DRAFT - Master of Science in Nursing Admitted Student Packet Fall 2023

All students entering the USF College of Nursing are required to open a CastleBranch profile online. This profile must always be kept current to remain in compliance with the College of Nursing and clinical facilities. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

• You will purchase CastleBranch using an in-state or out-of-state package code. 
  • If you are an admitted Masters of Science in Nursing student residing in the state of Florida at the time you are completing Castle Branch, use code UE02
    
  • If you are an admitted Masters of Science in Nursing student residing outside of the state of Florida at the time you are completing Castle Branch, use code UE02osfp
  • If you are an admitted Doctor of Nursing Practice student residing in the state of Florida at the time you are completing Castle Branch, use code UE05
  • If you are an admitted Doctor of Nursing Practice student residing outside of the state of Florida at the time you are completing Castle Branch, use code UE05osfp
  • Important: out-of-state is considering where you are physically residing at the time you purchase CastleBranch and not your state of residence.  If you are currently residing out-of-state, you must purchase with the out-of-state code.
• Once purchased you will receive instructions from CastleBranch within 48 hours.

For technical questions regarding your package order, please contact Castle Branch at 1-888-666-7788.  For other questions, please contact the USF College of Nursing compliance officer, Shawn Afflick, at con-compliance@usf.edu

Please note: If you are a student from another university who previously used CastleBranch, you are required to create a new account under the USF code.

You must complete your background check, drug test, and fingerprints immediately upon being admitted to the College of Nursing.  You must meet the deadline given in your onboarding email or you admission may be rescinded.  All other CastleBranch requirements must be completed by the first day of the semester.

• There is no additional cost for the fingerprint. The cost was included in the purchase of your Castle Branch account.  You should be able to complete the process in two days.
• The urine drug test must be completed within 72 hours after receiving your instructions.
• If the drug test is not completed within 72 hours of purchase, an additional cost will be required as the drug test package will need to be re-purchased.

Please refer to the Guide to Castle Branch (click to open) for complete instructions on completing all CastleBranch requirements. 

IMPORTANT: If you have an item that is rejected by Castle Branch, please read their comments on why it was rejected and how to correct.

Per USF Policy 33-002, it is mandatory for USF students to submit all required immunization documentation and sign the official Medical History Form prior to course registration. A hold preventing registration in hybrid and in-person classes will remain on your account until you have fulfilled the following requirements. This hold will not restrict registration in fully online classes.  Therefore, it is recommended you register for your online classes as soon as possible and, if applicable, go back and register for any hybrid or in-person classes you have once the IM hold is removed. 

Please Note: this is a USF requirement to be completed through Student Health Services before you can register for classes. This process is separate from the College of Nursing's CastleBranch requirements.

For questions on this process, please contact Student Health Services at 813-974-4056.

1. Medical History Form (Required):
   • Sign form electronically through OASIS or MyBullsPath

   • -or- Download and sign the Medical History form. (Please note: if student is under 18, Legal Guardian signature required also on print form)

2. Measles & Rubella Immunity (Required):

   • Submit proof of 2 MMRs given after 1st birthday, or

   • IgG quantitative lab report (performed within last 5 years). Lab report must include result and reference range.

3. Hepatitis B Immunity (Recommended): 

   • Submit proof of immunity to Hepatitis B by providing 3 vaccine dates or

   • Quantitative lab report  or

   • Waive this recommended vaccine through your student OASIS or MyBullsPath account (for Tip Sheet: click here) or on the USF Medical History form.

   • For important information on Hepatitis B from the CDC click click here
4. Meningitis Immunity (Recommended):  

   • Submit proof of Meningitis vaccination administered after 16th birthday or 

   • Waive this recommended vaccine through your student OASIS account or MyBullsPath (for Tip Sheet: click here) or on the USF Medical History form.

