cover expenses such as transportation costs, housing, and damage to computers. Today our students are experiencing the unexpected costs of the COVID-19 Pandemic such as family members becoming unemployed and no access to childcare or school for their children. All gifts made to this fund are given directly to students. In administering the Student Emergency Fund, we request documentation from each applicant. All requests are evaluated and approved by a faculty committee before being dispersed. Every gift we receive helps students cope with financial burdens so they can continue their education. Through the Student Emergency Fund we can all do our part to provide much-needed assistance. As you can see from the stories in this issue, our students and graduates are needed more than ever. I hope you will consider supporting their efforts. Sincerely,
Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM President Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM Dean of Nursing Shelley Aldridge, BA Chief Operations Officer Angela Bailey, MA, CFRE Chief Advancement Officer Michael Steinmetz, CPA, CMA, CSCA Executive Vice President for Finance and Facilities Geraldine Young, DNP, APRN, FNPBC, CDE, FAANP Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Rachel Mack, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Tonya Nicholson, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM Department Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health Lisa Chappell, Ph.D., FNP-BC Department Chair of Family Nursing Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC Department Chair of PsychiatricMental Health Jane Houston, DNP, CNM DNP Director
Angela Bailey, MA, CFRE Chief Advancement Officer P.S. To donate online, please visit frontier.edu/giveonline. Thank you!
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Jacquelyne Brooks, DNP, MS ADN-MSN Bridge Director
Contents Bringing A Culture of Caring to the Front Lines An Open Letter to FNU Alumni . . . . . . . 2 Curbside Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Oath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 In Her Own Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Opening a New Practice During COVID-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Serving a Mennonite Community During the Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Expanding Telehealth to Reduce Patient Anxiety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Calm in the Storm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
FNU Responds to COVID-19 Responding to the Pandemic: A Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Guided By Our History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Creating the Virtual Bound Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion During the Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Diversity Impact Conference. . . . . . . . . 15 Wendover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The CARES Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC
From the President Dear friends, We began 2020 extremely excited to celebrate and embrace the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. We were intent on demonstrating the importance of nurse practitioners and nursemidwives, the quality of care they provide, and the need to have them at the decision-making table regarding national healthcare policy and direction. Little did we know then that the COVID-19 Pandemic would sweep the globe and, in the process, bring all those points to light. While the grim stories from the pandemic are many, in these pages we want to share with you stories of encouragement and inspiration. So many of our more than 8,000 graduates have been on the front lines in the daily battle with COVID-19. We have collected just a sampling of those stories and we know you will be as proud of their tireless work as we are. Additionally, our faculty, staff, and preceptors have been faced with challenges related to the pandemic. From converting Frontier Bound and Clinical Bound to virtual events, to reassuring students, to sharing valuable resources and information, our team has embodied the Culture of Caring that makes Frontier Nursing University the truly special community it is. Even as we have adjusted to social distancing, we have not lost our sense of community, teamwork, and caring for one another. In these difficult times, it is comforting and inspiring to see how we have all banded together and supported one another, facing every question and challenge with ingenuity and creativity. In the last issue, I explained the importance of the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. Today, all you have to do to understand the significance is to look around you. We hope that each and every one of you and your families are safe and healthy. We thank you for your support and the varied but equally important roles each of you play in the FNU community. Thank you,
SusanSusan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM Stone, CNM, DNSc.,
FACNM, FAAN
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Bringing A Culture of Caring to the Front Lines AN OPEN LETTER TO FNU ALUMNI By Danny S. Webb, APRN, MSN, FNP-C, Class 34
Dear FNU alumni and friends, When this pandemic started, I posed the question: What would Mrs. Breckinridge do? There were many responses, but they all had a similar theme. She would saddle up and head out to fight the good fight and face it head-on. This is exactly what is happening. Across the globe, the mission of Frontier is being fulfilled as care is being delivered to the most vulnerable. Alumni are standing strong on the front lines representing the highest of Mrs. Breckinridge’s legacy – integrity, empathy, and determination. This is not business as usual; this is a viral pandemic, unlike anything that most of us have seen in our lifetimes.
Danny S. Webb
In my normal, daily, and professional routine, I often feel alone and overwhelmed. I experience frustration and a sense of futility – as if I am constantly fighting a losing battle, but then I am reminded that I have been equipped with all the tools necessary to win this war. Frontier has armed me with all the weapons required to fight successfully. We must strive to do the best for our patients, but not overlook our own welfare. A few weeks ago, I sent out a request on the Alumni Facebook page inviting alumni members to join us for a Zoom video-based conference and the response was exceptional. Our first meeting consisted of almost 50 participants. Many of us shared stories and reminisced of our shared Frontier experiences. This type of interaction has reminded us that we are not alone in this battle. During these video sessions, we have had the pleasure of listening to the calming and reassuring voices of Frontier’s leaders. These conferences will be conducted monthly, and I invite you to consider attending. We all must remain strong, vigilant, and dedicated to the mission at the core of Frontier’s tradition. In the words of Mary Breckinridge, “We have grown like the Banyan Tree... with branches yielding shade and fruit to wide neighborhoods...”. Please know that you are all on my mind daily, and I stay hopeful for everyone’s safety. We will come out of this pandemic stronger. Stay safe and vigilant and continue to do what you do best, providing the highest quality of care in the Frontier tradition of excellence.
