October 31, 2024

CastleBranch Account Setup & Background Check

The College of Nursing has contracted with CastleBranch as a repository for all required documentation related to being a health science student at the College of Nursing. 

Go to https://login.castlebranch.com/login .  Click on the blue box that says “Place Order”, put in “UC19dec” for the package code and click on the blue Submit button.  Complete Personal Information and Personal identifiers.  At Student Information, put “Graduating Dec 2026” for Classification.  There will be a one-time charge of $110.75. 

The form you are filling out is a release of information to process a background check.  See “How to place an order, Background Check and Iowa Abuse Registry” for more detail.

CastleBranch Resources:

While logged into your myCB account, you can click on the “Need Help?” menu on the top right side of your homepage and get help in a variety of ways: Video FAQ Library, call-in service desk and live chat. 

Place an order for your CastleBranch account.

Package Code: UC19dec

Classification: Graduating Dec 2026

October 31, 2024

Iowa Child and Adult Abuse Registry

Login to your CastleBranch account.  Go to “To-Do lists” and click Iowa Child and Adult Abuse Registry.  Download Iowa Child and Adult Abuse Registry PDF from CastleBranch.  Complete the release form electronically or manually and submit it to CastleBranch.   

See “How to place an order, Background Check and Iowa Abuse Registry” for more detail.

NOTE: If the maiden/alias field does not apply to you, please put “N/A”.

If you don’t have middle name(s), please put “N/A” or “NMN”, such as “Doe, John, N/A”, in the Name field.

Complete the release form and submit it to CastleBranch.

November 13, 2024

Uniform and Equipment Order

Student Nurse Association at the University of Iowa (SANUI) will organize a Uniform and Equipment Event.

Representatives from SNAUI will reach out for the event date, time and location. 

December 31, 2024

Immunizations and Health Screening

Please provide documentation that you have had the following immunizations:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) - Proof of two vaccines or positive antibody titer for all 3 components required. 
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) –Proof of two vaccines, OR positive antibody titer required.   History of disease is not accepted.
• Hepatitis B –UI CON is unique in requiring a titer (blood test) in addition to the vaccination series. You must have documentation of one of the following: 
• Series of 3 vaccinations and a positive antibody titer OR  
• 2 Heplisav vaccinations and a positive antibody titer 

If your Hepatitis B titer is negative, repeat the series followed by a second titer.   

• TB (Tuberculosis) Skin Test (TST):  
• A two-step TB skin test (TST) or  
• the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) (blood test) for TB antibodies.

See more at Two-Step TST Protocol .
Note: A one-step TB skin test will be due annually. 

• Tetanus – 1 Td (tetanus/diphtheria) at least every 10 years. You must have documentation of 1 Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine.
• Influenza Vaccine: Must be completed after August 31, 2024 and prior to January 3, 2025. 

Note: flu shot will be due annually.

• Health Screening Form signed by a healthcare provider.

Documentation must be provided to CastleBranch and to the University of Iowa Student Health. 

Upload your medical records for each immunization to your CastleBranch account in the designated areas. 

and

Submit your medical records to Student Health.    Visit this link, https://studenthealth.uiowa.edu/especially/health-science-students 

Once you have uploaded/submitted your documentation to both CastleBranch and Student Health, you need to check within 3-5 days to make sure your documents have been received and accepted. If not, please contact CastleBranch or Student Health.

CastleBranch Customer Service: 888-723-4263

UI Student Health: https://studenthealth.uiowa.edu/ 

Do not wait until the last minute to gather your documentation for the immunizations, as documentation could be delayed if you need to schedule additional testing, delay in obtaining results, etc. Start now!

December 31, 2024

Code Ethics / Behavior Confirmation

Confirms you have read and understand policies/regulations concerning academic and professional behavior as a nursing student at the University of Iowa, as well as the behavior code of ethics for the nursing profession.

Form is located in your Document Manager.

Download form, access web sites, read, sign and upload to your My CB account.

December 31, 2024

Declaration of Patient Information Confidentiality Form

During your experience at the College of Nursing you will encounter confidential patient situations and information.   It is your ethical and legal duty to maintain that confidentiality & you must sign off on that obligation.

Form is located in your Document Manager.

Download form, read, sign and upload to your My CB account.

December 31, 2024

NSNA Membership Authorization Form

As a BSN student in the College of Nursing, you will be a member of the National Student Nurses Association.  This form with your signature is required in order to proceed with your membership. 

Form is located in your Document Manager.

Download form, read, sign and upload form to your My CB account.

December 31, 2024

Indiana Plagiarism Module

To uphold the importance of academic and professional integrity of our Iowa nurses, all nursing students must complete the following plagiarism compliance course: https://plagiarism.iu.edu/

When you have finished this module you will receive a confirmation certificate which you will need to print and sign.

Upload your signed confirmation certificate to your My CB account.

