By Jamie Wheeler

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

We are happy to announce that Ms. Sandy Blaser, CNM, from Pittsburgh, Pa. is our featured preceptor this winter term.  We are proud to call Ms. Blaser one of our own; she is a 1997 aluma of Frontier Nursing University with a certificate in nurse-midwifery.  Ms. Blaser was nominated by regional clinical faculty Metta Cahill, who calls her “a stellar clinician, a masterful preceptor, and an energetic, generous, humorous human being.”

Metta goes on to describe Sandy in more detail: “She prides herself on being up-to-date on every aspect of OB and GYN care, and moves from room to room providing expert care to all. She always has one student with her and often can juggle two at a time in the office, without missing a beat and making it all look effortless. She goes the extra mile for both patients as well as students. She is a human dynamo!”

Ms. Blaser, affectionately known as “The Blaze,” has always been there for FNU students, even those who struggle clinically.  She strives to give her students the same professionalism she provides her clients. Kia Frazier (CNEP class 125, fall 2016 graduate) describes Ms. Blaser as “one of the hardest working, compassionate people that I have encountered. She is able to bring the nurse-midwifery model of care into a patient's room with grace. She amazed me from the first day to the last day I was fortunate enough to work with her.”

Stephanie Lowe (DNP class 12, fall 2014 graduate) echoes this sentiment and says that “Sandy taught me the value of hard work and dedication to my patients. She also taught me devotion to field nurse-midwifery through her willingness to precept so many students.”

Ms. Blaser has been in practice over 14 years, and has been a preceptor with us since 2010.  She is active in community theater and even precepted two students while rehearsing for a role in the musical comedy “Sister Act” at Pittsburgh’s Byham Theater.

We are thankful to Ms. Blaser’s continued service to our students.  She will receive a Starbucks gift card as a small token of our appreciation.