After admission and acceptance, the following steps must be completed and satisfied as noted prior to registration and enrollment in NUR courses. A student may register and enroll in a non-nursing course while completing these steps. All forms can be found on the Nursing Next Steps website. Please contact your admissions counselor with any questions admissions@csp.edu. Please complete the following: Establish an individual CertifiedProfile account o Go to http://csp.certifiedbackground.com/ and begin to fulfill the requirements that need to be documented on your CertifiedProfile account (Requirements are dependent upon your state of residence and state of the practice experience requirements). Background study per state o Obtain documentation on your CertifiedProfile account that you have a clear criminal background check. MN RNs upload the MN DHS Background study results Follow instructions in CertifiedProfile. MN RNs upload the MN DHS Background study results (clear/blue) received by mail to your CertifiedProfile. This process may take up to 4-10 weeks. In addition, Minnesota requires a clear DHS Background Study (the required form for Minnesota is in Section V) for RNs with Practice Experiences in Minnesota. MN RNs - print the form, complete, and mail via US Mail to: Sara Mulso, Concordia University Saint Paul, 1282 Concordia Avenue, St Paul, MN 55104 -OR- Secure Fax to: Sara Mulso, 651-641-8782. Drug testing or fingerprinting o As required by state or clinical site. Follow instructions in CertifiedProfile. Practice experience release of information (ROI) Authorization o Upload signed and dated ROI form to your CertifiedProfile account. HIPPAA Acknowledgement Form o Upload signed and dated ROI form to your CertifiedProfile account. Evidence of Negative Tuberculosis Status o Upload one of the following to your CertifiedProfile account: Evidence of negative 2-step PPD test, negative serum QuantiFeron - TB Gold or T-SPOT, or a negative chest xray plus a negative Tuberculosis Health Check Survey. Requirements include a negative 2-step PPD skin test (the second test must be a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 21 days after the first test), or a negative QuantiFeron - TB Gold or T-SPOT serum test, or a negative chest xray plus a negative Tuberculosis Health Check Survey. See the Initial Tuberculosis Screen Document for requirements. Form is not required if the required evidence is provided from the clinic, provider, employee health, etc. Evidence of Vaccination or Positive Titers (or documentation of contraindication)
o Upload evidence as required for each vaccination to your CertifiedProfile account (a nonresponder provider verification form is available via the enrollment counselor upon request for students with negative titers after vaccination). Two Measles, Mumps, & Rubella vaccinations or evidence of immunity to all three diseases (Rubeola, Mumps, and Rubella) with IgG antibodies three tests. Three Hepatitis B Vaccinations or Positive Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (be sure it is the exact test ordered) Two Varicella Vaccinations or a positive IgG antibody titer to varicella TDAP within the last 10 years Influenza annually during each season See the Initial Vaccination Status document for requirements. The form is not required if the evidence from a healthcare provider/clinic, vaccination registry or school is provided. Proof of an unencumbered RN license o Upload to your CertifiedProfile account evidence of an active & unencumbered RN license. Upload renewal as indicated. Requires updated proof when licensure is renewed. Upload what you receive from your Board of Nursing or go to https://www.nursys.com/lqc/lqcterms.aspx and enter in your information. Download the report to a pdf with discipline documents. Proof that you have health insurance or a signed waiver o Upload to your CertifiedProfile account evidence of health insurance both sides of health insurance ID card or signed/notarized waiver (enrollment counselor will provide upon request). o The waiver will need to verify that you understand that you are responsible for all expenses related to illness or accidents that may occur while you participate in the RN to BS-N program. Complete a health screen o Upload a health history and physical examination conducted by and signed by a physician or provider (NP/CNS/CNM/PA) to CertifiedProfile. The provided CSP form must be utilized. Healthcare provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification must include a skills hands-on component. o Upload both sides of card (signed) -or- certificate from employer of completion. Upload renewal when due. Must include a hands-on component. Must be current and renewed if it expires during the program. Requires renewal upon expiration (every two years). Picture ID Comet Card o Submit items per steps below and await the arrival of your CSP student picture identification card (your Comet Card). Submit a photo of self via email to cardservices@csp.edu that meets the following requirements: Color photo 300 X 400 pixels Minimum size of 15KB, but less than 1 MB Photo file name is student ID number (ex. 00445566.jpeg)
