CNM Advice Needed for Frontier Midwifery Program . Please Help

TLAandy · Nov 9, 2009

Hi Everyone,
I am thinking about applying to Frontier's Midwifery program, but I am trying to figure out if this is a realistic goal. I have one young child and one on the way. I currently work 24 hours/week in a postpartum/GYN unit. That being said... does anyone know if you should have Labor and Delivery Experience to do this program.
** I just applied in late July 09. I have no L&D experience. I got into the first class I applied for. I have OB/GYN office prenatal/postpartum experience, so no you do not have to have L&D experience. I had been wait listed for Class 71, with acceptance to Class 74 (March), but I just got the call this Monday 11/2 that they had a space for me. I was only wait listed because of the large number of applicants. The L&D experience is a good/bad thing. As a CNM you are not training to work as an RN in L&D, it does make some of the material more relevant and easier to understand, but the director of the bridge program, did not have L&D expereience when she became a CNM, RN's that have worked L&D sometimes have bad habits that they have to break. This was all told to me when I did my telephone interview**
The admission director mentioned that some clinical sites won't accept midwifery students unless they have had L&D experience. Has anyone had any trouble with this? I am also concerned about the fact that I have to find my own preceptor.
**They help you with this there is an RCC (Regional Clinical Coordinator) that helps you set up your preceptorship. I have never heard of anyone having a lot of difficulty finding a preceptor, sometimes they don't get them as close as they want them to be, but I am talking about maybe 45 minutes away. A good way to connect with current students at all levels of the program is to join Facebook. Frontier has a page and you can get a lot of friends that are students that way and they just love talking about their experience at Frotnier. I have friends that are graduates and currently practicing, ADN/bridge & currently in clinicals.**
We have a decent amount of practices in my area, but I have never heard of a Frontier midwifery student at any of the practices. Lastly, does anyone know if you can work part-time and care for two children throughout the program including the clinical portion?
** I have heard that you can work during the first part, but usually not during clinicals. There are many options to get stuff payed. I am planning on applying to the NHS for a scholarship, they pay full tution and a stipend and then you work for them for 2 years. Or the last year, I am going to take the max in student loans. I am being very conservative this year with the loans, so if I need to I can get the max later and not have an enormous amount of debt. Graduate students that meet all eligibility requirements can obtain up to $20,500 per year in student loans.**
** My advice is don't wait until the "perfect time" because there will always be something wrong, if you do it and have to work it out, it usually does. Life hand you a lemon, make lemonade!!!**
P.S. if you want to look me up on face book: Teresa Anderson-Oaks

lmazz · Nov 9, 2009

I really appreciate your thorough response. Thank you so much!! I am going on FB right now to look for the Frontier group. Good luck in the program!!

Guest382916 · Nov 27, 2009

I am SOOOOOOO EXCITED to read this thread!!! It's a long story, but I am an Aussie trained nurse, been out of nursing practice for a while, but just passed boards to be able to practice here in the US, since I live here permanently (I had thought we might go back to Aus, but it's not going to happen.) I was an OR nurse, but I always felt in my heart that midwifery and women's health is the place I really want to be. My Bachelor of Nursing degree is not recognised as a Bachelor's degree here, either (no liberal arts focus in Australia - I have 3 years of purely nursing content), so I am glad that Frontier has a ADN bridge program.

So.....I am doing a refresher program in January. I have had people tell me that I needed to work in L&D and a year in med/surg (which I did before I specialised in OR - I didn't really like it then, and really didn't want to do it again now.) I have also been told that I would hate working in L&D here by some of the people who know my personal philosophies...which I was worried about. Once I finish my refresher, I will be looking for ANYTHING I can find in the women's health area. This thread has put some of my fears to rest that only L&D would suffice (no jobs going right now).

Also, I am mama to a nearly 4 year old, and possibly might have another. It is really heartening to know that I can have my cake and eat it too. :-)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the info in this thread!!!!!!!!! *Runs off to find Frontier page on FB. :-) *

RNLaborNurse4U · Nov 28, 2009

I'm going to 2nd everything that Teresa said above. I'm currently a Bridge student at Frontier, class #64. I started in Jan 2009. I'm now at the end of my Bridge year, and it is SO WORTH IT! There really is no perfect time in your life to apply to and attend grad school. L&D experience is not necessary to become a CNM. We have a wide variety of backgrounds at Frontier. Every bit of experience you bring helps shape the grad student and eventually the CNM you will be.

