At Frontier Nursing University (FNU), it is our goal to inspire prospective nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners in need of a flexible schedule to complete their educational goals. Our specialty lies in giving our students the opportunity to work in their home and local community through web-based, distance learning. We offer a variety of programs to help you further your career to the highest level, including a Master of Science in Nursing program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and Post-Graduate Certificates. As you search for a school to continue your education, be assured that our programs meet you where you are, and provide quality support throughout your healthcare education journey.
With FNU’s Master of Science Nursing (MSN) program, students have the option of becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The programs usually begin with an on-campus experience called Frontier Bound; these sessions are currently being held virtually due to the COVID-crisis. However, we have been pleased to find our students report that they are staying connected and inspired through these virtual events and online coursework. Coursework consists of approximately 30 hours per week for part-time students, and about 40 hours per week for full-time students. Students complete the majority of the didactic courses over one to one and one-years and then become eligible for the second on-site session, Clinical Bound. Clinical Bound is a clinical skills intensive that will prepare you for the clinical practicum. Clinical Bound sessions are currently being held virtually due to the COVID-crisis.
After Clinical Bound, students begin their clinical practicum. During this time, they provide nurse practitioner or nurse-midwifery services in their home community for four to 10 months under the guidance of a master clinician preceptor. FNU students benefit greatly from having these advanced practice nurses as role models during the clinical experience. Required clinicals assist students in developing necessary skills for future success.
Once students complete all coursework, at least 675 hours of clinical work, and the final comprehensive preparatory course, they officially have an MSN in their chosen field. Additionally, for students who complete their MSN at FNU, we provide the option to expand their studies and earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) through successful completion of 21 additional doctoral-level credits and 360 additional clinical hours.
Recent Frontier grads have a head start, but the DNP program was not designed with only Frontier grads in mind. We provide a fully comprehensive community-based online program to pursue a Post-Master’s DNP. Earning your DNP at FNU will begin with attending DNP Bound. You can opt to complete our DNP program in either 15 or 18 months. This program consists of 30 credit hours in which you will lead a rapid cycle quality improvement initiative. These are small scope initiatives aimed to meet a need within your clinical site while acting as a service-learning opportunity. The initiative provides you with a chance to look at a community-level problem and make a change.
We are dedicated to making our DNP program one of the best of its kind. Following the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s DNP Essentials foundational competencies, and drawing on the diverse experience of our faculty, we feel that we have developed an all-inclusive program that will leave you confident and competent as a clinical practice leader.
FNU also offers several different Post-Graduate Certificates, meant for students who have completed their MSN and are already a Certified Nurse-Midwife or a Nurse Practitioner, but would like to add a specialization as a Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, or a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. These programs will leave you prepared to pass your national certification exam in your chosen field and, similar to our MSN programs, completing these certifications will give you the opportunity to continue into the post-masters DNP.
FNU is committed to providing in-demand programs in an obtainable way so that you can expand the care available in your community with knowledge and confidence. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of our degrees or certifications, please visit our admissions page – we would love to talk to you!
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Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives, including the development of a TRHT-focused campus climate toolkit. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016 and August 2022 Second edition).