RN to BSN Student Onboarding Packet Fall 2022

All College of Nursing students are required to complete a Background Check, Immunization Verification, and Drug Screening for the College of Nursing via CastleBranch.com. The College of Nursing has created a guide to which can assist you in understanding the required documentation for Castle Branch. Please click here to view the guide: Castle Branch

Note about the COVID-19 Vaccine requirement: Receiving the COVID-19 vaccination is not required by the university or College of Nursing at this point. However, there may be a chance that it will be required in the future. If you plan to receive the vaccination you can upload documentation into Castle Branch. If you don't plan on receiving the vaccination there will be a waiver that you can request from our Compliance Officer.

To remove the Castle Branch hold on your account, you must complete your drug test, background check, and upload your health insurance documentation. 

All other Castle Branch requirements must be completed and approved by the first day of classes (August 22, 2022). 

The current cost of a new Castle Branch account is $189.99 . If you already have an existing account as an undergraduate USF nursing student, you will only need to purchase a new background check and drug test. Your undergrad account will then be merged with your new graduate account.

Please follow the steps below to get started.

1. Go to https://portal.castlebranch.com/UD98 

2. Select Place Order 

3. Select Please Select

4. Select College of Nursing

5. Select RN-BSN

6. UF17dt: Drug Test RE-Check (If the drug screening is not completed within 72 hours of purchase, an additional cost will be required as the drug screen package ($38) will need to be re-purchased)

7. UF17lev1bgre: Level 1 Background Re-Check.

Please contact Castle Branch with any questions regarding the uploading of documentation or requirements for your profile.

The USF College of Nursing Student Academic Compliance Officer Mr. Shawn Afflick (safflick@usf.edu) can assist you if the Castle Branch Customer Service cannot resolve an issue. 

Please note that this is not a one time process. You, the student, must monitor all requirements and keep them up to date during the time of your enrollment in The College of Nursing. Failure to keep the programmatic and clinical requirements up to date will result in a HOLD on your course registration and/or clinical placement.

The College of Nursing requires all students to complete a mandatory Online Orientation and quiz in order to register for courses. Through this orientation, you will become acquainted with program and college policies.

• Please click here to complete the Online Orientation

• The Online Orientation satisfies the USF Orientation requirement. You do not have to attend an on campus transfer orientation but you are more than welcome to sign up if you wish.

Your individual program plan and degree audit (showing outstanding General Education/State Mandated graduation requirements) can be accessed through USF’s online degree audit system, DegreeWorks. You can access DegreeWorks through OASIS (http://oasis.usf.edu/) using your NetID and password.

Items to note when reviewing DegreeWorks:

• The Planner tab in DegreeWorks will show a split screen; one screen showing the full degree audit (items in green are complete; items in red are outstanding) and one screen showing your Nursing degree plan for your entire program.

  • RN Nursing coursework is intended to be taken in the order listed in your program plan. If you register for a Nursing course outside of your program plan without pre-approval, you may be dropped from that course.

  • Statistics (and its pre-requisites) must be taken before Semester 3.

  • The High Impact Practice and Ethical Reasoning & Civic Engagements are built into your Nursing coursework and will be covered by core Nursing classes.

  • A Portfolio requirement is built into your Nursing coursework and will be graded at the end of NUR4634C in your last semester.

  • Most USF General Education requirements that you may need can be taken at any time during your program, but our recommendations are listed on your degree plan.

• USF Undergraduate Admissions has taken into consideration transfer credit received from your previous institutions. However, DegreeWorks sometimes requires manual application of those credits to the College of Nursing requirements, so please let us know if you see anything missing that you think you have taken.

• If you attended an ASN school that granted credits based on the quarter system - please schedule an appointment with your Advisor as soon as possible to ensure you will meet the final credit requirements.

• If you attended an LPN to RN program OR a Diploma Nursing Program - please schedule an appointment with your Advisor as soon as possible to ensure you will meet the final credit requirements

• Note that your ASN Nursing courses have not been counted for credit - if you are in need of additional credit in DegreeWorks in excess of the 30 credits in nursing and any other outstanding requirements you have, we will count your nursing courses for credit to cover the outstanding value. This will happen in your first semester once you're enrolled.

The USF Health Immunization Form from Student Health Services is not the same as the Castle Branch Profile immunization requirements and cannot be used in-lieu of completing the Castle Branch immunization requirements.

• The USF Health Immunization Form is required ONLY if you plan on attending on-campus courses for any required general education courses, Foreign Language, or State Mandated requirements.

• The hold for the USF Health Immunization Form will always show on your student account unless you complete the above form. If you choose to only take online courses, this hold should never prevent you from registering for your courses.

• If you plan to take on-campus classes, the form must be completed by a licensed ARNP or Physician. Office stamps and/or additional attached documentation will not be accepted in lieu of a Provider’s signature and license number. Immunization records, along with your signed USF Medical History form, can be scanned and submitted electronically on the Student Health Services website - https://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/immunizations/

Log into OASIS to view your Financial Aid information. Be sure to note your credit limit (if applicable). If you have any questions regarding your account, please schedule with the USF Health Office of Financial Aid by using Archivum.

Once you have completed the steps in Section I and received email notification that the holds have been removed from your account, you are able to register for your courses.

If you are seeking tuition reimbursement though your employer be sure to confirm policies and requirements prior to registration!

