Clinical Site Selection

FNU students have a long tradition of identifying their own clinical sites usually in their communities. This process has worked well since 1989. Applicants who have a commitment from a preceptor should provide this information with their application. During the Frontier Bound orientation, we will provide information to MSN program students that will assist you in locating preceptors. ADN to MSN Bridge students will receive this information during Crossing the Bridge session, just prior to starting their respective MSN programs. The information will include names of preceptors we have used in the past in your area of the country We will also review the process of credentialing preceptors and clinical sites which is the responsibility of the Clinical Credentialing department but important for students to understand. We highly recommend finding appropriate preceptors early in the program. The process of credentialing sites can take several weeks. Once you receive a commitment from a preceptor, you submit their contact information to the Clinical Credentialing office. The Credentialing Coordinator will send the identified preceptor a copy of the preceptor packet that includes the information needed for a preceptor to work with a FNU student.

Suggestions for finding clinical preceptors include:

Nurse-Midwifery Applicants Site Selection

• Use the CNM locator at http://www.midwife.org/find.cfm to find potential clinical sites.
• Contact the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) at (240) 485-1800 or http://www.midwife.org  to obtain the name and contact information for the Chairperson of the local ACNM chapter. Attend a chapter meeting and talk with the local CNMs about clinical site opportunities.

Nurse Practitioner Applicants Site Selection

• Use the search resource for NPs at http://www.npclinics.com to find potential clinical sites.
• Contact the state nursing organization and ask for the Chairperson for the regional or statewide nurse practitioner group. Call this person to obtain the names of local NPs.
• Attend the next regional NP meeting and talk with the local NPs about clinical opportunities.

Once an applicant has identified a potential clinical site, send the preceptor a letter of introduction and purpose that is accompanied by the applicant's Curriculum Vitae/resume. Include the FNU website address (www.frontier.edu) in the letter of introduction. The applicant should state her or his commitment to remaining in the home community for the clinical practicum, if that is the case. Follow up the letter with a phone call 1-2 weeks later. It is important to give a potential site a realistic idea of the date the applicant will be entering clinical. Many sites have commitments to other students or practice constraints that make commitment to a date very important. For a guideline, use 12-18 months from Frontier Bound for full-time students and 18-24 months from Frontier Bound for part-time students. When a potential preceptor has been identified, the applicant should submit the preceptor's name, clinical site name and contact information including an e-mail address to the Clinical Credentialing office. A preceptor packet will be sent to the preceptor. The packet includes information concerning how the FNU supports the preceptors, credentials them, provides them with preceptor training, and pays them an honorarium. The sooner the preceptor is identified the better this process works. Please remember that we will have a session at Frontier Bound to discuss this process and address any further questions that you may have.