College of NursingGraduate Passport Requirements

Graduate Passport Requirements

Below is a list of MN, DNP, and certificate programmatic requirements for newly admitted students.

If you have questions about any of the requirements, please contact the following:

The College of Nursing calls the combination of proof of licensure, immunizations, required trainings, and certifications (e.g., CPR) the “Clinical Passport.” This combination of requirements is part of our contractual agreement with agencies and therefore is a clinical requirement for every student. 

WSU Health Sciences requires specific vaccinations to participate in required clinical learning experiences listed in the WSU Human Health Sciences Immunization Requirements policy. The only exemption to the required vaccinations is for students that have a legitimate medical condition that make vaccination medically contraindicated.

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 Account

  • Requirement: The College of Nursing partners with CastleBranch to track your immunizations/tests and other required information needed for the College of Nursing compliance.

WA State or Out-of-State RN Licensure

  • Requirement: All MN and DNP students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in Washington, Idaho (Spokane campus only), or Oregon (Vancouver campus only). Multistate RN licenses will meet this requirement, provided that Washington is included in that agreement. Students are encouraged to obtain RN licensure in Washington State to ensure timely access to clinical placement opportunities, particularly for those living near the state border. For non-resident students, we will seek clinical placements in your home state first; however, if appropriate placements cannot be secured, you will be required to obtain a Washington State RN license. Failure or refusal to do so may result in delays in program progression if no suitable clinical placement is available.
  • 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.

Background Checks

National Background Check (RCW 43.43)

  • Requirement: A national background check screen 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

Student Media Release

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

Student Authorization to Release Information to Clinical Agencies

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.
  • In the form itself, you will be provided a specific date to type in your onboarding packetas the effective date. This ensures you will be covered the entire 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 WSU Liability Insurance, 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.

Criminal History Disclosure Form

  1. Documentation: Sign and date the Criminal History Disclosure Form (PDF).
  2. Upload completed form annually CastleBranch.

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.

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Training

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

  • Requirement: The College of Nursing requires all graduate students to complete four CITI training courses. For information regarding these trainings, please access the CITI training site.
  • Please access instructions to register for a CITI account (PDF) through Washington State University. If you already have a CITI account through the university, these instructions will also direct you on how to enroll in the below four courses.
    • Human Subjects Research (HSR) training course.
    • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training course.
    • Conflict of Interest (COI) training course.
    • HIPAA (Annual expiration date) training course.
    • For both the HSR and RCR trainings, students will select between “Social/Behavioral Research” course or the “Biomedical” course depending on their area of research. For DNP and MN students, choose Social/Behavioral Research. For PhD students, please contact your advisor if you need assistance determining which course to take.
  • Documentation: Enter the completion date of each course and upload the certificates of completion to CastleBranch.

BLS / CPR

  • Requirement: BLS Provider card from the American Heart Association (AHA) only. Any course other than BLS Provider does not meet this requirement (e.g. AHA Heartsaver CPR, ACLS Provider Card, RQI CPR & First Aid). The BLS Provider course must be renewed every two years with no lapse in certification.
  • Documentation: Enter the expiration date and upload the BLS Provider card to CastleBranch.

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Immunizations/TB Testing

All immunizations require vaccine dates and official documentation from health care 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 all documents to CastleBranch as required for compliance.

  • 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 a medical exemption for any immunizations required by Executive Policy 43 and/or the WSU Health Sciences Vaccination and Health Screening Admissions Policy must contact nursing.clinicalaffairs@wsu.edu as soon as possible. The process to acquire a medical exemption may take some time and students will want to start the process immediately.  

Urine Drug Screen

Some health care partner facilities require students passing a urine drug screen prior finalizing placements at their facility. You will be notified if you will need to complete a urine drug screen through CastleBranch: Washington State University (castlebranch.com)

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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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