   • For important information on Meningitis from the CDC click click here
5. TB Screening: Per USF Policy 33-003, Tuberculosis Screening required for all students who use an international address at the time of application. Screening must be done within 6 months prior to the 1st semester you physically attend classes on any of the USF campuses. See this example of Tuberculosis screening document.

Click here to review an Immunization Guide. 

If you are missing any vaccine and/or labs, please contact your current healthcare provider or schedule an Immunization Compliance Appointment by clicking here. 

For an exemption request, please contact Student Health Service office directly.  

You were given an academic program plan in the email offering you admission to the USF College of Nursing.  You will use that academic plan as a guide to register in your courses throughout the program. Failure to adhere to the program plan can delay your graduation date.

• Review the How to Check Registration Time & Holds document to understand your registration date and times, as well as what holds you may have on your account.   
• You can view registration holds in your MyUSF: OASIS; Student; Student Records; View Holds. Only the office that placed the hold on your account is authorized to remove the hold. Therefore, if you have questions regarding how to remove a hold, please directly contact the office that placed a hold.
• Review the Course Registration Module to learn how to search for course sections, identify the Course Registration Number (CRN) and instructions on how to register for courses in OASIS using the CRN.  

Registration Tips: CHECK WITH DR BRICKER

• If you receive a "Field of Study Restriction" error when trying to register, make sure the CRN corresponds to your concentration.  You can click on the CRN to review concentration restrictions.
• Classes with meeting times marked "N/A" or "TBA" are online classes.  There will be no future meeting times announced.
• If a class has a specific meeting day and time (i.e. Mondays from 3pm-5pm), you will be need to be available during that time for in-person or synchronous learning. Generally, students can expect to be on-campus one day a month.  Please refer to class syllabi for in-person/on-campus requirements.
• If you have a university/Student Health Services Immunization (IM) hold, it will prohibit you from registering in hybrid and in-person classes.  You can still register in online classes with the hold.  Therefore, it is recommended you register for your online classes as soon as possible and, if applicable, go back and register for any hybrid or in-person classes you have once the IM hold is removed.

Residency Classifications

Initial Classification

When you apply to the university, your initial residency classification is determined by the Office of Admissions based on information you provide with your application.

The classification is based on the information you provide on your application. Failure to provide all relevant information, including copies of required documents, may lead to an initial classification as an "out-of-state" resident.

It is your responsibility to check your residency classification when you are admitted to the University of South Florida.

If you feel your initial classification is in error, you have until the last day of the term of admission to contact the appropriate admissions office and request re-evaluation. Once you have completed your first term, you may only request reclassification for future terms.

Reclassification

A Request for Reclassification and additional documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the fifth day of the first week of the semester for which reclassification is sought. There are no exceptions to this deadline. Requests received after the published deadline will be considered for a future term only, and tuition will be assessed at the non-resident rate for that term. Please note, until a decision has been made on your request, you should consider yourself a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes. It is your responsibility to adhere to all fee payment deadlines for the term. If you are approved for in-state residency after payment is made, you will be refunded the out-of-state portion of your fees.

If you are submitting a Request for Reclassification for Summer term you must do so by the deadline specified, regardless of when your classes begin. The domicile year for which your request is evaluated is also the same and not depending on your summer class schedule.

If you have questions or concerns about your particular circumstances, please email the Office of the Registrar.

We are very excited for you to start your nursing journey with us and officially welcome you at the Graduate Nursing Mandatory Orientation on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 1pm-5pm EST via Microsoft Teams. The Graduate Nursing Mandatory Orientation is for admitted students only and there is no room for guests.

The College of Nursing's Orientation is mandatory.

If you are an out-of-state student finding it difficult to attend in-person, please contact XXXX, Academic Services Administrator/Academic Advisor, at XXXEMAILXXX to request the option of attending virtually.

The Office of Admissions has an Admitted Graduate Student Checklist to assist with your transition to the University.  You will learn how to activate your Net ID, access your USF email, and more!