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At Frontier Nursing University, nurse practitioner students complete approximately 750 clinical hours in their home communities under the supervision of approved clinical preceptors. Frontier’s placement-supported model combines one-on-one faculty guidance with national outreach services to help students secure clinical sites that meet program and accreditation standards.
TL;DR – Frontier Nursing University Clinical Placements
- Frontier Nursing University students complete around 750 clinical hours in their home communities under approved preceptors as part of their CCNE-accredited MSN program.
- The university’s Clinical Outreach and Placement Team and Regional Clinical Faculty help students find, evaluate, and secure clinical sites that meet program standards.
- Frontier offers several tracks, including Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP).
- Students begin their clinical practicum after attending the on-campus Clinical Bound skills-intensive session.
- Even with Frontier’s support, placements can be competitive—creating a free NPHub account helps students find vetted preceptors faster and stay on track for graduation.
Frontier Nursing University Clinical Placements: From Coursework to Clinical Confidence
You know that moment when the screen closes after class, and it suddenly hits you that everything you have been studying is about to become real? 8
The patient stories, the lab results, the physical exams, it is no longer theory. It is you, stepping into practice. That is where every NP student eventually finds themselves: standing on the edge of their first clinical practicum, heart racing, ready but nervous.
At Frontier, this part of your nursing program is more than a requirement. It is where you finally connect your purpose to your profession. Whether you are becoming a family nurse practitioner, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, your rotations are your chance to make a real difference in the lives of people who often go without consistent care.
You are not just earning a degree. You are learning how to serve rural and underserved communities, one patient and one experience at a time.
Still, it is not easy. Most FNU students are full-time registered nurses, balancing families, jobs, and the weight of graduate coursework. Finding the right clinical preceptors, completing background checks, and logging every clinical hour can feel like another full-time job.
There are days when the process feels frustrating, especially when sites are slow to respond or when plans fall through at the last minute.
That is why it helps to have support from both Frontier and from services that understand the struggle. Creating a free NPHub account can help you explore vetted preceptors who meet Frontier Nursing University clinical placement requirements.
It is a simple way to save time and protect your focus, so you can put your energy where it matters most, into your patients and your growth as a future provider.
Before you begin, it helps to understand exactly what your program requires. Each track at Frontier Nursing University is structured differently, from the number of clinical hours to the types of settings you will experience.
Knowing what lies ahead can make your first day of clinicals feel a little less intimidating and a lot more purposeful.
NP Program Requirements at Frontier Nursing University Nurse Practitioners
Every student at Frontier Nursing University shares a common goal: to become a skilled and compassionate provider who brings high-quality care to urban and/or rural/underserved communities.
Whether your passion lies in family practice, women’s health, or mental health, each program at Frontier is designed to combine academic excellence with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences in your own community.
All FNU students complete approximately 750 clinical hours as part of their CCNE-accredited MSN program. These rotations, known as the clinical practicum, are completed in partnership with approved clinical preceptors who guide students as they apply advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis, and patient management.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program
A Family Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who manages the healthcare of individuals and families across the lifespan. FNPs provide preventive and primary care, promote health and wellness, and help patients manage chronic conditions.
During your clinical practicum, you will gain real-world experience conducting routine checkups, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, and developing care plans that improve long-term outcomes.
One of the most unique aspects of the Frontier Nursing University Family Nurse Practitioner program is that you can complete your clinical practicum in your home community. This model allows you to serve familiar populations while building the clinical confidence you need to lead in a variety of settings, from small rural clinics to busy family practices.
Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP) Program
A Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner specializes in comprehensive health care for women throughout their lives.
WHCNPs provide well-woman exams, reproductive and gynecologic care, and both prenatal and postpartum care. They also focus on health education, disease prevention, and helping patients make informed decisions about their health.
At Frontier Nursing University, the WHCNP program emphasizes the same caring behaviors that define the school’s mission: compassion, respect, and a dedication to improving healthcare access for diverse, rural, and underserved communities.
