Frontier Midwifery Program

queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM · Aug 14, 2015

Frontier may be very easy to get into, but finding midwives in your area who are willing to preceptor you is completely your responsibility (and incredibly difficult!) I've heard of several students having to take semesters off because they simply couldn't find anyone to take them on. This real-life challenge is definitely something to consider (as well as the reputation of the school once you're out and working).

This is true. A number of my classmates have left the program or switched tracks - to FNP - for these reasons.

The JMWH recently published an article about barriers to education for midwives - and one of the greatest challenges was having sufficient clinical placements. Frontier just continues to increase enrollment and makes it the students' responsibility (aka problem) to find clinical sites.

CNEP made sense back in the day when we didn't have the ease of communication like we do now. But really, at this point, telling students they need to find their own 'community' preceptors really isn't necessary. If FNU has the alumni that they say they do, and the reputation that they say they do, and an internet connection - they should be able to network and find clinical placements for students - or at least some leads on clinical placemeents. It's not the 80s anymore. We can, and do, communicate in an instant over many, many miles.

CNMidwife2Be · Aug 20, 2015

Id like to add that I've spoken to Yale students who told me their clinical placement (which the school is responsible for finding) was delayed. There weren't enough sites and as such they got a semester behind. So it's not just an issue when you have to find your own site - there's a national shortage of midwife preceptors and it's an issue in residential programs too.

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

That is possibly not the most useful question to ask.
What is their graduation rate? What is their pass rate on boards? Does my state allow Frontier/distance program or will I have to relocate? Can I find my own preceptor or do I want a school that already has established preceptors and will place you? How invested are the faculty in your education?

I like to keep things simple like my question which pertains to the requirements, once they are met (I thought that was a given) 'How hard/difficult is it to get in I wasn't asking anything about relocation or a preceptor. You went a little off on a tangent there lol So the first response will suffice. Thank you ladies. :)

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

You may need to elaborate on your questions.
It you meet all the eligibility requirements and write a decent essay, then most students get in. Getting in is the easy part!

Thank you, that was the answer I was looking for!

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

Where do you get your figures?

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

The attrition rate for CNEP students is.... interesting.

I'm wondering where you are getting this information?

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

Frontier may be very easy to get into, but finding midwives in your area who are willing to preceptor you is completely your responsibility (and incredibly difficult!) I've heard of several students having to take semesters off because they simply couldn't find anyone to take them on. This real-life challenge is definitely something to consider (as well as the reputation of the school once you're out and working).

Were these personal friends or are you obtaining your information from this forum? I live in a big metro so have a better chance of finding a preceptor plus I have networked as a nurse and doula so I would imagine those in the more rural communities might find it a difficult task I have read here on Allnurses that a few had to travel to a neighboring city to find a preceptor I have not read anything pertaining to the student not finding one at all.

JennyS, BSN, DNP, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

Id like to add that I've spoken to Yale students who told me their clinical placement (which the school is responsible for finding) was delayed. There weren't enough sites and as such they got a semester behind. So it's not just an issue when you have to find your own site - there's a national shortage of midwife preceptors and it's an issue in residential programs too.

I would like to suggest that those who are worried about finding a preceptor keep or get your foot in the door at your local teaching hospital Get to know your nurses and midwives. I think the odds will be in your favor if you network a little. The midwives and doulas I've met love to teach I guess I'll learn all of the criteria for the midwifery school I attend later but I think it comes down to 'who you know' Work as a volunteer doula then some of the midwives will have established a trust with you

queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM · Aug 20, 2015

I'm wondering where you are getting this information?

I linked to it - I got my information from Frontier's webpage. Is that reliable enough for you?

I'll link to it again:

Frontier Statistics | Frontier Nursing University

CNMidwife2Be · Aug 24, 2015

I would like to suggest that those who are worried about finding a preceptor keep or get your foot in the door at your local teaching hospital Get to know your nurses and midwives. I think the odds will be in your favor if you network a little. The midwives and doulas I've met love to teach I guess I'll learn all of the criteria for the midwifery school I attend later but I think it comes down to 'who you know' Work as a volunteer doula then some of the midwives will have established a trust with you

I totally agree. I'm a Frontier student in clinicals and nearly all of my sites were obtained through personal connections I had made as a doula or nursing student or other midwifery community activities. This is actually why I think one might be better off attending Frontier, even though securing your own site involves some work. With the Yale students I mentioned, they were not allowed to contact potential preceptors. They had to wait for the school to arrange it, even though they were having difficulty and students were behind. Because of the ability to choose my preceptor, I was able to not only work on personal connections w local midwives but also get a sense for their personality and ask ones who seemed like a good fit philosophically speaking. Granted, sometimes there aren't always a lot of options (depends on your area and how competitive it is) but I appreciated the flexibility.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Sep 16, 2015

I linked to it - I got my information from Frontier's webpage. Is that reliable enough for you?
I'll link to it again:
Frontier Statistics | Frontier Nursing University

I looked at this link above and you did not interpret the statistics correctly.

The attrition rate in the last few years at Frontier has remained fairly constant.

However, they have increased overall enrollment in the last three years by 478 students. That sounds like a lot of students, but it is not. That is the total increase across all programs for the year.

Now, an average 20% attrition rate....that is important to look at, but you cannot state that this is because Frontier has lowered their admission standards and allowed more people in. If they have lowered their admission standards and therefore, less qualified applicants were admitted just to bump up the numbers, then the attrition rate would have increased...it would not have stayed constant.

Frontier recommends that you do not work full-time during the program unless you select the part-time option...yet I have talked to many students, usually newer students, that are struggling b/c they are trying to do both full time.

You also have to look at the ranking of the school and the cost. Most of the CNM programs that have a super-low attrition rate? Are expensive schools...by expensive I mean over $1,000 a semester hour. Many of those are also classroom versus online environments...that also makes a big difference.

mamagui · Sep 16, 2015

Excellent points. When I get time I will check out these statistics.