[Sandwitch883]

I am very interested in Frontier's program. I'm an L&D nurse with two years of experience. I've read on the website and looked at the application. My question is....How much nursing experience have most of you had?...also, What about financial aid or tuition...How is everyone paying for thier education?...Also...I dont belong to any professional organization, Should I?....Im very happy for those of you who have been accepted and would love a chance to be there myself!!

P.S I guess that's several questions.....lol

[RNLaborNurse4U]

I applied over 4 weeks ago to Frontier, and I'm still waiting to hear from them about whether I'm accepted. Still need to do the phone interview too, so I'm waiting on them for that. I think the hang up was that they were waiting for my college transcripts. (Bugger! Forgot to call my former college today to see if they were sent yet!)

Anyhow - back to your question - I have 7+ years experience in L&D/postpartum/newborn/gyn - mostly L&D. I already filed my FAFSA for student aid and found out my estimated family contribution per year would be about $1300. I can swing that! I'd have to pay for books too, and other miscellaneous expenses out of pocket, and I think I can swing that pretty good too.

[Sandwitch883]

Thanks so much for the reply. I don't think i'll be applying very soon. However i'm not sure yet. I'm glad to have a place where I can post to ask questions and receive support from other nurses. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you that you receive good news!

[midwyf]

Frontier requires only one year of nursing experience and will take other experiences into consideration. You really don't need years of nursing experience to apply. If you want to be a CNM go for it. I am a Frontier grad and never regreted for one minute taking that first step and eventually becoming a CNM. I love my job. Best of luck as you make your decision.

[Goozgog]

I have been accepted into Frontier Bound 64. By December I will have 18 months experience in tele...which you know has nothing to do with L&D.
I have wanted to be a midwife for 10 years, since my first pregnancy. I applied to L&D right after graduation but they wanted 1 year med-surg experience. I don't want to wait. I may never pursue my dream of becoming a CNM if I do. I have all the usual distractions like family, kids, etc...but I can do it, just like I got through nursing school with two pregnancies.

While I was in school, taking my pre-req's to nursing I worked briefly as a midwife apprentice. I thought that I might prefer to be a direct-entry midwife, I attended 3 homebirths which were fantastic, but I couldn't be on-call, a single mom, and full-time student 24/7 so I let the direct-entry idea go.

I am not sure I even want to work in L&D, I am weary of the "medical model" of childbirth, but I also realize that it would benefit my practice if I were well rounded. So, I have applied to L&D again at the same hospital I currently work at. We'll see. It's a teaching hospital, so I think the doc's are eager to "intervene" whenever possible...Maybe I am wrong.

Anyway, I am excited and scared about reaching my goal.

Thanks for listening.

[hotomalis]

Guys, what is the difference between a nurse midwife and a nurse practitioner specializing in women's health?

[mom2michael]

Originally Posted by hotomalis

Guys, what is the difference between a nurse midwife and a nurse practitioner specializing in women's health?

A WHCNP will see women on a more broad spectrum and will deal with many aspects of gyn issues facing women from young adult to elderly. Some do actually see patients thru their pregnancy but do not deliver or "catch" the babies at birth, instead an OB or CNM takes over the patients care near the end of their pregnancy.

Our OB/GYN at works uses a WHCNP and she sees his GYN patients to free him up to see his OB patients. We have another WHCNP who works with a CNM and together they see patients thru out their pregnancy but the CNM delivers the baby. The WHCNP at that clinic also sees most of the gyn patients but it's not all inclusive because the CNM will also gladly see gyn patients as well.

A CNM may have a multitudes of roles and many take gyn patients as well, however their training lies heavily in dealing with women of child bearing years including but not restricted to: antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care.

Some programs will dual WHCNP and CNM to give you a more broad spectrum post graduation and ability to change roles and functions within your job. It gives you even more autonomy per se or a change of pace within your job.