Students complete 750 clinical hours in their home community, working alongside experienced preceptors who help them refine their skills in women’s health and patient-centered care.
If you are beginning to prepare for your clinical practicum, you can create a free NPHub accountto find your preceptor in these and other specialties. NPHub offers placement options across 10 nurse practitioner specialties, helping FNU students secure approved sites faster and focus on learning, growth, and service rather than logistics.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program
A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner focuses on improving mental health care and supporting the overall well-being of individuals and communities. PMHNPs provide lifetime care by assessing, diagnosing, and treating behavioral and mental health conditions, often managing complex comorbidities that affect a person’s quality of life.
The PMHNP program at Frontier reflects the university’s commitment to compassion and service. Students are trained to deliver holistic care that addresses the unique needs of rural and underserved communities while working closely with clinical preceptors in behavioral health and integrated care settings.
As with other tracks, PMHNP students complete 750 clinical hours for the MSN program, usually within their own communities.
Each of these programs reflects Frontier’s mission to prepare the next generation of nurse practitioners who combine advanced clinical knowledge with empathy, cultural awareness, and a deep sense of purpose.
If you are exploring your next steps, consider where your clinical placement might take you. In the next section, we will look at how Frontier Nursing University’s placement model works and what kind of support students can expect throughout the process.
You can also see and secure available preceptors near you with your free account at NPHub. Whether you are preparing for your first rotation or planning ahead for your next one, NPHub can help you find the right preceptor faster and keep your clinical hours on track.
Frontier Nursing University Clinical Placement Support
One of the best parts about being a student at Frontier Nursing University is that you are never alone in the process of finding a clinical site. Frontier understands that securing the right clinical placement can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already juggling coursework, family, and work responsibilities.
That is why FNU provides a dedicated Clinical Outreach and Placement Team to guide you through every step of the process.
From the moment you begin preparing for your clinical practicum, the placement team works with you one-on-one to identify potential clinical sites and preceptors in your community. They help you troubleshoot challenges, review requirements, and connect you with the resources you need to succeed.
The team maintains a growing network of preceptors and clinical partners across the country and continually works to secure new sites, ensuring that FNU students have access to meaningful, high-quality experiences that meet CCNE-accredited program standards.
Shortly after enrolling at Frontier, you will begin working with your Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) to create your clinical plan. These experienced advanced practice nurses serve as mentors and role models throughout your clinical practicum.
Your RCF evaluates both your preceptor and clinical site to ensure that your learning environment meets all program requirements.
During your rotations, your RCF stays in close contact with you and your preceptor, offering feedback, guidance, and support. They help resolve site issues, organize regional meetings, and share clinical insights drawn from their own years in nursing practice. Many students describe their RCF as one of their most trusted mentors during their time at Frontier.
After attending Clinical Bound, an intensive, skills-based session that takes place on campus, students begin their clinical practicum in their home communities. Over the next four to ten months, you will provide nurse practitioner services under the guidance of one or more clinical preceptors.
This community-based model is what makes Frontier Nursing University unique among nursing schools. You are not required to relocate or travel for your rotations. Instead, you gain real experience serving the same populations you hope to continue caring for after graduation, patients and families in rural and underserved communities who truly need your expertise.
Throughout this process, you are supported by your faculty, your Regional Clinical Faculty, and the Clinical Outreach and Placement Team. Together, they make sure your clinical journey not only meets academic requirements but also prepares you for real, independent practice.
If you are still looking for a clinical site or waiting for confirmation, do not wait until your deadlines start closing in. You can create your free NPHub account today to find approved preceptors in your specialty and location before spots fill up. NPHub helps Frontier Nursing University students secure placements faster, avoid delays, and stay on track to complete their clinical hours on time.