NurseB_, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

Hi Everyone,
I am thinking about applying to Frontier's Midwifery program, but I am trying to figure out if this is a realistic goal. I have one young child and one on the way. I currently work 24 hours/week in a postpartum/GYN unit. That being said... does anyone know if you should have Labor and Delivery Experience to do this program.
** I just applied in late July 09. I have no L&D experience. I got into the first class I applied for. I have OB/GYN office prenatal/postpartum experience, so no you do not have to have L&D experience. I had been wait listed for Class 71, with acceptance to Class 74 (March), but I just got the call this Monday 11/2 that they had a space for me. I was only wait listed because of the large number of applicants. The L&D experience is a good/bad thing. As a CNM you are not training to work as an RN in L&D, it does make some of the material more relevant and easier to understand, but the director of the bridge program, did not have L&D expereience when she became a CNM, RN's that have worked L&D sometimes have bad habits that they have to break. This was all told to me when I did my telephone interview**
The admission director mentioned that some clinical sites won't accept midwifery students unless they have had L&D experience. Has anyone had any trouble with this? I am also concerned about the fact that I have to find my own preceptor.
**They help you with this there is an RCC (Regional Clinical Coordinator) that helps you set up your preceptorship. I have never heard of anyone having a lot of difficulty finding a preceptor, sometimes they don't get them as close as they want them to be, but I am talking about maybe 45 minutes away. A good way to connect with current students at all levels of the program is to join Facebook. Frontier has a page and you can get a lot of friends that are students that way and they just love talking about their experience at Frotnier. I have friends that are graduates and currently practicing, ADN/bridge & currently in clinicals.**
We have a decent amount of practices in my area, but I have never heard of a Frontier midwifery student at any of the practices. Lastly, does anyone know if you can work part-time and care for two children throughout the program including the clinical portion?
** I have heard that you can work during the first part, but usually not during clinicals. There are many options to get stuff payed. I am planning on applying to the NHS for a scholarship, they pay full tution and a stipend and then you work for them for 2 years. Or the last year, I am going to take the max in student loans. I am being very conservative this year with the loans, so if I need to I can get the max later and not have an enormous amount of debt. Graduate students that meet all eligibility requirements can obtain up to $20,500 per year in student loans.**
** My advice is don't wait until the "perfect time" because there will always be something wrong, if you do it and have to work it out, it usually does. Life hand you a lemon, make lemonade!!!**
P.S. if you want to look me up on face book: Teresa Anderson-Oaks
I'm also interested in attending Frontier in the near future. In your response I see that you said they don't recommend or you are not able to work during your clinical part of school. Is this true? I can't imagine not being able to work while I'm in school because I will still have bills and stuff to pay and I'm not big on taking out a whole bunch of loans when I can just work for my money. Would it be possible if I worked part time, which I plan on doing? I also wanted to know how would the work load be if I decided to work full time and go to school full time? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!:heartbeat

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

I'm going to 2nd everything that Teresa said above. I'm currently a Bridge student at Frontier, class #64. I started in Jan 2009. I'm now at the end of my Bridge year, and it is SO WORTH IT! There really is no perfect time in your life to apply to and attend grad school. L&D experience is not necessary to become a CNM. We have a wide variety of backgrounds at Frontier. Every bit of experience you bring helps shape the grad student and eventually the CNM you will be.

I'm totally just curious - how are you just finishing up your Bridge year now? Class 80 (which started August 2010) is finishing up bridge now (will be going to Crossing in 2 months), and there is no option of doing it at any other pace than the one they set for you during that bridge year.

NAURN · Jun 22, 2011

I have applied to Frontier class 92 for FNP and I plan to work 36 hours a week and do the program full time with 2 kids. Crazy maybe, but that's my plan. You have the option of dropping down to part time (or go to full time if you are part time) once during the program.

I have never heard of anyone having a problem getting a clinical site. I was/am worried about this also because I like to have all my ducks in a row and would hate it if I had a problem locating a clinical site when it comes time.

Their facebook page is an awesome resource. When you apply, they make a discussion thread for your particular class, so all of you waiting for the same class can keep eachother motivated thru the waiting process.

You have 675 hours (I think that number is correct) for the FNP track (CNM might be a little different), and I did the math and it would be possible to do 2 12s a week and still get your clinical hours in. I personally plan to go down to PRN at that point because of my kids I don't want to literally be gone all week either working or doing clinical, and I think I would go insane if I did that. Plus I do not want to limit myself to 675 hours. If I feel that I need more, I want to be able to do more. I think if I worked full time and did clinical I would stop at 675 because I would be so tired. I also want to be able to focus completely on clinical, and not be thinking about work...

And I agree 100% with a post above... there is never the perfect time. I struggled with the decision for a while and just decided that it's either now or never.

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I have applied to Frontier class 92 for FNP and I plan to work 36 hours a week and do the program full time with 2 kids. Crazy maybe, but that's my plan. You have the option of dropping down to part time (or go to full time if you are part time) once during the program.

I don't think you should have a problem. Every single one of my classmates was in a similar situation - families, working fulltime, and planning on doing it fulltime. They all talked me into switching from part to fulltime, myself.

NAURN · Jun 22, 2011

I don't think you should have a problem. Every single one of my classmates was in a similar situation - families, working fulltime, and planning on doing it fulltime. They all talked me into switching from part to fulltime, myself.

Thanks for the encouragement! That makes me feel better. :)

NurseB_, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2011

So is working full time and doing clinicals really work? I'm interested in this program and I will have to continue to work full time if I decided to do it and wanted to know how manageable it would be?

Thanks

NAURN · Jun 25, 2011

I think it depends on the days and shifts you work... you have to be able to complete the 675 hours in the allotted time frame. (I forget how long you have) You would have to do that math to see if it would work for your schedule. Would your preceptor be working the same days you would be available to precept, etc? Lots to think about. I think it is possible if your schedule works out.