FNU Hopeful

Specialties CNM

Published

I am graduating my BSN program THIS May. I've always had in my heart to become a CNM, but as many of you know, it is dependent upon your GPA during the program. So I am happy to say that I will have above a 3.0 and will be able to apply!

A few questions....

I took a research/EBP class in my BSN program and I'm hoping it will be accepted for the statistics requirement. I *did* send an e-mail to admissions about this and am anxiously awaiting a response. Any info on this would be appreciated.

Is this a difficult school to get into? If I meet and surpass all of the prerequisites, do I have a good chance?

Should I work as an RN while I am doing the didactic work? Is this possible or is it recommended to not work? I am already an IBCLC and am familiar with the online course work and then clinical in my hometown as this was the format for my LC school as well.

If I *do* work, will I be able to go down to part-time or take a leave during the last bit of clinical? I am not sure how a future employer would feel about investing in a new RN only for me to take leave for school and then not stay for long. (unless I become a CNM for that organization)

I will be scouring the internet attempting to get more answers and experiences. Thanks for reading!

Hi ratlady!

Congratulations on your upcoming completion of your BSN! That is certainly something to be proud of. :-) I may be able to be of some help as I am currently in my third term at FNU in their nurse-midwifery program. :)

I am honestly not sure if they will accept your EBP class. Frontier is notoriously picky on classes that they will accept. For example, the physical assessment course that I completed during my undergrad was only two credit hours, so I had to provide the syllabus to FNU. Ultimately, they wouldn't accept it and I ended up taking a three credit hour physical assessment course online before I applied to the program. If you have not heard back from them, my advice would be to continue to call them. You might want to provide a copy of your syllabus to them if you haven't already done that. Their admissions department is extremely busy and sometimes it takes a while to get back to you or they forget ( One of my only complaints). Also, you always have the option of taking your prerequisite statistics course with them if it ends up not being accepted.

As far as the school being hard to get into, it is an extremely competitive program as it is one of the most well-known and prestigious nurse-midwifery programs in United States. That being said, I absolutely think that as long as you meet/surpass the admission requirements and have a strong application, you will get in. Keep in mind that it also depends on the time of year that you apply. For example, the fall classes notoriously have more applicants so it is more competitive and harder to get into if you apply for the fall. Make sure that you spend a lot of time on your essays as I have heard that that is a strong factor on your admission. Spend some time working on your resume and make sure you include stuff about your IBCLC experience! Also, you might double check, but I think they require you to have a year of nursing experience before you apply. Your lactation experience might count though! Here's my stats: I had been a nurse for 4 1/2 years (1.5 in labor and delivery), I had a 3.34 GPA, I taught clinicals once a week for A local nursing program, and I teach prenatal class where I work. I was also a member of two professional organizations, which I was able to put on my resume. I took my time with my essays and made sure that they were strong and from my heart. I also made sure that I had strong references and I got in without being waitlisted. :) I would suggest searching for the Facebook group frontier nursing University hopefuls. It's a fantastic resource and full of lots of other people applying! You can ask questions in that group and get answers almost immediately!

You are going to get a lot of mixed answers about working FT as an RN while you are in the program. I personally have worked full-time and done the program full-time since I started last summer. Has it been easy? Absolutely not. I am also married with three kids and my husband is in nursing school. But I have somehow made it work! It's manageable. I just really have to time manage effectively. You will hear people tell stories about how they struggled to work part time and do the program part time. It's honestly just a personal preference and it may take you a term or two to figure out what you can handle. :-) My plan is to go down part time or not work at all once my clinicals start next fall, but I do know a few people who were able to work full-time and do clinical. Most people work at least some during the program.

Lastly, I just want to say what an amazing school FNU is! there is such a rich history and you will absolutely love going to fronier bound! It was life-changing for me. :-) I actually met a woman on here who is in the program with me and we have been best friends ever since. We went to bound together and we talk everyday (along with a few other women we met at bound). This will be one of the hardest things you'll ever do! It honestly makes nursing school look like preschool, but it's so worth it! I absolutely love where my life is going. :-)

Sorry this response was so long!! Feel free to ask me any other questions you have and however everything works out, I promise you that frontier is well worth the wait!

Thanks so much do the reply! Trying not to get discouraged about the 2 classes. I did get a response and she said it looks like they probably will be allowed, but to send in the syllabus just in case. My health assessments class was also 2 credits but it had a 2 credit clinical component attached so fingers crossed!

And I for sure meet the experience requirement, I don't have to be an RN for a year, just an IBCLC!

Just found out my physical assessments and stats class meets the requirements!

I am so relieved.

Yay! That's great news! :) ok side question: do you own pet rats? Just wondering about your user name :) We had rattiea forever and I adore them as pets.

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