Why Frontier’s Model Is Both Advantageous and Challenging
The Frontier Nursing University clinical placement model gives students an incredible advantage. Unlike many traditional nursing schools, FNU allows you to complete your clinical practicum in your own community.
You do not have to relocate or leave your family to finish your MSN program. Instead, you gain the experience of providing nursing practice where it is needed most in rural and underserved communities that rely on dedicated nurse practitioners to fill critical healthcare gaps.
This community-based approach strengthens your connection to patients, families, and local health systems. It prepares you to step into leadership roles after graduation with a deep understanding of the people and communities you serve.
It also reinforces the university’s long-standing mission: to educate nurses who bring care and compassion to places where healthcare access is limited.
However, even with this support, finding a clinical site can still be challenging. Many FNU students face common obstacles like limited preceptor availability, high competition for sites, and complex scheduling demands. Some preceptors already mentor several students, while others may not be taking new learners when you need them.
Balancing work, family, coursework, and your search for a preceptor can feel overwhelming. Frontier’s Clinical Outreach and Placement Team and Regional Clinical Faculty are always there to guide you, but sometimes the process still takes longer than expected.
That is where NPHub can make a difference. Even with Frontier’s strong placement support, NP students often need additional help finding preceptors who match their specialty and location and NPHub helps NP students to fill those gaps, helping secure a vetted preceptor faster, handle paperwork efficiently, and start clinical hours on time.
If you are feeling stuck, anxious about upcoming deadlines, or just ready to move your placement forward, you can create a free NPHub account today and explore available preceptors near you. It is one more layer of support to keep your journey moving, so you can focus on what matters most, becoming the kind of provider your community can count on.
The Hardest Part Is Finding Your Way, Not Losing Your Why
Every NP student from Frontier Nursing University reaches a moment during the clinical practicum when everything feels heavy. You are managing coursework, working shifts, showing up for your family, and still trying to find a preceptor who says yes.
Some days you wake up excited about what you are learning, and others you wonder how much longer you can keep going.
That is the reality of becoming a nurse practitioner. It takes grit. It takes heart. And it takes more than one person’s effort. The truth is, even in a supportive, CCNE-accredited program like Frontier’s, finding and securing clinical placements can be one of the toughest parts of the journey.
It is not because you are doing anything wrong, it is because the system is competitive, preceptors are limited, and you are being asked to juggle everything at once.
You have already proven you can handle the hard work. Let someone else help handle the logistics. Because this part of your story, the late nights, the long hours, the moments when you choose to keep showing up, is what makes you the kind of provider your patients will never forget.
NPHub connects FNU students with vetted clinical preceptors across the country, helping you find a placement that fits your specialty, schedule, and community. Whether your rotation starts next semester or your deadline is just around the corner, create you free account and save weeks of uncertainty and get the confidence of knowing that your placement is secure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Frontier Nursing University Clinical Placements
1. How many clinical hours are required for Frontier Nursing University students?
Most Frontier Nursing University students complete approximately 750 clinical hours as part of their MSN programor Post-Graduate Certificate. These hours are completed under approved clinical preceptors in your local community.
2. Can I complete my clinical practicum in my home community?
Yes. One of the hallmarks of the Frontier Nursing University clinical placement model is that students complete their rotations in their home communities. This community-based approach allows students to learn while continuing to serve rural and underserved populations.
3. Does Frontier Nursing University help students find clinical sites and preceptors?
Yes. FNU provides a Clinical Outreach and Placement Team that assists students in identifying potential clinical sites and preceptors, troubleshooting challenges, and navigating the placement process from start to finish.
4. What is Clinical Bound, and when does it happen?
Clinical Bound is an intensive, on-campus session where students build advanced skills and prepare for the clinical practicum. It occurs before beginning rotations and helps ensure you are confident and ready to enter real-world patient care settings.