Regards, Danny S. Webb, APRN, MSN, FNP-C
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CURBSIDE CARE: Ginny Bowers’ “Mobile Midwifery” Reduces Patient Exposure
Ginny Bowers The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced healthcare providers to be flexible and innovative in how they provide care. From greater access to telehealth appointments to drive-up COVID-19 testing, social distancing and limiting exposure has been the driving force for change. Ginny Bowers, CNM, IBCLC, RLC, Class 82, shared her own innovation on social media on March 18. The post, accompanied by a photo, simply read: “Mobile midwifery! Taking care of my pregnant mamas in their cars in order to help out our community.” As the Head Midwife at Chesapeake Women’s Health in Easton, Maryland, Bowers recognized the need to reduce risks of exposure to her pregnant patients. Having them come into the office for appointments added risks that could be avoided by offering a drive-up option. “I reached this decision due to significant concerns with
exposure of our pregnant patients to COVID-19,” Bowers explained. “Pregnant women carry a significantly higher risk of complications when exposed to respiratory viruses and I wanted to help decrease that risk in any way possible. We are fortunate that our office provides multiple outside doors and we have a parking lot that wraps around to the side of the building. I have my pregnant patients drive to that side parking lot and they call the practice to inform us that they are here. I then go directly to their cars and function as both a medical assistant and provider. I obtain blood pressures, fetal heart tones, maternal heart rate and fundal heights without the patients leaving their cars.” Easy access to a bathroom allows patients to obtain a selfcollect swab or urine sample without ever setting foot in the waiting room. There is also a direct door to the lab and ultrasound locations. “I elected to function as both the medical assistant and the provider so as to limit the patient’s exposure,” Bowers said. “I wear a surgical mask and gloves to provide further protection to them in case I eventually become an asymptomatic carrier. If we do have a patient presenting with any symptoms we also have the patient and myself wear full PPE.”
Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2014. Her decision to become a nurse-midwife was driven by a desire to better serve patients and her own near-tragedy. “I am a strong advocate for patient autonomy and patientcentered care,” she said. “As a registered nurse I had plans on specializing in either trauma or emergency medicine, but when I was pregnant with my first daughter my labor and delivery became unnecessarily complicated and grossly mismanaged. At the age of 25
Mobile midwifery! Taking care of my pregnant mamas in their cars in order to help out our community.
I almost died and became a statistic reflective of our broken healthcare system. When seeking answers on ways to better advocate for my patients I discovered midwifery and it was the perfect fit.” Fate led her to FNU, which she credits for helping prepare her for the innovative thinking needed in situations such as the pandemic.
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Bowers previously “Frontier is a fabulous worked as a registered nurse in university and I truly believe Richmond before moving to the this organization helped foster
my ability to problem solve and seek out solutions,” Bowers said. “Midwives really have a way of thinking outside of the box.” Chesapeake Women’s Health is a multidisciplinary practice where Bowers works alongside obstetricians. She works autonomously within the practice providing full-scope OB/GYN and lactation services and attending births at the local hospital. “I am fortunate that I work in a practice that is both receptive and willing to accommodate my suggestions for improving patient care,” said Bowers, who works alongside four other nurse-midwives, including Becky Kroeger, CNM, a fellow FNU graduate (Class 106). “We have a fabulous office manager in Jessica Lewis and supervisor in Kristina Lynch who are also strong advocates for patient safety and evidencebased practice.” Out-of-the-box thinking by Bowers and her colleagues has led to the changes in work schedules and the mobile midwifery practice to reduce the risk for staff and patients alike. “Patients are scared due to all of the unknowns,” Bowers said. “They have loved this service and have been extremely grateful for this option.” Amidst the chaos, Bowers stands ready in the parking lot, taking care of her patients, one car at a time.
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Bringing A Culture of Caring to the Front Lines THE OATH: Jaime Westlund, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Class 156 Kona. Typically she spends half her week at the clinic seeing a variety of patients, including wound care, and the other half of her week at the hospital, rounding on general surgery patients and scrubbing in with the surgeons for operations.
Jaime Westlund When Jaime Westlund, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Class 156 moved with her family from her home state of Idaho to Hawaii in August 2019, she did so with the intent to serve the community, staying true to the history and mission of FNU. Little did she know at that time how quickly her commitment to community would be tested.
With the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, however, her role has expanded. She created informational posters for the community and has been screening patients for the virus while taking the necessary steps to protect herself and her family as best she can. She is careful to use PPE while at work and removes her clothes and showers before going near her family.
“I took an oath to answer the call, and I have been doing that within my community,” Westlund said. “I encourage everyone to do their part “While I was attending Frontier whether big or small, whether Nursing University to become you have taken an oath or not.” a nurse practitioner, I made an oath to always ‘answer the Living on an island, supplies call’ within my community,” are always in demand and Westlund said. “Today, as I the pandemic has amplified screened hundreds of patients the issue. to determine if they met the criteria to be tested for “We live on an island so it is COVID-19, I felt a connection truly rural health care at its to that oath that I have never finest,” Westlund said. “We felt before.” do not have access to a lot of medical supplies or equipment Since moving to Hawaii and it takes a really long time with her husband and four to get things on the island. children (ages 11, 7, 6 and We have very few resources 3), Westlund has worked as available. We have very few a nurse practitioner in the ICU beds and ventilators so it is general surgery department at crucial we contain the virus.” Ali’i Health Center in Kailua
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“While I was attending Frontier Nursing University to become a nurse practitioner, I made an oath to always ‘answer the call’ within my community,”
Westlund said that telemedicine is being utilized as much as possible to limit the number of patients in the clinic and that all elective surgeries have been stopped. “There are gaps and shortages everywhere,” Westlund said. “Unfortunately that is a typical day for us here.” Just another day serving the community and fulfilling her oath to answer the call.
Westlund created these posters to inform members of the community.
IN HER OWN WORDS: Joy McElyea, MSN, CNM, RN, CNEP Class 149, DNP Class 33 three others in Colorado were among the earliest places hit. I’ve been on the front lines for a few weeks now, and I admit, I’m tired.
