Help choosing an online program

[StarrySkies]

What a long road it has been to get to this point! I am one of those homebirthers turned doula turned RN now looking forward to grad school in midwifery. I need your help though in figuring out all of these online programs. The three programs that I have found are Frontier, U of Cincinnati, and Stonybrook. All seem to be comparable as far as tuition goes. All seem to offer the same type of programs. I want a combined CNM and FNP program because I would like to treat the whole family one day.

I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and here Baylor's DNP midwifery program dominates. I had a CNM that I work with tell me that employers around here prefer grads of the Baylor program (most instructors were Parkland instructors back in the day) and that they may turn their nose up to an online program. Particularly Frontier as it is clearly known as an online program. Ridiculous if you ask me considering Frontier was ranked 6th on the US News and World Reports list of graduate midwifery programs. Was Baylor on this list? Not that I saw. . I don't plan on staying in this area- I would like to move back to N. California after graduation or possibly in the middle of the program (thus the need for an online program!).

I have to admit that I really like Frontier, but I don't know much about the other schools. Is there a strong natural childbirth focus at UofC and Stonybrook? Is it mostly a hospital model? I want to learn how to start a homebirth practice or a birth center. I genuinely trust birth and believe that most births are very normal. It is just the stuff that we (as providers) do that messes things up. I do not want to spend the next 2-3 years rolling my eyes during lecture!

Now to the questions!

Is there a program that I have missed? What are the students feelings about the programs? Do you feel prepared to be a midwife in a homebirth/ birth center setting? What are the job prospects after graduating from these online programs? Is it harder to find a job than someone who went to a brick and mortar school locally?

Thanks!

[redbeads]

For me, a brick and mortar institution was not an option. I am not a graduate, in fact, I am just beginning my journey, but I have chosen Frontier. I know many nurse-midwives in my area who are graduates of this program and they are all quite successful and well respected. I believe that you need to reach your goal however you can....don't worry about what will happen in the end. You are your own best advertisement and people will hire you for who YOU are. Best luck to you.

[StarrySkies]

redbeads- I know that an online school is the way to go for me. I need to be able to study at 3am if necessary! Plus, I live in the country and Baylor is far far away... I am NOT making that drive. Have you started at Frontier? If so, what do you think of it?

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

starryskies-

since you want to learn about birth centers/starting one/etc in yoru cnm program, here is a copy of frontier's class schedule for cnm program. note the classes that are about birth centers/etc. red bold is my emphasis. i think the community assessment/market research could be applied to birth centers-

msn cnep curriculum overview

level i: foundations for practice

(17 didactic credits-0 clinical credits)

pc600 health promotion and disease prevention (2-0)

pc604 pathophysiology for primary care (3-0)

pc605 decision making in health assessment (2-0)

pc606 theories and concepts of advanced practice nursing (3-0)

pc612 pharmacology for advanced practice (3-0)

nm601 the role of midwifery and birth centers in america (2-0)

nm602 reproductive anatomy and physiology (2-0)

level ii: clinical management for specialty care

(22 didactic credits-0 clinical credits)

pc615 women’s health care (3-0)

pc617 primary health care i: acute and common problems (3-0)

pc618 research (3-0)

nm611 community assessment and market research (2-0)

nm617 antepartum care (4-0)

nm618 intrapartum care (4-0)

nm619 postpartum and newborn care (3-0)

clinical bound

(2 didactic credits-0 clinical credits)

pc628 skills for primary care (1-0)

nm629 skills for nurse-midwifery care(1-0)

clinical practicum

(10 didactic credits-15 clinical credits)

nm630 advanced women’s health care (1-0)

nm632 advanced antepartum care (3-0)

nm634 advanced intrapartum care (3-0)

nm636 advanced postpartum and newborn care (2-0)

nm638 health care policy: birth centers as a case study (1-0)

nm641 nurse-midwifery clinical i (0-3)

nm642 nurse-midwifery clinical ii (0-3)

nm643 nurse-midwifery clinical iii (0-3)

nm644 nurse-midwifery clinical iv (0-6)

i myself applied only to frontier, and was accepted to their adn-msn program. you go to teh campus twice for the traditional msn program, and three times for the adn-msn program. i love distance education-you can study at 3am, do your classwork in your jammies, at the park, etc, and not at a predetermined class time set by a brick and mortar college. of course, you have to be able to make yourself buckle down and do the work, b/c its the same hard work !!

to be honest and fair, though, i know nothing about u of cincy or stonybrook. or baylor. if you google frontier on here, you'll find lots of info from students farther in than me. (im one day in-just got accepted today). they also have a facebook page with tons of information.

good luck on your decision!!

[LoveANurse09]

Congrats on your acceptance HappyNurse!