December 31, 2024

Mandatory Reporter Training

Follow the instructions at the Iowa DHS site linked below to create an account or log in to your current account if you’ve created one in the past. 

https://lsglm700.learnsoft.com/lsglm/login/iowalogindhs.aspx 

Complete the following courses (anticipate 2 hours for each course) and upload the certificates to CastleBranch following completion: 

• Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training DS 168 or recertification course DS 170
• Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training DS 169 or recertification course DS 171

Create an Iowa DHS account. Complete two courses: DS 168 & DS 169, or, if you previously completed the full 2 hour courses & your current certification has not expired, you must complete the 1 hour recertification courses: DS 170 & DS 171.  Upload Certificate of Completion for each course to your CastleBranch account. 

December 31, 2024

Complete UIHC Compliance Training Course 

All Nursing students are required to complete Compliance Training required by the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.  Login to Compliance and Qualifications using your HawkID and password and complete the following courses:

• H00373 | Cultural Diversity and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan 
• H00403 | New Hire Orientation
• H00446 | Domestic Violence
• H00448 | Patient and Staff Rights and Responsibilities
• H00462 | Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation
• H02037 or H02038 | Hospital Safety & Infection Control (if you work at UIHC, you will complete H02038
• H02061 | Nova Meter |Blood Glucose
• H01731 | UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Orientation
• H01897 | Annual Combined HIPAA/Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Training

Complete all training modules.  Select My Training > My Courses > Past Courses.   Select the Records per Page to “Show All”.  Convert the page to a PDF or take a screenshot and upload to CastleBranch.     

Your name and the completion dates of all courses are needed for approval.

December 31, 2024

Personal Health Insurance

All students in the College of Nursing are required to maintain personal healthcare insurance (or an equivalent alternative care plan) sufficient to satisfy minimum standards of coverage.  If you have personal healthcare insurance, you will need to submit a Proof of Coverage.   If you wish to purchase health insurance, you can do this also.  Both processes are completed on MyUI. 

If you do not have health insurance coverage or you do not provide proof of coverage then you will be charged a fee for a Student Health Insurance Policy (SHIP) on your U-Bill each month. This fee is nonrefundable.

Information about SHIP insurance can be found at:

http://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits/health-insurance-graduate-students

Log into MyUI.

1. Select Student Information
2. Select Student Insurance from the Student Life Management Section
3. Select “Start Student Insurance Process”

January 16, 2025

CPR Certification

CPR is required for all students.   CPR must be completed after December 1, 2024 in order to be valid.  We have arranged with the Emergency Medical Learning Resource Center (EMSLRC) at UIHC to have training available for you on January 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th prior to the start of classes. Training cost has historically been $65.00.  Participating in this training will ensure that you are compliant with CPR for your entire two years of study in the nursing major.  

LINK TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT:  See the table below

Questions should be directed to the EMSLRC via email at EMSLRC@uiowa.edu

If you choose to go elsewhere for your CPR certification, the course must be done face-to-face and completed after December 1, 2024 to be valid:

·        For the American Heart Association, the course is called BLS for the Healthcare Provider **

·        For the American Red Cross, the course is called BLS for Healthcare Providers **

Upload your CPR certificate to your My CB account.

**The Red Watch Band program DOES NOT meet College of Nursing requirements.

**CPR training done must be face-to-face – online modules are not accepted.

January 17, 2025

Nursing Orientation/White Coat Ceremony

Orientation is mandatory and will take place at the College of Nursing. 

Location: University of Iowa College of Nursing

White Coat Ceremony will be held after orientation.

Location: TBD

Save the date for orientation.

This is not a requirement by the college but it may be requested by a clinical agency.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status

Students will provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination status, religious or medical exemption directly to clinical agencies upon request.  The College of Nursing Clinical Program Coordinators, Angela Melsa Worrell and Laura Goddard will assist students in identifying the clinical agencies point of contact for submitting the requested documentation.

August 20, 2025

UIHC Epic Training (Online)

You will receive an invitation email for the UIHC Epic online training the beginning of August 2025.  Please click the link in the email and follow instructions to complete the training.

Expect to receive an email and complete the training by the due date.

August 26, 2025

N95 Mask Fit Testing

This is an annual requirement for labs and clinical placements.  Please upload your N95 mask fit testing pocket card or documentation that includes your mask type and size to your CastleBranch account.  Mask Fit Test must be completed after December 15, 2024.

You may upload the fit test document you receive from your employer if the test is completed after 12/15/2024.  Cost of testing will be relatively inexpensive.  Student Health is another option to complete the fit test but it will be more expensive. 

Representatives from SNAUI will reach out to students at the beginning of the second semester for the fit testing date, time and location.  Once you complete the fit test, upload your pocket card or documentation to your My CB Account.

*CAPRs do not meet this requirement.