Joy McElyea Editor’s Note: Following is a personal account from the front lines of one of the COVID-19 hotspots, written by Joy McElyea on April 1, 2020. We thank Joy for her work and allowing us to share her story. I am a CNM and RN in Gunnison, Colorado — a small town in Western Colorado that is one of the COVID-19 hotspots (last I checked we were #6, just below places in New York and Louisiana). Our county includes a ski resort — and ours, along with two or
sudden gut-punching awareness when it’s your patient. Just as silence in health care can be ominous (no infant cry after delivery, decreased breath sounds on auscultation, absence of heartbeat on a pronounced We are all nurses first, and this patient) the silence today on has primarily been my role. I’m As an APRN, I know I’m a CNM in an outpatient clinic trained well. I know how to stay my news feed is also ominous. It means we’re all in the thick of only (no deliveries), so initially I calm, look at the big picture, it. We’re all telling ourselves to did see all of the OB patients in utilize resources, quiet my our clinic (my OB was one who mind, and find the steady voice take that deep breath. We’re all so unbelievably tired. was sick early on), counseling to tell my patient they will be and answering questions based okay just prior to sedation. The comforting routine of on what limited information Later, I can find the strength school returns for me next we had. But primarily, I’ve been to call my patient’s daughter week (I have one term left working at our small, critical and tell her that just before access hospital in an RN role. intubation, her father was calm in my DNP program). I am so thankful that Frontier Because we’re small our staff and was able to laugh. And continues on, adapting just is all cross-trained—I’m labor later still, in the quietness of like all of us on the front and delivery and medical surg. a country night while I’m out lines, supporting students just My nursing background is walking my dogs (even quieter as we support our patients. corrections and long-term care. now that our county is on But these days, I’m standing lockdown), I’m also able to tell Health care will be different after this, but the flexibility, next to ER doctors and EMS myself that I will be okay. empathy, understanding, and crews who are intubating forward thinking nature of my patients to send them to I’ve watched the wave of the FNU community will another, higher-care facility. awareness sweep over social prepare us well for whatever We don’t have an ICU. Because media. The disbelief and role we find ourselves in. And we were hit early, we are still downplaying, the shock when for that, I am grateful. able to ship our patients to it hits someplace close, the other hospitals in the state. I panic over increasing reports worry about when we can’t and from front lines, and then the suddenly I am the one taking care of that intubated, vented patient. I can only imagine the fear in larger hospitals, worrying about what to do there when beds and ventilators run out.
COVID-19 on Social Media “No supplies... babies come anyway. Doing our best with what we have.... honoring Mrs B.” -- Jennifer Cameron, MSN, CNM, Bridge 74 post to FNU Alumni Facebook page. Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 5
Bringing A Culture of Caring to the Front Lines OPENING A NEW PRACTICE DURING COVID-19: Traci Buran, MSN, FNP, DNP, Class 34
Traci Buran Opening a new practice is always exciting, but, even in the best of times, it also comes with some uncertainty. Imagine opening a new practice while completing your DNP and amidst the early stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. That’s what Traci Buran, MSN, FNP, DNP, Class 34 experienced when her practice, Affinity Family Practice, opened on March 2, 2020, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Buran, who is originally from Ishpeming in the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, worked as an RN for 10 years in dialysis, endoscopy, the emergency department, and outpatient surgery. After earning her FNP from FNU in 2018, she worked part-time in an FNP-led clinic in Cheyenne. The decision to open Affinity Family Practice didn’t come until November 2019 when her practice partner Sheriedan Grannan, DNP, FNP,, presented the business plan.
“After we talked about mission, vision, values, and goals, and I pondered the business plan at home, I decided to go for it,” Buran said. “We started working on opening the practice shortly thereafter. It took us about two months to get the practice open, which required a lot of hard work and many long hours. Our soft opening was on March 2nd through the 6th, and then we opened full time on March 9.” Buran, who is set to graduate from FNU with her DNP in June, treats acute and chronic conditions in patients of all ages, and provides primary care services such as Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals, immunizations, minor procedures, and point of care tests. Enough former patients followed Buran and Grannan to Affinity Family Practice to enable the successful launch of the clinic, even with the uncertainty created by COVID-19. “The community has been very supportive and excited,” Buran said. “As a new practice, there is some trepidation amidst the COVID epidemic. When you are trying to advertise and attract new patients, it is very difficult when people are scared to leave their homes, and we do not want to encourage people to go out or into a medical clinic unnecessarily right now. However, we quickly adapted to offering and completing TeleMedicine visits, which has
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been a great way to bridge the gap for many patients, and we are still able to provide triage and medical guidance over the phone. We are able to swab patients for COVID if needed, and have offered drive up service to prevent the patient from leaving their vehicle or coming into the clinic.” While fully acknowledging the tragic impact of the pandemic, Buran remains optimistic that better days are ahead and that valuable lessons are being learned. “Our healthcare system was woefully ill-prepared to deal with something like this,” Buran said. “However, I do believe that our country and world can and will overcome this crisis, and I have to believe that our political and healthcare leadership will work to do so. I think we need to understand that in the future, more vigilant steps should be taken to remain prepared for the next pandemic, and at the
very least, a COVID resurgence in the fall -- not only on the national level, but in each community and clinic as well.” The fact that Affinity Family Practice has enjoyed such a successful launch despite the unforeseen challenges is a testament to the business planning and ongoing marketing of the practice. The ability to adapt to the pandemic and quickly adjust to offering drive-up and TeleMedicine options is indicative of the preparation of Buran and her partners. “I don’t think that anyone was truly prepared for COVID,” Buran said. “However, FNU did do a great job of instilling evidence-based practice and a sense of community into us as students, and I believe that these two principles combined are very powerful tools in the healthcare setting, especially during a pandemic.”
