Frontier doesn't take NY applicants for CNM!?

Specialties CNM

Updated:   Published

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I'm a new grad RN (career changer) in upstate NY. My first RN position is lined up in postpartum with cross-training in L&D after a year. All fine and dandy, setting myself up for CNM school.

For a long time I have had my heart set on Frontier for my CNM. I like the flexibility, online curriculum, cost etc. After talking to an admissions rep yesterday I found out that they don't currently take any applicants from NYS due to a credentialing/clinical site issue. Apparently it is something that they have been working on for a couple of years but don't have an estimated date of resolution. 

Does anyone have suggestions for other programs with a similar format? I'd love to hear from NY midwives/midwifery students in particular. I have a young family with three small children, so I need a program that will allow for online didactic courses with condensed in-person requirements and clinical placements somewhat near my home (Albany area). Bonus if it allows for direct-entry RNs with prior bachelors degrees in another field (biology), though I am not totally opposed to doing my BSN first. 

Thank you!

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Specializes in OB.

Wow, I hadn't heard that about Frontier and NY state.  Two other programs that come to mind that are mostly distance and somewhat more affordable than something like Georgetown, are the University of Cincinnati program and the Texas Tech program.  This comprehensive list of all the accredited programs in the U.S. used to also include details about their program--distance vs. hybrid vs. fully brick-and-mortar.  It doesn't include that information currently, but it does list the exact types of degrees they offer, which you're also looking for--MS, direct entry, DNP, etc.  Dive in and see what you can find!

https://portal.midwife.org/education/accredited-programs?reload=timezone

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8 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:

University of Cincinnati program and the Texas Tech program.  

Would you believe those two don't either? This is so bizarre! I know that NY has notoriously high standards for nurses/nursing education but come on! There are great brick and mortar programs in the NYC area but that would be too far of a commute for in-person coursework.

Thank you for the link. I will continue researching. Do you (or any other readers) have thoughts on Thomas Jefferson University? 

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Specializes in OB.
11 minutes ago, amchand said:

Would you believe those two don't either? This is so bizarre! I know that NY has notoriously high standards for nurses/nursing education but come on! There are great brick and mortar programs in the NYC area but that would be too far of a commute for in-person coursework.

Thank you for the link. I will continue researching. Do you (or any other readers) have thoughts on Thomas Jefferson University? 

Those two don't accept NY students?  Or am I misunderstanding you?

I know almost nothing about TJU except that it's one of the few places that offer a program to become a CM.

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2 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:

Those two don't accept NY students?  Or am I misunderstanding you?

I know almost nothing about TJU except that it's one of the few places that offer a program to become a CM.

They don't accept NY applicants either! I had no idea this was going to be such an issue. We moved to NY from VA a couple of years ago when my husband was offered a tenure-track teaching position. Didn't occur to me that it might put a damper on my midwifery plans. If anything I figured a NYS nursing license would help me. 

"The University of Cincinnati’s online graduate nursing programs are not currently available to students located in Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Tennessee."

"Disclaimer: Due to changing regulations, the TTUHSC SON Graduate Programs cannot guarantee at the time of submission of an application that we can accept students from a particular state. At this time, we are unable to accept students living in the following states – Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Washington."

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Specializes in OB.

Well that's a tough one!  Isn't Stonybrook University mostly distance?

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Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.

We discussed this right before I graduated from my program.  The New York State Education Department (NYSED) recently started requiring all schools that are based outside of NYS to be vetted first before their students can be placed in clinical rotation within NY.  Unfortunately, my understanding from my faculty is that the process involves a lot of paperwork with the NYSED and is both time-consuming and costly since each specialization needs to be vetted individually.  Therefore, most programs opt not to go through the process or they understand it will take a few years to complete the vetting process and instead send their students to integration and clinical placements in other states besides NY in the interim.

Another program is Shenendoah which I believe is a fully distance learning program.  Bethel's program is well regarded and is also a hybrid program as well.  It might help to ask another hybrid or distance program and see if the rules are different because they are based in a different state or if they have already gone through and completed the vetting process.

Would you be able to go to a CNM school based in NYS?  The only four midwifery schools that are based in NY that I can think of are NYU, SUNY Downstate, Stonybrook, and Columbia which I think are all B&M.  Would going part-time be an option?

Are you close to NJ and can take a look at Rutgers which also has a midwifery program?  Or CT which has Fairfield and Yale?

I hope this helps, I wish you the best of luck in finding the path that works best for you.

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Specializes in CNM/WHNP.

Yup, this is true. Georgetown also doesn't accept NY applicants. The reason is because there is so much competition for NY clinical sites from the four brick and mortar midwifery schools- Columbia, NYU, Downstate, and Stonybrook, that Frontier and Georgetown cannot secure clinical sites for their students. I am a native New Yorker and attended Georgetown. The only reason I was able to go was because I was living in NJ at the time, and I was so close to NYC it was near impossible to secure clinical sites. It's unfortunate and I don't see it changing anytime soon if ever. There has been some contention between the brick and mortar schools and the online schools for "stealing" clinical sites.

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