cjmaxwell

Hello! I am a nurse looking to apply to an FNP program for next fall. My husband is currently finishing up his degree, which means we can potentially move wherever I can get into school and he can find a job. I'm looking at the Frontier School FNP program, and have heard so many great things about it I'm fairly certain I'll apply. My only reservation is the process of finding your own preceptor. For all of you current FNP students- is it a big deal if I don't have a preceptor in mind before I start? I have no idea where we'll be living at this point and probably wouldn't be able to find a potential preceptor until after I start school. Even then, I'm concerned that since we'll be new to the area I won't have any established relationships with NPs I can call on later. The areas we're looking to move to are Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico (also looking into FNP programs in those states too just in case anyone has any opinions) Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

Hello, I am a Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse with less than a year of nursing experience. I graduated from a 2nd degree program with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse midwife, however I chose not to work in L&D after graduating and instead chose peds bmt because I felt the critical care experience would give me some diversity, and really the decision just felt right. I still have my dream of becoming a nurse midwife but I'm concerned that my choice to work in Peds has hindered me from my goal in some way. To keep some focus in that area I volunteer once a week on the L&D floor and teach the community occasional childbirthing class. Is this enough to make my application competitive? I am contemplating becoming a certified doula, but feel that in the time it takes me to become certified, I'll be ready to apply to a CNM program. There is only one birthing center in the area which is not currently hiring RNs, and I am not too keen on switching to the L&D unit at the hospital where I work. I was offered a position there when I graduated, but was pretty unimpressed. Before nursing school I worked in international public health for a pediatric AIDS non-profit, and spent time in Africa with the peace corps. Anything I can add to make my application too competitive? Should I wait until I have a full year of experience to apply? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks so much and good luck to those who have applications in already!