SERVING A MENNONITE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC: Jennifer Scott, CNM, Class 75 Scott is from the Finger Lakes region and, after working as a full-scope midwife in a community hospital for seven years, she joined other colleagues to open Community Midwives in 2019. She has retained admitting privileges at the hospital, though the Mennonite community prefers home births.
Jennifer Scott With the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Scott, CNM, Class 75, realized that she needed to take additional steps to keep her patients safe. Scott, whose patient base is largely from a local Mennonite community in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, temporarily closed her clinic and began seeing patients in their homes. “We have temporarily closed our clinic,” Scott said, noting that she’s unable to do telehealth visits because her patients don’t have computers or cell phones. “We are doing home visits because it is easier to isolate and wipe down our equipment between homes. This also keeps our clients from congregating in the waiting room. Many women will make appointments on the same day and share a ride. We are also only seeing clients who are higher risk or near term. For example we’ve spaced our fourweek visits out to five weeks and are doing more phone calls.”
“The reasons are multifaceted,” Scott said, noting that she and her fellow nurse-midwife at Community Midwives attend six to 10 births per month in the community of approximately 600 families. “Many are farmers, have large families and don’t drive cars. In order to have a hospital birth they would need someone to take care of the farm, watch the children and would have to hire a driver to take them to the hospital in labor, possibly in the middle of the night. The closest maternity hospital is 30 to 45 minutes by car. Some are put off by hospital costs and length of stay. Others like the comfort of their own home. They feel safer emotionally to give birth in their own surroundings.” Making her patients feel safe has become an additional challenge amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. While the pandemic impacts this somewhat isolated community differently than other parts of the country, the fears are the same. The closing of schools and churches has limited primary sources of socialization, entertainment, and information. Because the
Mennonite community does not watch TV or listen to music, Scott shares news about the pandemic with the families she serves, printing off the latest information from the county and state health departments.
the pandemic inspires others to choose nursing and medicine, just as she was inspired by her experiences as an FNU student.
“FNU taught me to grab my saddlebag, get on my horse and ride up that mountain,” “Like everyone they are worried Scott said. “It taught me that for their families, stressed by the my calling is to care for the social restrictions, and having underserved, the vulnerable to homeschool their children,” families, without hesitation. I’ve Scott said. “The Mennonite always believed the education community is very self reliant. at FNU has prepared me for They have stocks of canned and anything I encounter in the frozen produce from their own workplace. I remember Kitty gardens and bake their own Ernst giving a talk at Frontier bread. They have fresh eggs and Bound that I paraphrased as milk also. They may only go ‘We only educate the strongest, once a month to Walmart for most resilient nurses’.” other supplies so they are not as exposed to as many crowds.” Like so many other FNU graduates leading the fight Scott, whose husband is also against the pandemic, Scott battling the COVID-19 demonstrates that strength and Pandemic as a physician in a resiliency every day. local hospital, said she hopes
Share Your COVID-19 Story The stories included in this issue of the Quarterly Bulletin represent a small sample of the great work our alumni and students are doing to provide care during the pandemic. If you would be willing to share your story, please send a note to FNUnews@frontier.edu. Thank you!
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Bringing A Culture of Caring to the Front Lines EXPANDING TELEHEALTH TO REDUCE PATIENT ANXIETY Amanda Dunham, DNP, FNP-C, Class 29 telehealth services to anyone in need,” Dunham said. “Children, women, men, and older adults needing prescription refills, evaluation for medical issues, and even mental health are encouraged to use our services. I have already seen the negative impact social distancing is having on mental health for many people and I encourage patients to use telehealth if these services are needed.”
Amanda Dunham There have been many stories and statements suggesting that the COVID-19 Pandemic has changed life as we know it forever. Regardless of what the future holds, Amanda Dunham, DNP, FNP-C, Class 29, said that the call to serve remains the same. “I think FNU students and alumni are called to serve and COVID-19 is no exception,” said Dunham, owner of Dr. Dunham Integrative Family Health NP, PLLC, a women’scentered primary care practice in Clifton Park, New York. “We serve our communities. We take care of patients in need. We advocate for people without a voice. Hopefully, that never changes.” During the pandemic, Dunham’s small practice in Upstate New York has taken steps to broaden its reach and help any in the community in need of care. “Though we typically reserve telehealth for established patients, I have opened
A native of the area, Dunham knows the community well. Her practice is located across the street from the local high school. She maintains employment at a local urgent care center in addition to administering her own practice. She is deeply connected to the community and the needs of her patients. The only nurse practitioner provider at her primary care practice, Dunham also employs a dual-licensed massage therapist/esthetician and a registered nurse. The resulting collaboration results in what Dunham describes as a “wholeperson approach to care.” “My experience at FNU empowered me to be an entrepreneurial-minded health care provider who is dedicated to serving the local community,” Dunham said. “Our goal was to create a patient-centered practice where people could come feel cared for and at home.” Dunham had to make quick adjustments to that model
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by expanding the telehealth options for patients, hoping to reduce exposure while remaining open for those in need of in-person care. “We hope these measures can avoid unnecessary trips to emergency departments and urgent care centers where patients may be exposed to COVID-19,” Dunham said. “Telehealth is excellent for discussing lab tests, medication management, and even to discuss mental health concerns.”
We take care of patients in need. We advocate for people without a voice. Hopefully, that never changes.”