You must be looking straight at the camera (no side profiles) No group photos No hats or sunglasses Background must be a light solid color Derogatory photos are not allowed and will be deleted There should be a small space between the top of your head and the top of the image. All photo submissions will be reviewed by Card Services staff prior to printing Once reviewed, you will receive an email stating whether your photo was accepted or rejected. If your photo is rejected, please correct any issues and resubmit or choose a different photo. Photos need to be submitted by one month prior to the course with your first precepted practice experience. Please remember that your Comet Card is used to provide identification of yourself as a student of Concordia University. By submitting your photo you are stating that the photo submitted is you. All photo submissions need to be emailed from your official student email address (ex. student@csp.edu). Once you receive your photo ID you are able to shred your old student ID. If you have questions or difficulties meeting these guidelines please contact the Concordia University Card Services office at cardservices@csp.edu or 651-641-8788. The picture must clearly identify you. Additional Notes CSP Nursing Criminal Background Study/Screen Policy Criminal background studies are to be completed for all accepted nursing program applicants prior to registration for nursing courses. Students who anticipate completing practice experiences in Minnesota must complete the Minnesota Department of Human Services Background study with a clear (blue) result. All students, including those practicing in Minnesota must complete the national background study performed by Certified Background. Applicants are responsible for submitting/uploading/mailing all completed documentation per the requirement checklist below. Repeat screening studies will be conducted annually and are the responsibility of the student to be up-to-date and compliant prior to any practice experience. Additional screenings may be necessary depending upon the clinical facility and their individual requirements. Applicants and students who have a positive finding on a criminal background study will be required to meet with the Associate Vice President of Cohort Enrollment Management and the Nursing Department Chair to discuss potential ramifications of the criminal activity identified on the study results. These ramifications could include difficulty or inability to secure practice experience placements which may result in program dismissal (student) or inability to enroll and register (applicant). While the CSP Nursing program does not require a drug screen, some individual clinical facilities will require drug screens prior to or during their clinical, or if an incident happens at their facility. Clinical sites may also
require random drug testing and/or drug testing for reasonable cause. Testing positive on the drug screening or evidence of tampering with a specimen will disqualify a student from engaging in practice experiences resulting in program dismissal. Recreational marijuana usage may be legal currently in several states. Minnesota is not one of those states. Recreational drug usage can impair an individual s mentation and abilities to perform critical tasks. Because patient safety is at the utmost importance to our profession, the recreational usage, (even if done in a state that it is legal in) is not accepted in the program. Traces of this usage can last from weeks to months in one s system and are detectable through various means. Changes in Criminal Background Status Should the status of an applicant or student s criminal background study change during enrollment in the nursing program, students are required to notify the Nursing Department Chair. Failure to do so is considered academic misconduct and is grounds for dismissal from the program. Status changes in the background study (e.g. criminal record) may alter the student s ability to participate in practice experiences required for the program. Ramifications may result in program dismissal. Positive Drug Screen The use, possession or being under the influence of alcohol, narcotic or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law and one s own prescriptions, is not accepted in the program. If students are found to have positive drug screens for substances that might affect or impair one s judgment or actions, the University reserves the right to terminate the practice experience and potentially dismiss the student from the program. In the event of a positive drug screen, the student may request an additional secondary analysis or secondary drug screen, at the student s cost. However, it is the right of the clinical facility to accept or deny practice experience to the student regardless of the secondary analysis. Chemical addiction is a serious health issue that can affect a student s ability to successfully partake in the program. If a student has a chemical addiction or a positive drug screen, it is the student s responsibility to notify the Nursing Department Chair immediately to discuss the problem. Further disciplinary policies are outlined in the CSP Student Policies Handbook for ramifications of drug use. Preceptors and Practice Sites Some of the courses in the middle and end of the program require precepted practice experiences. CSP has chosen to allow students to identify their own qualified preceptor and practice experience site (approved by the Nursing Department Chair). This approach facilitates an experience that acknowledges each student has a unique schedule, individualized professional goals, and allows flexibility. Students are able to select opportunities that are meaningful, work with their own schedule, and be supported by a qualified preceptor of their choice (which may result in additional networking opportunities or collaboration in the future). CSP does not prescribe precepted practice experiences on specific dates and times at specific sites due to the diverse student population both geographically and professionally (shift-work, specialties, and differing professional goals).
The nursing department chair and the course faculty will provide guidance on the process of identifying the practice site and preceptor prior to these experiences. Many students are able to use their existing place of employment for some of the experiences.