Compliance and Clinical

GW Nursing’s partnerships with local hospitals and community health organizations play an imperative role in the success of the nursing programs. There are specific requirements students must meet to be allowed access to the simulation labs and hospitals. This section will explain what is required for students to be compliant.

Undergraduate

The Accelerated B.S.N. and Veterans B.S.N. programs will begin clinical in the second semester. Students will receive an invitation via email to purchase Castle Branch. This system is used by GW Nursing for student screening (background, drug screen, immunization, and compliance tracker). The deadline to purchase the package will be shared at a later date, but it can be expected after the start of the first semester. The following items will be required so you may begin to gather certain items now. Please contact [email protected] with any questions regarding compliance and submission timelines.

If you are in the Accelerated B.S.N. or Veterans B.S.N. program you will be required to submit the following documentation:

• Background and Drug Screen completed by CastleBranch, Inc.
• Valid CPR card from American Heart Association (AHA) Healthcare Provider course (Basic Life Support)
• Completed GWU Health Form from a recent physical exam
• Valid Health Insurance (through GW or private)
• Immunization records including:

  • MMR (2 vaccinations or positive antibody titer)

  • Varicella (2 vaccinations or positive antibody titer)

  • Hepatitis B (3 vaccinations or positive antibody titer)

  • TB (PPD or Quantiferon Gold Blood Test – within last 12 months)

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) – Tdap booster dated after 11 years of age plus most recent Td booster dated within the last 10 years if it has been more than 10 years since your Tdap booster

  • Influenza (During October through April)

  • HIPAA & OSHA Modules (yearly renewal and will be completed through the ABSN Virtual Orientation) 

  • COVID Vaccination Documentation (card must state manufacturer and date of both vaccine doses)

Post-Master's Certificate

The majority of Post-Master’s Certificate students will enter clinical in the first semester.  Review your admission letter for any pre-requite courses that may be conditions of admission (i.e. advanced pharmacology, physiology & pathophysiology, and/or health assessment).  Programs of study can provide more information on course progression, including clinical. 

Students are responsible for securing their own site/preceptor. Contact the Clinical Placement Team at [email protected], if you need additional resources, including a list of previously used sites/preceptors in your state.  You can find rotation requirements for each clinical program in the “Clinical and Practicum” tab of the Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation.

Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation

Tips for finding a Preceptor

1. Network with the providers at your place of employment
2. Speak with NP friends, classmates, or former GWU School of Nursing students for advice,  suggestions, and referrals
3. Join your local NP association; many have resources for connecting students and preceptors
4. Use LinkedIn to network
5. Go to offices and speak directly with the manager
6. Ask your personal healthcare providers if they have colleagues who can precept you

Placement Requests

As you search for sites, make note of clinical placement request deadlines (~ 4 months prior to the start of your clinical rotation). 

Deadlines by semester:

Fall: May 1
Spring: October 1
Summer: February 1  

Tracking, Screening and Documentation

GW Nursing uses CORE® for clinical requests, and as a repository for tracking clinical hours, clinical documents/assignments.  If you are starting clinical in your first semester, please contact Christina Johnson immediately at [email protected] to gain access to the system. Otherwise, CORE access is granted prior the start of NURS 6222, Advanced Health Assessment. 

Purchase a Complio account. GW Nursing uses Complio® for student screening (background, drug screen, immunization, and compliance tracker).  Do NOT purchase a Complio account more than 4 months prior to clinical start.

Student Guide to Complio

Upload required documents to Complio; or if not starting clinical immediately, gather documents, so they are ready to upload to Complio when time to purchase.  Required documents for compliance include:

• RN license in the state you are completing clinical
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccine
• Health insurance
• Headshot
• BLS Certificate from American Red Cross or American Heart Association
• Physical exam on the school form (completed within last year)
• HIPAA/OSHA completion certificates
• Required immunizations (More information about required immunizations is found in the “Pre-Clinical Requirements” tab of the Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation)
• Upload COVID-19 Vaccine to Complio before you begin your first clinical course

NOTE: Students in the AGACNP program are also required to have current ACLS from either AHA or ARC.

 

Lab Coat

Order a lab coat for clinical

Recommend Viewing

We strongly suggest reviewing the "ppt slides and recordings" under CLASI in our MSN On-Campus Dashboard.  These will be helpful in your clinical courses.

Questions

For questions, please email the Clinical Placement Team (CPT) at [email protected]

 

All Other Graduate Programs (w/ a Clinical Component)

Students are responsible for securing their own site/preceptor. Contact the Clinical Placement Team at [email protected], if you need additional resources, including a list of previously used sites/preceptors in your state.  You can find rotation requirements for each clinical program in the “Clinical and Practicum” tab of the Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation.

Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation

Tips for finding a Preceptor

Many preceptors/sites book up greater than a year in advance, so start reaching out early. Some helpful tips for finding preceptors include:

1. Network with the providers at your place of employment
2. Speak with NP friends, classmates, or former GWU School of Nursing students for advice,  suggestions, and referrals
3. Join your local NP association; many have resources for connecting students and preceptors
4. Use LinkedIn to network
5. Go to offices and speak directly with the manager
6. Ask your personal healthcare providers if they have colleagues who can precept you

Placement Requests

As you search for sites, make note of clinical placement request deadlines (~ 4 months prior to the start of your clinical rotation). 

Deadlines by semester:

Fall: May 1
Spring: October 1
Summer: February 1  

 Tracking, Screening and Documentation

GW Nursing uses CORE® for clinical requests, and as a repository for tracking clinical hours, clinical documents/assignments.  If you are starting clinical in your first semester, please contact Christina Johnson immediately at [email protected] to gain access to the system. Otherwise, CORE access is granted prior the start of NURS 6222, Advanced Health Assessment. 

GW Nursing uses Complio® for student screening (background, drug screen, immunization, and compliance tracker).  Do NOT purchase a Complio account more than 4 months prior to clinical start. Students will receive more information on Complio during the program.

Start gathering the required documents, so they are ready to upload to Complio after purchase. Required documents for compliance include:

• RN license in the state you are completing clinical
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccine
• Health insurance
• Headshot
• BLS Certificate from American Red Cross or American Heart Association
• Physical exam on the school form (completed within last year)
• HIPAA/OSHA completion certificates
• Required immunizations (More information about required immunizations is found in the “Pre-Clinical Requirements” tab of the Clinical & Practicum Virtual Orientation)
• Upload COVID-19 Vaccine to Complio before you begin your first clinical course

 

 

Note: Students in the AGACNP program are also required to have current ACLS from either AHA or ARC.

 

Clinical Webinar

Watch your GW email for an invitation to attend a clinical webinar.  You will be invited during the semester you are signed up for NURS 6220, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology

Questions

For questions, please email at [email protected]