University of Maine at Fort Kent Nursing School Review

The University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) began educating students in 1878 as the Madawaska Training School, a school for teachers. It became the Fort Kent Normal School in 1955, and began offering four year programs. The name of the institution changed again three more times, finally becoming UMFK in 1970.

UMFK currently enrolls over 1100 students. Located in northern Maine on the Canadian border, Fort Kent is a town of just over 4000 people, and is the place to be if you like winter sports. The area is perfect for kayaking, biking, hunting, and fishing. It hosts an annual qualifier for the Iditarod, the CanAm Crown Sled Dog race. The area also has 23 miles of Nordic skiing trails, and alpine skiing areas.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Traditional

This program is for students wishing to begin their careers as professional nurses. The BSN program consists of a minimum of 120 credit hours, generally takes four years to complete, and summer courses are not required. Graduates of this program will be able to take the licensing exam to qualify as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Students may enter the BSN program straight out of high school. Applicants are expected to have completed the college prep curriculum before graduating. They will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have taken Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology, with a grade of C or better in all classes. They will also need to have taken two years of high school Math, four years of English, two years of Social Sciences, and a foreign language.

In addition, students will need to submit their SAT or ACT scores and a letter of recommendation from a science or math teacher, or a letter documenting their community service. Students that don’t meet the above requirements will be considered on a case by case basis.

To continue in the program, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.

Accelerated BSN

This four-semester program is designed for students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree in another course of study. Students will take mostly nursing courses in a variety of formats, including classroom and distance learning. Students must be enrolled full time, and it is recommended that they be motivated, self-directed, and flexible.

To be eligible to apply to this program, students will need to hold a bachelor’s degree and have a GPA of at least 3.2 from their previous studies. They will need to have taken a college level Anatomy and Physiology class with a grade of at least a C, and have completed a college level Statistics course. They will also need to be enrolled at UMFK as a full time student, and be able to start classes in the summer semester.

In addition, though not required, it will be advantageous to take Microbiology with a lab, Human Nutrition, Chemistry with a lab, Growth and Development Across the Lifespan, and Transcultural Care in Nursing prior to starting the program.

RN to BSN

This program allows students that are already licensed RNs to earn their BSN degree. This program varies in length, depending on the amount of credit the applicant earns from transfer, skills testing, proficiency exams, and whether enrolled full or part time. Most students will require at least two years to finish this course of study.

Applicants will need to supply a copy of their current RN license and transcripts from their diploma or associate degree in nursing program. Students that provide transcripts or take the NLN Mobility II Profile exam to determine their nursing proficiency in a clinical setting will be eligible for 29 credits for prior nursing courses.

RN to BSN Online

This program is offered in a flexible format that allows students that are already licensed RNs to earn their BSN degree. All theory classes are offered online. The length of the program depends on how much of credit the applicant earns from transfer, skills testing, proficiency exams. Students are eligible to be awarded up to 29 credits based on their prior nursing education and skills. Most students will need at least two years to complete this program.

This program has the same admissions requirements as the traditional RN to BSN program.

Contact:
University of Maine at Fort Kent
23 University Dr.,
Fort Kent, ME 04743

[wpgmza id=”505″]