Mental health is a rising concern as the pandemic persists. Dunham said that many patients are worried about being a “well carrier” and passing the virus on to their families without even knowing they have it. Others are dealing with the stress of homeschooling their children while working from home or feeling trapped by not being able to go out for dinner or exercise. “I’ve seen a surge of depression from isolation and I think many patients
are struggling with anxiety,” Dunham said. “For many patients, they may have no history of anxiety, so this may be their first time navigating those concerns. Additionally, typical coping mechanisms, such as yoga studios and gyms, may not be available. With our patients, we discuss the importance of social distancing, infection control precautions, and of course, self-care for their physical and emotional well being.” One potential positive outcome of the pandemic is the exposure in flaws and gaps in the healthcare system in the United States and the identification of solutions. In this the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, COVID-19 is making many more people aware of the quality and value of care nurses provide. “Full practice authority for nurse practitioners across the nation is a must,” Dunham said. “Patients need access to healthcare and nurse practitioners and nursemidwives are uniquely qualified to minimize the gap in care, increase access, and provide quality healthcare that is affordable. I’ve been so proud of my colleagues who are opening their arms and practices to patients in need.” Though the circumstances may change, for so many like Dunham, the call to serve never does.
CALM IN THE STORM: Dolores (Dee) J. Polito, APRN, CNM APRN, CNM, Class 136, along with Chrissie Adams, CNM). They demonstrate strength and creativity and I am proud of their responsiveness, dedication and perseverance. They inspire me to be innovative and I wouldn’t want to be in a crisis with anyone else.”
Dolores (Dee) J. Polito Even in the best of times and conditions, expectant mothers understandably experience a range of emotions such as excitement, fear, joy, and uncertainty. Now, many are facing an additional stress element in the form of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and it’s a fear understood and, at times, shared by their providers. “Each new day brings a heightened level of concern from our families and while we try to practice social distancing, birth is a very intimate process,” said Dee Polito, APRN, CNM, who is the Director and Chief Midwife at the University of Kentucky Midwife Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky. “Mostly we are seeing high levels of anxiety among staff and patients both. It is difficult to maintain a calm demeanor when staff is anxious about exposure and to encourage staff to portray calmness to patients for their care is challenging. I work with an amazing team of CNMs (FNU graduates JoAnne B. Burris, APRN, CNM, Class 130 and Hayden Murrell Meza,
Polito, who received a certificate in midwifery from FNU in 1997 and is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board, offers both pregnancy support and non-pregnancy services at the UK Midwife Clinic. For women with healthy, normal pregnancies, the certified nurse-midwives provide care and guidance through the pregnancy, up to and including delivery. The ability to understand and adjust to the needs of the women and families in her career has always been important, but never more critical than in the midst of the pandemic. Polito credits FNU with helping furnish her with the skills to face this challenge. “FNU prepared me for my role as a leader and an advocate for women and families in their independent, community-based learning platform,” Polito said. “When I was a student, we sent our assignments to our faculty by snail mail and it seemed innovative at the time. The innovation and creativity it took to translate midwifery education to a communitybased model was unique at the time and those same traits were instilled into me as a student.
Being innovative and creative is a requirement when faced with the challenges and uncertainty of the global health crisis for COVID-19.” Part of that innovation for Polito and her team has been the implementation of Telehealth to reduce risk of exposure. “We are responding to many patient concerns about keeping their pregnancies healthy and I think it’s very important to preserve some normalcy and doing this project together - but separated - allowed my staff to be creative and have some fun. We have to remember that the work we do and the care we give cannot stop because of coronavirus. Women and families still seek our caring attitudes, our warmth and our friendliness. And they can count on a smile even if it’s under a mask. safe and we are having to be creative in getting patients the care they need,” Polito said. “Telehealth is teaching us that this may be a valuable tool in how we provide care. There have been wrinkles to iron out and we continue to learn how to make the experience better and how to meet all the requirements for appropriate and timely billing. Telehealth will be a part of our services going forward.”
her patients, and her staff, Polito leads the way, understanding that she has been prepared to handle this challenge. Experience, training, education, innovation, and leadership are just some of the tools she has acquired throughout her career to give her the confidence to face the COVID-19 Pandemic day after day. “But most importantly, I was a student of Kitty Ernst.” Polito said. “She was my faculty for the Birth Center Course. She was perhaps the most influential force to prepare me for my role now. During Midwifery Bound, Kitty met with a small group of students and talked to us about our journey to midwifery school. She asked, ‘What important thing have you done in your life?’. I responded that I hadn’t really done anything important in my life thus far. She asked, ‘Are you a mother?’ and I responded that I was indeed a mother. She exclaimed, ‘Then you have done the most important thing in the world. You are a mother.’” “From then on,” Polito continued, “I felt empowered, inspired and motivated to achieve any goal I set for myself.”
Even though there is fear and uncertainty every day for Polito,
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 9
FNU RESPONDS TO COVID-19 RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS AT FNU
Maintaining a Culture of Caring Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Updates MARCH 3: Dr. Susan Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community explaining the university’s monitoring of the situation. At this time, there were no travel restrictions in the United States, but Dr. Stone indicated that FNU was “developing alternative plans if restricted travel becomes necessary” and urged students to contact their Clinical Director if they had any concerns about traveling to clinical sites. MARCH 13: The University announced all employees with an approved telecommuting agreement may work from home daily.
As the scope and impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic came into focus, FNU communicated frequently and openly with the entire FNU community and took quick steps to protect students, faculty, and staff. Here is a timeline of the key decisions and actions: MARCH 10: Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community announcing the decision to “convert the Frontier Bound/DPN Bound session scheduled for March 16-19 to an online workshop.” She also announced that “faculty members are busy designing an online Clinical Bound just in case we need it.”
MARCH 13: Dr. Stone sent an email addressing FNU students, stating “Our goal at this time is to help you continue on your educational path successfully while understanding that some of you may need to pause to attend to the collateral issues associated with the pandemic.” She went on to add, “We will strive to be flexible to meet your needs if you encounter situations related to the pandemic that affect your academic progress.” She noted that many clinical sites were restricting access to students and stated, “We have asked all of your Regional Clinical Faculty to cease doing on-site visits so that they can be available to you for consultations with minimal delay.”
