HCTC Nursing Program Success story: Dr. Fran Feltner

Beginning at age 8, Dr. Fran Feltner decided she wanted to be a nurse. She fulfilled that dream after completing her Licensed Practical Nurse education at what is now Hazard Community and Technical College and then later becoming a Registered Nurse. That career has evolved to her present position as the Director at the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, a position she s held since 2011.

My career has been very rewarding, she said. She has enjoyed working as a pediatric office nurse, working in a hospital as well as in a teaching clinic. I really enjoy working with my faculty, staff, students, community partners and the people we provide a service too. The Center team is truly a team of excellence, Dr. Feltner said.

She has the utmost praise for HCTC. My experience with the nursing program was wonderful and as a student I worked hard to complete all the requirements. The faculty worked hard also to make sure that I had the knowledge and skills to be successful. The program policies and procedures were set in place to make sure that when I entered the workforce that I had good work ethics and the confidence to complete the job duties of a nurse. My education gave me the ability and opportunity to later complete my bachelor s and master s degrees in nursing through Eastern Kentucky University through a partnership with the University Center of the Mountains. Again, this was possible because of the program being located here, she said. She completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice through the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Feltner started her educational journey right after high school. She finished nursing school and passed the nursing licensing exam and was able to secure a job quickly. I loved being a nurse and working with the people in my community. I later decided to go back to college to complete the RN program through HCTC. I was working and raising a family at the same time going to school. Again, because HCTC was here in my community I was able to complete the RN program close to home, she noted.

I encourage all students to follow their dreams and pursue their education, work hard and work with your team and success will be yours. The Community College is a great place to start you on your educational journey, Dr. Feltner said.

She is an Assistant Professor with the UK College of Medicine. She served as interim director at the Center for Excellence in Rural Health. For nine years prior to that, she was the Director of the Lay Health Division at Kentucky Homeplace, with the UK Center. Her other positions include Director of the Southeast Community Access Program with UK, Clinical Research Nurse with SKYCAP and Interim SKYCAP Director, Research/teaching assistant for the Multi-skills Program and Clinical Laboratory Science Clinical Nurse, and other employment as a clinical nurse and pediatric nurse.

Her excellence is being recognized. She is a 2016 recipient of the Kentucky Public Health Association s Paul Mason Memorial Award. She was featured in the UK, College of Nursing, Opportunities/Fall 2013 publication. She received the National Cancer Institute Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of dedicated efforts to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. In 2006, she was awarded a position in the Johnson amp; Johnson/UCLA Health Executive Program at the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, by the Johnson amp; Johnson Community Health Care Program.

Her work in fiscal efficient management has been recognized as well as her work in diabetes education. Dr. Feltner has worked on the state and national level to improve access to health care. She has numerous publications on health issues and has completed extensive research.

Want to become the next HCTC success story? Contact HCTC at Hazard.KCTCS.edu on the web or call (606) 436 5721.