CNM Programs at Frontier and Stony Brook

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Hello,

I have an Associate's degree and I will earn my BSN this May. I currently work as an RN on a L+D unit with just 6 months experience. I went into nursing school knowing that I wanted to be in L+D...and I was right!!!:yeah: I absolutely love it. It is such a passion of mine already. One of the midwives that I work with went to Frontier and she said she loved it but it has been too busy lately to sit down with her to ask questions.

I lived in NY until this past June, then moved to PA for my husband to go to pharmacy school. We have a 3yr old son and we hope to be moving back to NY after he graduates in 2013. Therefore, I feel like a distance learning program would be the best option for me.

Does anyone have any experience with these schools that would be willing to give me some helpful information? I called Frontier and they said the clinicals don't start until the 2nd yr, which would be perfect because we would be home in NY when they started if I were to start the program next Fall. Does anyone know how many days per week we would have clinicals in either of the programs? Would I be able to work while in the program?

Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! ;)

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Hi, I'm currently a Frontier student so I can answer questions about that. First, you need to have a year of experience as an RN before you can apply.

It's true that clinicals start after two years. It's 650ish hours, including a certain number of births (I think 40), over at least two terms (each term equals 12 weeks). You can work while you do your clinicals, but you cannot work at the same place where you do your clinicals. Working while doing the didactic portion is definitely doable.

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Specializes in LDRP.

I am also a frontier student--klone is correct, except that you have two to three 12 week terms to complete your clinicals. So, if you did your 650 hours over 36 weeks, that is 18 hours a week, so you would have enough time to work too.

I am not that far in my program so I don't know if it will be too stressful to do both at once

Good luck! I love frontier so far!

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When you say "you can't work at the same place where you do your clinicals" does that mean same unit? floor? hospital? I am considering Frontier for next winter term, I'm starting on a medicine unit, but am hoping to transfer to Mom/Baby or Lactation when I start grad school. I would really like to work with the midwives at the hospital where I am currently.

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Specializes in L&D, MBU, NICU,.

I am a Stony Brook grad, though I will say that I have utmost respect for the Frontier program. Since I am a NY resident, Stony Brook had the advantage of NY state resident tuition, though I came very close to transfer to Frontier. That said...

I did my clinical in the same unit that I was working in at the time. It was what worked for me at the time and I was able to train with the midwife that I most wanted to precept with. However, there are pluses and minuses to doing clinical where you work. Pluses - you know where things are, how the unit functions and who you can trust. minuses - the power struggle with the nurses you work with! I was able to set my own clinical hours with my preceptor and still work, which was a necessity for me.

I still work at the same hospital where I worked as an RN and did clinical for midwifery school; I think the nursing staff has finally accepted me as a CNM. I try very hard to work in collaboration with them and not "step on toes" but the fact that I know them allows me to know who I can trust and who I need to watch more.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
When you say "you can't work at the same place where you do your clinicals" does that mean same unit? floor? hospital? I am considering Frontier for next winter term, I'm starting on a medicine unit, but am hoping to transfer to Mom/Baby or Lactation when I start grad school. I would really like to work with the midwives at the hospital where I am currently.

You cannot work in the same unit where you are doing your clinicals.

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Are there other distance learning programs out there besides these two (Frontier & Stony Brook)? I would definitely want a distance learning program and am starting to look into programs now....would like to know all my options. Thanks for more input everyone!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

UCincinnati I think...

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

The ACNM website also lists East Carolina University and the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University as distance programs, in addition to the three programs already mentioned in this thread.

I am also a Frontier student. Feel free to PM me anytime. :)

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I am interested in Midwifery and was looking at the Frontier website. Is this an online program? How does it work? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.
I am interested in Midwifery and was looking at the Frontier website. Is this an online program? How does it work? Thanks in advance!

Yes, the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing is a distance-based/online program. You do have to travel to Kentucky (where the school is based) twice throughout the program - once before classes begin, and once before you start your clinicals. Everything else is done from where you live, including clinicals.

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Specializes in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

did you like the school? I heard it is cold and impersonal

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