MARCH 17: Dr. Stone sent an email to the FNU faculty and staff announcing that all Clinical Bound sessions would be conducted online through at least May 9 and that Frontier Bound orientation sessions would be held virtually through May and June. She announced that Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center would be closed until at least May 9. Telecommuting for many FNU employees was extended through May 9. Dr. Stone expressed the need to maintain a close-knit community adhering to the Culture of Caring. “We would like to engage in a very interactive on-line work environment to support each other and to support our students. I am encouraging you all to be creative and create social situations online during the work day.”
MARCH 24: Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community to announce that the spring term would begin as scheduled on April 6. She shared a video created by Dr. Jess Calohan, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Department Chair, that provided strategies for self-care during the pandemic. She also directed the community to FNU’s Banyan Tree Portal for updated information and resources related to COVID-19.
MARCH 25: Dr. Stone sent an email addressing FNU preceptors, sharing that FNU had “made the difficult decision to stop all clinical rotations until April 7, 2020.”
10 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
MARCH 27: Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community with an update on clinical sites. “While all states are experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the impact is different state to state. For these multiple reasons we have decided to move forward to allow some students to return to clinical sites as we begin the Spring Term 2020 on April 6.” Dr. Stone’s message went on to state, “Any student may decide that it is best for them to take an Academic Hiatus during Spring Term. We understand there are many unforeseen challenges confronting our students and their families as we all deal with the many consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
MARCH 18: Human Resources Director LaToshia Daniel sent an email to all FNU faculty and staff announcing FNU’s COVID-19 Workplace Policy. APRIL 6: In an email to the FNU community, Dr. Stone shared information about the Frontier Emergency Scholarship Fund (see the story on the inside front cover for more information about this fund). In the message, Dr. Stone stated, “If the COVID Pandemic has affected you financially, you can apply to the fund.”
GUIDED BY OUR HISTORY: FNU’S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC By Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, Dean of Nursing
Joan Slager As the wave of COVID-19 grew and spread, FNU began receiving notices from many of our clinical partners that they were either limiting or eliminating clinical rotations for students. As of April 24, 140 clinical organizations had suspended all student rotations and 13 clinical organizations had implemented restrictions but had not suspended all student rotations. Thus, 289 students had rotations impacted by COVID-19 restrictions or cancellations between March and July. Some of our students were about to travel to spring clinical bounds and begin the last leg of their FNU journey. Some students were abruptly without clinical sites in the middle of their clinical experience, and some could see the finish line, but no longer had the opportunity to complete their final clinical hours. In the DNP program, carefully planned quality improvement projects imploded as patient visits decreased or priorities shifted in the sites.
Many of you have heard our famous Kitty Ernst tell about the sudden closure of Booth Maternity Center, days before it was to become the home of the Frontier distance program (CNEP). Kitty combed the Pennsylvania countryside and rented a camp in the mountains which was the site of the first three Midwifery Bounds. She renovated a chicken coop on her farm which served as the classroom and exam rooms for the first clinical bounds. With this legacy behind us and the COVID-19 Pandemic confronting us, the FNU team rapidly went into problemsolving mode. As President Stone has reminded us, with our expanding use of technology to develop and refine a quality education program for students all over the country, while maintaining a sense of community, we have prepared for this for years.
“With our expanding use of technology to develop and refine a quality education program for students all over the country, while maintaining a sense of community, we have prepared for this for years.”
Within a few short weeks, the following programming and policies had been developed: • Regional Clinical Faculty and didactic faculty developed simulated and web-based activities that can be counted as clinical hours, thus allowing progress in clinical courses. Students who have met a minimum of 500 faceto-face clinical hours can use these experiences to complete their required clinical hours and graduate. • Policies allowing telehealth visits in the family nurse practitioner, women’s health nurse practitioner, and midwifery programs were approved. • The number of telehealth hours permissible in the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program has been increased. • Virtual clinical bounds have been developed for all programs. Students will join faculty via telecommunication sessions and practice skills in preparation for clinical. This monumental task is being led by the clinical bound team leaders in collaboration with many faculty members and staff.
virtually for all students attending the spring clinical bound sessions, allowing students to progress immediately into clinical and logging their first 135 clinical hours. • The DNP faculty developed a health-andwellness-oriented virtual quality improvement project pathway allowing students to continue progress toward their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. • For students unable to engage in either clinical or didactic work this term, academic hiatuses were approved and are not counted against the number of allowable hiatuses in a year. • The Comps courses are being moved into Canvas Catalog so students can continue to have access to the material while they await the opening of testing centers. Implementing these program changes harnessed the collective wisdom, talent, and determination of nearly every single person at Frontier, and so our legacy continues.
• Building on the skills learned at clinical bound, the initial leg of the clinical mega course (712 clinical hours) will be conducted
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 11
FNU RESPONDS TO COVID-19 CREATING THE VIRTUAL BOUND EXPERIENCE By Jane Houston and Tonya Nicholson
Jane Houston
Tonya Nicholson
Editor’s Note: As the COVID-19 Pandemic began to severely impact travel throughout the United States in March, FNU made the decision to protect students, faculty, and staff by converting Frontier Bound and DNP Bound into virtual events. Converting the immersive, interactive four-day Frontier Bound orientation into a virtual event was complicated, but, led by Associate Professor Jane Houston, DNP, CNM, FACNM and Department Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health Tonya Nicholson, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM, the event managed to capture the content and feeling of the in-person events. Jane and Tonya detailed the challenges and planning that went into these amazingly successful efforts. In March we created and executed our very first all virtual Frontier Bound. As the implications of the COVID-19 virus exploded, FNU administration made the decision to protect our students and faculty by moving the Frontier Bound Orientation from an oncampus experience to a virtual platform using Zoom and Big Blue Button. These electronic platforms allowed us to see and talk to one another in real time, share information, and nurture dreams. As presenters, we could share our screens in order to have the incoming students “see” and get to know us as faculty, learn how to utilize the technology, and connect face-to-face with fellow incoming students.