To register:

• Please review the Planner tab in DegreeWorks to confirm your Semester one Nursing courses

• To find the CRN, use the "Student Schedule Search" accessible via OASIS. Please watch these video tutorials: https://www.usf.edu/registrar/register/index.aspx 

• Here is a quick guide for registration: 

There will be a $100 late fee if you register after Friday, August 19. For more information please view the fee information HERE

All new USF students should obtain a USF Photo ID before the start of the Fall 2022  semester.

You will need $10.00 (cash or check), a photo ID, and your USF ID number.
You can order online via their website here HERE or visit their office on campus.

• Student Service Building (SVC) Room 1032.

• Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm 

• For more information, call 813-974-2357. 

RN-BSN students are required to complete the HIPAA certification before August 22, 2022. 

• Please note: if you previously completed a HIPAA certification through your employer, this can be used in-lieu of completing the certification below. Please make sure you upload to your Castle Branch Account. 

  • Access the website https://portal.castlebranch.com/ud98

  • Please select UF17hipaa:HIPAA eLearning Tracker

  • After you have completed HIPAA training, be sure to print a copy of your certificate as this must be uploaded to your Castle Branch Account.

  • NOTE: Please disable any pop-up blockers before attempting the modules. In addition, make sure to follow all on-screen instructions when exiting the modules. Incorrectly exiting the modules may result in not receiving full completion credit for your attempt. For additional assistance, please contact the Service Desk at 888-723-4263 or visit https://mycb.castlebranch.com/help for further information.

All students must complete the infection control training by August 22, 2022 because it is a requirement for your Castle Branch.

Please complete the following COVID-19 modules/courses (2 total).

NCSBN--2 modules

You will need to register for the modules.  They are free.  Your confirmation email will come from "Canvas Catalog" and it will ask you to confirm your address for "ICRS Connections Catalog".  It will ask you to create a password and then push you to a Canvas platform.  This is not the USF Canvas platform.  Once you are "enrolled" in one course, you can click the link to the other course and "enroll" to have it added to your dashboard.  

Once you have completed both modules, click on the "badges" link.  Click on each "badge" on the button "view details" (only appears if you hover the mouse over the badge).   Do NOT click download.  Take a screen shot or picture of the window that pops up when you click "view details" that has the completion date and your email address for verification.  Please submit that screen shot in your Castle Branch.  

Module 1

COVID-19: Epidemiology, Modes of Transmission and Protecting Yourself with PPE (Links to an external site.)

Module 2

COVID-19: Nursing Care

For assistance, please contact the USF College of Nursing Student Academic Compliance Officer Mr. Shawn Afflick (safflick@usf.edu)

Textbooks for online classes may be purchased through the USF Bookstore in three different ways:

• Visit the USF Bookstore in-person

• Call (813) 974-4984 to place your order

• Go to the website - https://www.bkstr.com/usftampastore/shop/textbooks-and-course-materials

• Instructions on how to identify your course textbooks for the College of Nursing:

  • Go to the website - https://www.bkstr.com/usftampastore/shop/textbooks-and-course-materials

  • Option 1: You may find the books you need with your 8-digit Student ID #

  • Option 2:  Click on "Enter Courses", select "USF Tampa" as your program and the term from the drop-down menu. Then, select NUR for department, course number and section number to view and and add your selection to the cart. 

    • If you do not know certain details of your course (number or section) use your registration info from OASIS

  • *If no textbooks are listed, it may mean that your instructor has not yet added them. Contact your instructor for more information.

The RN-BSN program courses are 100% online and require daily access to the online classroom (Canvas) and email. 

All USF College of Nursing students are required to have a laptop/notebook computer with wireless internet connection. Students are also required to have a compatible webcam and microphone. The webcam and microphone should either be built into your notebook or be a portable model. Specific information on requirements can be found here. Students in all nursing courses are expected to meet these requirements to successfully participate in their courses. Failure to meet these technology standards may result in inability to complete course or program requirements. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all requirements are met prior to the start of the semester. The USF Computer Store offers laptop "bundles" and discounted software for registered students. For more information, visit http://www.computerstore.usf.edu.

Additionally, as a Baccalaureate program, the RN-BSN program will expect a certain level of scholarly writing. Review the following documents to help prepare for and understand the program’s requirements:

• Writing Expectations

• Campus Resources

The following link will help you to navigate and to better understand CANVAS, USF’s online portal for classes.

• Click here for the tutorials

Canvas has a mobile app for your tablet and phone! Follow the link below for download instructions!

• https://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/nursingnews/canvas-has-a-mobile-app/

Learn more about the College of Nursing, our academic policies, and our student resources by reading the College of Nursing Handbook found here. 

Your courses have a mandatory first day check in online on August 22!  If you do not log in to your courses and complete any required assignments by the deadline, you will be dropped from your course(s).

Tuition is due at the end of the first week of classes (August 26th).

• VISA is not accepted by the Cashier’s Office for tuition payments

• If you are seeking tuition reimbursement though your employer be sure to confirm policies and requirements prior to registration

You have until Friday, August 26th at 5pm of the first week of the semester to make modifications to your schedule (add/drop) with no academic or financial penalty.

Advisors cannot assist with any difficulties if they are not made aware of the problems. Please communicate any difficulties during the registration process with your advisor(s).

• Check the Canvas RN Academic Advising message board for important deadlines and scholarship information

• Check USF email DAILY and link to your smart phone

• Archivum Appointments: Phone or In Person appointments can be made through USF's online appointment scheduler -  Archivum

Once your final grades have posted and/or your degree has been awarded at your current institution in Summer 2021, please do not forget to send an official transcript to USF Office of Admissions. If the Office of Admissions does not receive your final transcripts they can place a hold on your account which will prevent you from registering for future courses.