News and Notes

Dr. Joan Slager, Dean of Nursing, Selected for Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing

In August, Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, was selected for Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions and impact on nursing and health. Dr. Slager will officially become a Fellow during a virtual induction ceremony in October.

The American Academy of Nursing selected a total of 230 distinguished nurse leaders to join the 2020 Class of Fellows. The Academy is currently composed of more than 2,700 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.

Through a competitive, rigorous application process, a committee of elected Fellows review hundreds of applications and select new Fellows based on their contributions to advance the public’s health. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within the profession.

Vicky Stone-Gale Advocates for Bill as “Nurse Practitioner of the Day” at Florida Legislative Session

During the 2020 Florida legislative session, FNU Assistant Professor Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, was invited by Speaker of the House Jose Oliva to be Nurse Practitioner of the Day. “It was an honor to serve as the Nurse Practitioner of the Day in the Legislative Clinic at our state’s Capitol,” said Stone-Gale, who was also recognized on the floor of the House. Stone-Gale’s participation was part of a push to pass House Bill 607. “While House Bill 607 is important to the more than 32,000 APRNs in Florida, as it allows us to work to the full extent of our training, it is even more important to the millions of Floridians it would help receive access to safe and quality care. I thank House Speaker Oliva and Rep. Cary Pigman for supporting this legislation that will modernize the way we provide health care in Florida.”

House Bill 607 was passed and became law on July 1, 2020.

Charlotte Swint and Eileen Thrower to Participate in NLN Leadership Institute

Charlotte Swint (left) and Eileen Thrower (right)

FNU Associate Professor Charlotte Swint, DNP, MPH, FNP, and Assistant Professor Eileen Thrower, CNM, Ph.D., have been selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) year-long Leadership Institute.

Bringing together experienced professionals, a world-class faculty, and dynamic curricula, the NLN Leadership Institute provides experiential learning opportunities for leaders across all career trajectories, from aspiring and emerging, to rapid transition into leadership positions, and those already experienced. The Institute comprises three full year-long leadership programs that enhance and maximize leadership skills for faculty, deans, directors, and associate deans as well as nurse administrators in practice. The common denominator is a shared commitment to excellence in nursing education and practice. The result is a lasting transformational leadership experience.

Barbara Anderson Selected to Assist with Curriculum Development

FNU professor emerita Dr. Barbara A. Anderson, DrPH, RN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, was one of 20 individuals selected by the Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to serve on the curriculum development for cultural competency in maternal health.

PMHNP Pass Rates Soar to New Heights

The 2019 board pass rates for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners were recently announced. FNU’s pass rate for 2019 was 93%, up significantly from last year’s 84% mark. FNU students exceeded the national average on scaled and raw scores in all three test domains.

“I want to congratulate the PMHNP faculty team for their commitment and dedication to our students,” said Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Chair of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Department. “Thank you to the staff, who are an integral part of PMHNP department’s success. Finally, thank you to Dr. Rachel Mack, Dr. Diane John and the curriculum committee for all of your support during our curriculum revision process.”

FNU Faculty-Written Article Selected as Award Finalist

Caption (L-R): Dwynn Golden, Dawn Lovelace, and Linda McDaniel.

Assistant Professor Dwynn Golden, DNP, CNM, OB/ GYN NP, Assistant Professor Dawn Lovelace, DNP, CNM, FNP, and Instructor Linda McDaniel, DNP, MSN, co-wrote an article for the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health (JMHW) entitled “Long-Term Effects of Breast Cancer Surgery, Treatment, and Survivor Care.” The article was selected as a finalist for the Mary Ann Shah Award, which is given to a certified nurse-midwife or certified midwife who publishes for the first time as the primary author of an original research or review article in JMWH.

Criteria for the award include the significance of the contribution to midwifery and women’s health clinical practice, policy, education, or research; clarity and quality of writing; depth and scope of the issue presented; interdisciplinary importance of the article; and uniqueness or other outstanding feature.

