Planning FNU clinicals in Maine

Maine from an FNU student's point of view

• Licensing body: the Maine State Board of Nursing.
• Nurse Licensure Compact: implemented January 19, 2018; APRN Compact not enacted.
• AANP practice environment: full, after at least 24 months under a supervising physician or NP, or employment by a clinic or hospital with a physician medical director.
• FNU tracks: all; FNU's state license page says its programs meet Maine's educational requirements for licensure.

As in every state, the search for a site and preceptor is yours, supported by your Clinical Advisor and FNU's Community Map. Your RCF accepts the CSAF, then Clinical Credentialing signs the affiliation agreement.

Supervised years and FNU's preceptor floor

A newer Maine NP spends at least two years under a supervising physician or NP, or works for a clinic or hospital with a physician medical director. Because FNU sets its minimum at twelve months of advanced practice, a second-year Maine NP under supervision can still meet it. Anyone you actually see patients with must be credentialed by FNU first.

An FNP student's time with physicians or PAs is capped at 40 percent of hours. Our preceptor requirements page covers the limits for each track.

Rules for programs based outside Maine

Maine's Board of Nursing has no rule or guidance on record about out-of-state programs placing students at Maine sites. The Board's education rule, Chapter 7, covers approval of Maine prelicensure programs and says nothing about outside programs' placements, and the Board's rules list and education pages link to no such guidance.

Maine's Nurse Practice Act exempts from licensure the nursing practice of students in Board-approved programs leading to initial licensure. That exemption doesn't describe FNU's graduate students, who are already RNs, so plan on your own license: a Maine license, or a multistate one issued by your compact home state. Clinical Credentialing can confirm nothing else applies.

Searching beyond Maine's three metros

Portland-South Portland is Maine's largest metro area at about 578,000 people, followed by Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn. The major systems are MaineHealth, Northern Light Health, MaineGeneral Health and Central Maine Healthcare; use them as leads, not as confirmed hosts. Outside those centers, FNU's emphasis on rural and underserved communities points your search toward smaller towns, and our rural clinicals guide covers how to work them.

FNU notes that most students stay close to home but some must travel or relocate for a while; the catalog makes required relocation the student's cost. The three clinical courses set weekly minimums of 20, then 28, then 24 hours, which limits how long a commute you can sustain.

Midwifery in Maine

Midwifery students need 40 births (eight or more in hospital), 40 newborn assessments and 40 labor management experiences. FNU caps them at four sites unless the RCF agrees to more, typically, its website says, two clinics and two hospitals. Telehealth can cover no more than a fifth of hours, and never births or labor. Your RCF can answer questions on Maine's midwifery practice rules; for FNU's side, see our nurse-midwifery preceptor guide.

Why Maine students choose us

We search across the distances Maine involves, within the drive or temporary stay you tell us is workable, and collect with you everything the CSAF needs. Your RCF and Clinical Credentialing have the final say on each placement, and a well-prepared file gives them what they need from the first look.