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Disclaimer

When preferencing is submitted, students are not guaranteed a specific weekend or clinical site as scheduling is based on availability at the time a student becomes compliant with site-specific requirements. Students will be linked to an available clinical site under a general “clearance request.” This means that when students complete preferencing, they are linked to a site for the intended term, not a specific weekend. When students have completed their paperwork, they will be assigned a week based on availability at that time and will be notified of the dates via eValue. If there is a specific weekend you would prefer or have a scheduling conflict with, there is a notes section to indicate what weekend you would like and why when you submit preferencing. The Clinical Practice Experience Team will do their best to accommodate scheduling requests whenever possible.

It is not recommended that students book any flights or hotel accommodations or make work arrangements until they are cleared and receive their final schedule.

Please note that submitting preferencing does not automatically schedule a student for a clinical practice experience or guarantee them a spot at a clinical site as documentation requirements must also be met. Scheduling is subject to availability at the time you become compliant with all required documentation. You must be cleared by the Clinical Practice Experience team before your advisor can give you course approval for either clinical course.

Clinical Practice Experience Handbook (PDF)

Please note: Identification badges are available for purchase at:
https://excelsior.lonestarbadge.com

National Level Criminal Background Check for Nursing

Students entering the clinical practicums are required* to obtain a criminal background check and submit the results to the School of Nursing. The School of Nursing will provide written verification for all students who have been successfully cleared by a criminal background check to the clinical agency. Misdemeanor or felony convictions could jeopardize a student’s ability to be placed at a clinical site.

• The background check must be no more than 2 years old
• Students who had a background check more than 2 years ago will have to complete another background check
• Some clinical testing locations may require specific background checks and/or drug screening.

Ordering Your Background Check

Purchase your background check through Castlebranch.com and upload the results electronically to eValue.

• Go to Castlebranch.com (Links to an external site.) and select “Place Order”
• On the next screen click on “Please Select” to see the full menu
• Select the appropriate Package (see Costs and Package Codes below)
• Click the red confirmation box at the bottom of the page, click to continue
• Affirm you’ve read the terms and conditions and click continue
• Enter personal information and payment method

Once your order is submitted, the results will be available in approximately 48-72 hours. You will receive a password via email to view the results on their secure website. Download and then upload your results electronically to eValue.

Costs and Package Codes

For submission for your clinical practicum requirements, the cost is $12 and the Package code is XC39A. Background checks may be no older than 2 years. Background checks older than 2 years will need to be updated with Castlebranch.

Certain testing locations may require additional background checks, drug testing, or fingerprinting at the time of scheduling. You are responsible for these costs. Additional costs are listed in eValue.

The Joint Commission (TJC) Standard HR.1.20 states, “for staff, students, and volunteers who work in the same capacity as staff who provide care, treatment, and services…criminal background checks are verified when required by law and regulation and organizational policy.” It further states that “The student’s educational institutions must certify that there is nothing in the student’s background which would render him/her unsuitable for an assignment in a health care setting.” A felony conviction may disqualify a student from clinical placement.

The physical exam form in this packet is required. No other documentation of a physical examination will be accepted. The physical exam form must be filled out by a Health Care Provider, in all areas (student name and ID at the top of the form are the only exception) and signed by a Health Care Provider (Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant). The physical examination must be within 12 months of the last day of the term for which you are seeking clearance. Please submit lab results, and/or vaccination records as supporting documentation for immunizations. Laboratory results with numeric lab values and reference ranges are required for all titers read. Titers that are in negative or equivocal range will require additional documentation showing a booster vaccine has been received. The Clinical Practice Experience Health Status Attestation on page 4 of this packet must be signed by the student and uploaded along with your physical examination form.

N95 fit testing is often provided at places that conduct occupational medicine services. Additionally, some urgent care centers provide fit testing services. This requirement is dependent on your assigned clinical site – please see the eValue Home Page for further information prior to having a fit test completed.