12 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
We focused on meeting our orientation objectives in an exciting new way. Whether conducted in-person or virtually, the goals of this experience is for our new students to complete their orientation feeling: Students met together initially for a general welcome and a
CONNECTED
(to one another and the university)
INSPIRED
students, six family nurse practitioner (FNP) students and 10 women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) students. They met together and in small groups to review their curricula, learn about their roles, and develop mission statements for their future practices. As always, one of the most valued sessions was with FNU’s Mary Beckinridge Chair, Kitty Ernst. She shared the history of the distance program and highlighted the importance of the three Rs: Relationships, Resilience, and Reflection.
(in their career choice)
READY
(to start their FNU journey)
glimpse into the rich history and heritage of FNU. Students shared their connection to the history and their amazement at the persistence and fortitude of FNU nurses in caring for the rural population of Leslie County, Kentucky. They saw pictures and heard stories from the early days of FNS. As usual, students loved to learn about the nurses on horseback and were amazed at the fortitude and ingenuity of our early FNS nurses. The opening session was closed with their first FNU Circle Up and singing the school song. The group of new students included 18 midwifery
“DNP Bound was terrific, the staff and faculty were so engaged and helpful. I was anxious when I heard we were not coming to campus, but you all did a great job of easing our stress and answering all our questions, thank you.” Comment from FNU DNP student regarding the virtual Bound.
As part of the orientation, the groups of students are always asked to write mission statements demonstrating the intentions of their class. We were proud to see that the quality, tone, and content of their missions statements matched what we normally see at the in-person Bounds. Mission Statement Examples: Yellow Group Mission Statement: We will be a present force that empowers and educates through service. We will educate families to change and enhance their dynamic for generations to come. Pink Group Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide holistic quality, evidence-based care, while empowering and educating women and their families across the lifespan. We will create a feeling of community and be fully present during moments of joy and grief, while continuing to remember the mission, values, and legacy of the midwives before us. Creating the Inaugural AllVirtual DNP Bound The DNP Bound has had virtual components for some time now for our FNU Companion students, but this was the first time it was completely virtual. The staff and faculty pulled together seamlessly to present an inclusive and engaging 2.5day immersive experience for the DNP program orientation which included 70 online students from all
across the United States and Guam. Each day began with acknowledgements of the stress and anxiety surrounding this time and strategies for coping positively. We also messaged frequently that FNU is actively engaged in supporting and meeting students’ needs. The sessions followed a similar format as the planned live agenda with extra time built in for IT setups and testing sound and WIFI and included frequent Q & A sessions. Teambuilding activities were key to the success of the sessions and were rated highly by students who reported making friends for life. The use of social media was emphasized as a strategy for making and maintaining close connections including the Facebook private DNP group. There were initial anxieties expressed by many students, but by the final Reflections, Circle Up and Bell Ringing, students reported that they felt the Culture of Caring in action.
this first step in their education. Students were reminded of the significance of the bell in FNS history as nurses were called to action when the bell outside
their nursing center was rung. Our students ring the bell at Frontier Bound, at Clinical Bound, and at graduation.
“I just wanted to thank you personally for everything! ….the Role of the NurseMidwife was terrific! The staff was great, and most importantly, they expressed their willingness to support us throughout this program. I can honestly say, after this experience, any doubt I may have had is out the window! I hope to become a fantastic midwife….Thank you again!” Comment from FNU CNEP student regarding the virtual Bound.
Summary of the Virtual Bound Experience Although faculty missed being on campus, we moved forward with the FNU pioneering spirit of flexibility and cared for the students! A special thanks to Admission, Student Services, IT, Financial Aid, Library Services and the faculty who participated. In our final sessions with the students, we had the students reflect about their Bound experience and then they each virtually rang a bell signifying the conclusion of
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 13
FNU RESPONDS TO COVID-19 AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION DURING THE PANDEMIC By Geraldine Young, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Social determinants such as low socioeconomic essential jobs, crowded living conditions, and decreased access to healthcare position people of color to increased risk of COVID-19.
Geraldine Yoing
Over and over again during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have heard variations of the message that “we are all in this together.” While that is true, the pandemic has revealed a number of areas in which our nation’s healthcare system -despite the amazing and heroic efforts of our medical personnel -- has struggled to meet the needs of our populations. It has shed light on healthcare gaps and the need for more providers across the country. It has also provided an example of the healthcare disparities often found between different groups and regions.
Further, we have seen fear and misinformation lead to anger and attacks against people of Asian descent being ignorantly blamed for the origination and spread of COVID-19. Neither race nor ethnicity is responsible for increased risk or spread of the virus. FNU supports the position of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, which “deplores the increased harassment and xenophobia directed at Chinese, Chinese American, and other Asian individuals, as well as the rise of revolting online harassment through strategies such as zoom bombing.”
Education, knowledge, and communication are vital to our ability to work together to defeat the pandemic. At FNU, central to our mission is the preparation of “leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations.” As our mission statement suggests, FNU has long been acted based on the understanding that diversity, equity, and inclusion are keys to the future success of the healthcare delivery system. FNU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Office operates with the goal of ensuring students, faculty, and staff are provided with an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and encourages the success of all community
members. The Office of DEI solicits the perspectives of students, faculty, and staff regardless of race, gender, sexual preference or identity, disability, and/or religion. The COVID-19 Pandemic has not slowed or diverted our focus. On the contrary, it has sharpened it. We continue to conduct mandatory DEI training with all students, faculty, and staff. We continue to connect with our students and support them in their efforts to stay on track with their coursework while managing the stresses and challenges of the pandemic. We have committed to moving forward with our 10th annual Diversity Impact Conference in June (see page 14 for full details), converting the event to a virtual conference for the first time in its history.