Diana Jolles Selected to Attend Prestigious NLN Scholarly Writing Retreat

Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, was selected to participate in the 2020 National League for Nursing (NLN) Scholarly Writing Retreat. The Scholarly Writing Retreat, a mentoring program of the NLN Chamberlain University College of Nursing Center for the Advancement of the Science of Nursing Education, accepts only a handful of applicants yearly.

CNEP Student Sunoz Soroosh Awarded NYC Midwives Scholarship

CNEP student Sunoz “Sunny” Soroosh was awarded one of four New York City Midwives Scholarships. She is only the second FNU student to be awarded this scholarship; the last was Trixie Ndanu Kioko-Kamps, MSN, CNM, Class 143. NYC Midwives has sponsored an annual Midwifery Student Scholarship since 2007. In 2020, four $3,750 scholarships were awarded.

FNU FNP Students Receive Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarships

FNP students Kimether Redmon, Class 181, Vanessa ShieldsHaas, Class 179, and Tiffany Vang, Class 176, received Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarships earlier this summer. There were only 23 NEF Scholarship recipients selected from across the United States. According to a statement from NEF, “Their selection represents exemplary academic, clinical practice, community service, and professional accomplishments and places them among an elite group of NEF scholarship awardees. Congratulations to the faculty of Frontier Nursing University for facilitating an environment that creates the highest academic and clinical performance outcomes for your students.”

Dr. Susan Stone Published in Minority Nurse Magazine

“Midwives on the Frontlines of a Pandemic”, an article written by FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, was published in the 2020 Midwifery Week issue of Minority Nurse Magazine.

FNU Celebrates Chi Pi Honor Society’s Spring 2020 Scholarship Recipients

Each spring and fall, Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) Chi Pi chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) awards exceptional students with a $750 scholarship for their substantial academic success. All recipients have previously qualified for STTI membership by completing at least a quarter of their degree program, holding a 3.5 or higher grade point average, and demonstrating academic excellence. The spring scholarship recipients were: CE Durfee, MSN (Nurse-Midwifery), Class 179 Dominique Wilson, MSN (Nurse-Midwifery), Class 181 Cathy Cook, DNP, Class 34 Devon Vandewiele, MSN (Nurse-Midwifery), Class 182 Chelsey Hymas, MSN (FNP), Class 179 Hannah Morrison, MSN (PMHNP), Class 179 Amy Guzman, MSN (Nurse-Midwifery), Class 178

Laura Manns-James Published in Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities

FNU associate professor Laura Manns-James, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, was a contributing author to an article published in July in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities. The article, co-written with Keaton Somerville, Angela Neal-Barnett, Robert Stadulis, and Diane StevensRobinson, is entitled “Hair Cortisol Concentration and

Calling All Book Lovers!

Perceived Chronic Stress in Low-Income Urban Pregnant and Postpartum Black Women.”

* Somerville, K., Neal-Barnett, A., Stadulis, R. et al. Hair Cortisol Concentration and Perceived Chronic Stress in Low-Income Urban Pregnant and Postpartum Black Women. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2020).

Diane John and DeLana Gardner Present at Annual NBNA Institute and Conference

Diane John (left) and DeLana Gardner

FNU associate professor Dr. Diane John, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, and FNU instructor Dr. DeLana Gardner, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, were selected to present at the 48th Annual National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Institute and Conference this summer. Together, they co-presented “ “TeamSTEPPS: A Framework to Teach Healthcare Team Communications.” Dr. John also co-presented “Nurses and Disruptive Innovations: A Seismic Impact on Community Health” with Dr. Katina Kennedy, FNP, during the NBNA Conference.

Would you be interested in joining an FNU Book Club? We are launching book clubs for FNU Alumni, FNU Couriers, and Friends of FNU.

To participate, all you need is a cell phone and email address. Monthly meetings for all three groups will be held via Zoom beginning in January 2021. For more information, to sign up, or to submit book suggestions, please contact angela.bailey@frontier.edu.