5. Who are the Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF), and what do they do?
Your Regional Clinical Faculty are experienced advanced practice nurses who mentor you throughout your clinical practicum. They evaluate your sites and preceptors, ensure your rotations meet program requirements, and provide ongoing guidance and support during your clinical experience.
6. What kinds of clinical settings can I expect at Frontier Nursing University?
FNU students complete rotations in a wide range of settings, including primary care clinics, birth centers, behavioral health facilities, community health centers, and hospital-based practices. The setting depends on your chosen specialty track.
7. Which programs at Frontier Nursing University require clinical placements?
All nurse practitioner programs require clinical rotations. This includes the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP).
8. What if I have trouble finding a clinical site or preceptor?
If you encounter difficulties, contact your Clinical Outreach and Placement Team and Regional Clinical Faculty as soon as possible for support. You can also create a free NPHub account to explore vetted preceptors and clinical sites that meet Frontier Nursing University requirements, helping you secure a placement faster.
9. What credentials or requirements must my preceptor meet?
All preceptors must be licensed and experienced in your specialty area. This may include nurse practitioners (NPs), physicians (MDs), or physician assistants (PAs) who meet both program and Board of Nursing standards.
10. How can NPHub support Frontier Nursing University students?
NPHub partners with FNU students to simplify the placement process. The service connects students with pre-screened clinical preceptors, manages paperwork, and ensures placements meet university and accreditation standards. This helps you avoid delays and stay on track toward completing your clinical hours and earning your master’s degree.
Key Definitions: Frontier Nursing University Clinical Placements
- Clinical Practicum
The phase of the MSN program or Post-Graduate Certificate where students provide supervised patient care in real healthcare settings. At Frontier Nursing University, this practicum allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to practice within their own communities. - Clinical Outreach and Placement Team
A specialized group within Frontier Nursing University that supports students in locating clinical sites and preceptors. This team collaborates closely with learners to review placement options, handle documentation, and ensure all experiences meet accreditation and program standards. - Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF)
A member of the FNU faculty who mentors students during their clinical experience. RCFs evaluate site suitability, guide student learning, and act as professional role models throughout the clinical rotation period. - Clinical Bound
An immersive, skills-intensive session held on campus at Frontier Nursing University before beginning clinical rotations. During this event, students demonstrate readiness for practice, refine assessment techniques, and prepare for direct patient care. - Preceptor
A licensed healthcare professional who supervises and mentors FNU students during their clinical practicum. Preceptors may include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physicians, or other qualified providers who meet program-specific criteria. - Home-Based Learning Model
An educational approach unique to Frontier Nursing University, allowing students to complete clinical requirements within their local or regional healthcare systems. This model supports accessibility, flexibility, and continued service to rural and underserved populations. - Advanced Practice Nursing
A level of nursing practice that involves comprehensive patient assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions. Frontier’s programs prepare students for this role through coursework in Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Physical Assessment, and Advanced Pathophysiology. - Clinical Competency Evaluation
The process through which faculty members and preceptors assess a student’s ability to apply clinical reasoning, therapeutic judgment, and evidence-based interventions in patient care. Successful evaluation is required for program completion and certification eligibility. - Integrated Care Setting
A healthcare environment where physical and mental health services are delivered collaboratively. Many Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students complete part of their rotations in integrated care models that promote whole-person health. - National Certification Examination
The final assessment graduates must pass to become licensed nurse practitioners or nurse midwives. Successful completion of clinical hours, coursework, and faculty evaluations qualifies students to sit for certification exams through recognized boards such as the AANP, ANCC, or AMCB.
About the author
- NPHub Staff
At NPHub, we live and breathe clinical placements. Our team is made up of nurse practitioners, clinical coordinators, placement advisors, and former students who’ve been through the process themselves. We work directly with NP students across the country to help them secure high-quality preceptorships and graduate on time with confidence. - Last updated
October 15, 2025 - Fact-checked by
NPHub Clinical Placement Experts & Student Support Team - Sources and references
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