For more information about FNU’s response to COVID-19 and resources for updated information on the pandemic, please visit Frontier.edu.
We are saddened but not surprised by the data demonstrating that the health of people of color is disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2020), people of color are more likely to die from COVID-19 when compared to white people due to our health disparities and inequities.
14 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
FNU TO HOLD 10TH ANNUAL DIVERSITY IMPACT CONFERENCE AS VIRTUAL EVENT
FNU’s Diversity and Inclusion Office is hosting its 10th annual Diversity Impact Conference as a virtual event, June 11-13, 2020. While this is the first year the event is being hosted online, it marks a decade of bringing together national thoughtleaders and speakers to engage with the FNU community on important topics facing the nursing and midwifery workforce. The event opens the door for nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery students to join FNU faculty and staff in collaborative discussions, address health disparities, and find proactive solutions to improve minority health among underrepresented and marginalized groups. The theme of this year’s conference is “Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020: Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” going hand-inhand with the World Health
“We believe in the benefits of a diverse university and the positive impacts our diverse graduates can make in communities across the country,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone
Organization’s designation of 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife was established to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives, highlight the challenging conditions they often face and advocate for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.
“Nurse and midwife roles have morphed, diversified, and elevated to innovative heights over the centuries with cutting edge research, education, practice, and policy on the trajectory of caring for those who are unable to care for themselves,” said FNU’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Geraldine Young, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP. “We believe in the benefits of a diverse university and the positive impacts our diverse graduates can make in communities across the country,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “Our graduates serve people of all races and cultures and are increasingly coming from diverse backgrounds. It is imperative that our students, faculty, and staff have cultural awareness and competency in order to effectively advance our mission of servant leadership.”
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the keys to the future success of the health care delivery system,” said Dr. Young. The annual Diversity Impact Conference is open to FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff who want to become part of FNU’s legacy of providing care to rural and underserved communities. Those that participate will engage in cross-cultural activities and intercultural workshops, along with nurse-leadership strategies on how to effectively care for diverse populations within their communities. This year’s three-day virtual event is expected to unite more than 100 FNU students, alumni, faculty, staff and community leaders, and will include: • Sessions hosted by nationally recognized nursing leaders • Cross-cultural activities and intercultural workshops • Team-building exercises, cultural competency awareness training, and open dialogues • Virtual networking with FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff to strengthen collaborative discussions • Nurse-leadership strategies and much more! FNU students, alumni, faculty, and staff can find out more about and sign up to attend the Diversity Impact Conference at Frontier.edu/Diversity.
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 15
FNU RESPONDS TO COVID-19 WENDOVER TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19
On March 17, the difficult decision to temporarily close Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center was announced with the following statement: “At Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center, the safety of our guests and staff is our top priority. Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and in accordance with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s directives to avoid large gatherings and to close restaurants and dining facilities, we have made the difficult decision to close Wendover for a period of eight weeks beginning March 17 through May 8. If you have made a reservation during this time period, we will be reaching out to you soon and, of course, all deposits will be refunded. It saddens us to make this decision, but the health and safety of our guests, staff, and community is of the utmost importance. We are very thankful for your support and patronage of Wendover and look forward to serving you again soon.”
Not even COVID-19 could stop the beauty of Wendover from shining through this spring.
Donations to Local Food Pantry Once the decision was made to temporarily close Wendover during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Wendover staff gathered the perishable food items left in the kitchen and delivered it to the local food pantry.
16 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
THE CARES ACT: HOW DOES IT IMPACT PHILANTHROPY?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. The law, in part, provides emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The law’s impact on philanthropy includes a reduction in taxable income in 2020 for donors who do not itemize deductions. This adjustment is available for cash gifts up to $300 per individual or $600 for a married couple. The deduction is not available for: • Gifts to private foundations
In 2020, the CARES Act also makes a 100 percent adjusted gross income (AGI) limit available for cash gifts to charities by those who itemize. Here are a few things to note about this AGI limit: • Does not apply to carry-over deductions from years prior to 2020. • Gifts to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations and private foundations are not eligible for this special election. • The limit is reduced dollar-for-dollar by other itemized charitable deductions. • Donors who make the 100 percent of AGI election may carry over unused deductions for up to five years.
• Donor-advised funds • Supporting organizations • Cash deductions carried forward from prior years • Non-cash gifts, e.g., appreciated stock
Additional Information and Direction FNU advises you to contact your financial or tax advisor about the CARES Act and what giving options best suit you. Questions may also be directed to FNU Chief Advancement Officer Angela Bailey at angela.bailey@frontier.edu or 859 -251-4573.
Face Mask Donations Needed With the well-documented shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), FNU is collecting home-made face coverings that we will distribute to members of the FNU community. There are several resources and templates for making home-made face coverings available online. Here are the recommended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
Sewn Cloth Face Covering (source: CDC.gov)
According to the CDC, cloth face coverings should:
Steps
• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly
• be secured with ties or ear loops
woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.
Materials • Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric • Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties) • Needle and thread (or bobby pin) • Scissors • Sewing machine
2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.
3.
Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight. Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic headbands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head.
4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.
• include multiple layers of fabric • allow for breathing without restriction • be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape Donations can be sent to: Frontier Nursing University c/o Angela Bailey 2050 Lexington Road Versailles, KY 40383
Do you have a new mailing or email address? Please let us know. Simply email us at FNUnews@frontier.edu.
18 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
2050 Lexington Road Versailles, KY 40383 FNU@frontier.edu • 859.251.4700
Frontier.edu Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations.