College of NursingRN-BSN Clinical Passport Requirements

RN-BSN Clinical Passport Requirements

Below is a list of RN-BSN programmatic requirements for newly admitted students.

Newly admitted students will receive detailed information regarding requirements complete with instructions and deadlines. A more general list of requirements is below. Please use this as a basic preparation list of what you will need.

Clinical site placement requirements vary and may include vaccinations or screenings not required by WSU Human Health Sciences and/or its programs. College of Nursing staff will inform you if a site requires additional requirements beyond those of WSU Human Health Sciences and College of Nursing requirements. Clinical training sites may deny students who do not meet their requirements. Failure to comply with clinical site vaccination and health screening requirements may result in an inability to progress in the curriculum. 

To request a medical exemption for WSU Human Health Sciences and College of Nursing requirements, please contact nursing.clinicalaffairs@wsu.edu. Even with an approved medical exemption or accommodation from WSU, students may still need to obtain approval from a clinical training site to participate in clinical experiences.

Clinical training sites previously accepting medical exemptions may discontinue this practice or add specific booster requirements. Facilities have the right to change requirements at will at any time.

CastleBranch and Cougar Health Services

Requirement: The College of Nursing partners with CastleBranch and WSU Cougar Health Services to track your immunizations and other required information. You will receive detailed information about both systems from your advisor and from Cougar Health.

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WA State or Out-of-State RN Licensure

  • Requirement: Per WAC 246-840-522, all students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in each state or United States territory where practice or clinical experiences occur. The RN-BSN program requires a current, unencumbered RN license in Washington or Oregon.
  • Proof can be obtained for WA licensure at Provider Credential Search. License must have a valid expiration date on the document. A CE (Continuing Education) date does not replace an expiration date.
  • Documentation: Enter date of renewal and upload copy of licensure from Department of Health website to CastleBranch.

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Background Checks

National Background Check (RCW 43.43)

  • Requirement: A national background check is required upon admission and is included in the initial purchase of the CastleBranch immunization tracker.
    • CastleBranch will submit your National Background Check for you. No further action is required.
    • Page five of the National Background Check is your initial WSP/WATCH report. In your CastleBranch Documents tab, the PDF of your National Background check is available.

Annual Background Check – Annual WSP/WATCH (RCW 43.43)

  • Requirement: WSP/WATCH background checks are required annually. To purchase the annual WATCH background check for $11, access the WSP/WATCH website.
  • Report: Log in to your WSP account to locate your finalized report. Save to your computer/device.
  • Documentation: Enter the date of background check and submit the documentation of results to CastleBranch.

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Required Forms

Criminal History Disclosure Form

  • Requirement:  Washington State Law RCW 43.43 requires that a disclosure statement must be made by applicants to clinical/internships sites concerning certain civil adjudications, conviction records of crimes against persons, and disciplinary board final decisions. Students may not be eligible for licensure in the state of Washington they have certain criminal convictions or other adjudications on their record. Further, because of requirements for clinical placements and internships, certain criminal convictions or other adjudications on student records, it may not be able to complete the degree, regardless of whether admitted to the program.
  • Documentation: Sign and date the Criminal History Disclosure Form (PDF). Upload completed form annually to CastleBranch.

Liability Insurance Form

All clinical agencies require nursing students to have professional liability insurance to perform internships at their facilities. The University provides a Student Allied Health Intern Liability Insurance policy to purchase for each academic year for $15.00. A liability insurance policy must be kept in effect continually while enrolled in the program.

  • The process to procure insurance coverage is through the TouchNet Marketplace Store.
  • When purchasing, please enter the first day of the month your first term begins when filling out the effective date field. This ensures you will be covered the entire academic year.
  • After purchase, your receipt will be emailed to you and is your proof of purchase. When you receive the receipt, please upload it to CastleBranch.
  • If students elect not to purchase a WSU Liability Insurance policy, they must provide proof that they are insured by another carrier. The coverage caps required by WSU are $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate.
  • If you have questions, please reach out to your campus clinical onboarding coordinator.
  • Effective March 31, 2023, no other forms of payments which have previously been used will be accepted. This includes any web-based credit card payment processes and the PDF paper form.

Student Authorization to Release Information to Clinical Agencies

Student Media Release

  • Requirement: Sign and date Student Media Consent Form. Students are not required to give permission but are required to complete the form indicating their preference.
  • Documentation: Submit completed form to CastleBranch.

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Immunizations/TB Testing

All immunizations require vaccine dates and official documentation from healthcare provider or immunization registry showing proof of vaccination and/or titer as required by each vaccine category. Certificate of immunization forms (tri-fold cards) completed by parents for K-12 school enrollment do not meet requirements.

Submit Hep B, Measles, Tdap, Varicella and TB documentation via Cougar Health Service and submit proof of current flu vaccine to CastleBranch.

  • Hepatitis B – Completion of Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccination series and a positive titer at least 6-8 weeks after completion of series is recommended. If Hep B titer is negative, students can get a challenge dose (#4) followed by another titer 6-8 weeks later. For the titer, proof of Hep B surface antibody (Hep B surface antibody or HBsAb) test result must be provided (not Hep B surface antigen (HBsAg) or Hep B Core Titer, which tests for active infection). Positive titer alone or with challenge dose record is acceptable if full Hep B vaccination records cannot be located.
  • Influenza – Vaccine required by October 1 annually. Documentation of a flu vaccine administered during the current flu season (August – May).
  • Measles (MMR) -Completion of 2 MMR vaccine series at appropriate interval OR positive titer to all three components of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).
  • Tdap – One time immunization with Td booster every 10 years.
  • Varicella – Completion of two-dose series at appropriate interval OR submit a positive titer.
  • Tuberculosis – Documentation of an initial two-step Tuberculin skin test (TST) upon admission. Alternatively, a negative IGRA (T-Spot or QuantiFERON blood test) is acceptable in lieu of a two-step TST.
    • For a two-step TST, the student first receives an initial PPD injection, followed by a reading 48-72 hours after the injection. Between 7-21 days after the first skin test injection, the student receives a second PPD injection, followed by a reading 48-72 hours after second injection. Documentation must show the dates of both injections and both test readings, indicating the correct interval of 7-21 days between the two TST’s.
    • If newly positive TST or TB IGRA results, students must follow up with healthcare provider (chest X-ray, and possible treatment documentation of absence of active TB disease) and complete the TB Surveillance for Individual with a Significant TB Skin Test form.
    • If history of a positive TST, provide documentation of the initial positive TST reading, chest X-ray documenting absence of TB, medical treatment (if any), and the TB Surveillance for Individual with a Significant TB Skin Test form (PDF).
    • Annually thereafter, you will answer 5 qualifying questions. Based on those responses the requirement will be met, or you will be advised on further actions.

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Medical Exemptions

Students who would like to request an exemption for Hep B, Measles, Tdap, Varicella or TB should refer to Cougar Health Services for directions, and students seeking an exemption for flu (medical only) should refer to Executive Policy 43 and/or the WSU Health Sciences Vaccination and Health Screening Admissions Policy and contact nursing.clinicalaffairs@wsu.edu as soon as possible.

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Other Important Information About Compliance Requirements

IMPORTANT

Allowing requirements to expire will result in a registration hold, a delay or cessation of rotations, inability to count hours for the course, and/or a Performance Improvement Plan.

WSU Staff are available to assist students with CastleBranch support or requirements.

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