Senior Information

Dear Students,
We have prepared some information that you will need to know prior to the start of the new term. Please take note of the new information.

Please contact Student Services located in room 239 Victoria Building if you have questions or concerns at (412) 624-4587 or you can reach us by email at sao50@pitt.edu.

Best Wishes,

Linda S Holden, MSN, RN
Associate Director of Student Services,
Undergraduate Program

Fall Term Dates to Remember

AUGUST 2008
August 19 (Tuesday)	Residence Hall Opens
August 25 (Monday)	Fall Term Classes Begin Spring Term Registration Ends
SEPTEMBER 2008
September 1 (Monday)	Labor Day — University Closed
OCTOBER 2008
October 13 (Monday)	Fall Break (Monday classes will be held Tuesday)
NOVEMBER 2008
November 26-30	Thanksgiving Recess for Students
November 27-28	Thanksgiving Recess for Faculty & Staff
DECEMBER 2008
December 8-13	Final Exam Period
December 14-January 4, 2009	Winter Recess for Students
December 17 (Wednesday)	Grades are Due
December 24-January 1, 2009	Winter Recess for Faculty and Staff

Visit our Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/calendars.html

Senior Photos

October 6, 7, 8, 20, 21
Information for Graduating Class of 2009

Requirements for Clinical Sites

Basic Requirements for Clinical Sites (Sophomore, Junior, Senior Students Only)
Please remember that you will not be permitted to participate in the clinical portion of your courses until all documents required by the clinical sites have been submitted to the Student Services Office (health forms are to be submitted to Student Health Services in the Medical Arts Building).

Note: Please remember to only submit copies to the Student Services Office by July 1. Keep the original of each document in your possession and make additional copies as needed.

Forms and Clearances for Clinical Sites (Sophomore, Junior, Senior Students Only)
The types of forms, clearances, and documents you are required to complete are determined by our clinical sites who allow our students’ access to their clinical units and their patients. In the past, they have been the standard ones, with which you are familiar.

Copy of CPR Certification card
Copy of Criminal Background Check and Child Abuse clearances
Copy of your HIPAA certification forms (Module #8 & #15)
Copy of an up-to-date record of all immunizations, TB testing, or other verifications required by the clinical site
Copy of your Health Insurance card

However, some of the clinical sites that the school utilizes will require you to obtain and carry with you additional permits, clearances, and various forms of identification. Some of the new requirements apply generally across the curriculum, while others may be “facility-specific”, and apply only to the students who will have their clinical experience there.

Listed below are some of the possible documents that may be required by our clinical facilities. All must be current and valid. All students should have these documents, as required by the clinical site, available to show the clinical agency if requested:

Copy of OSHA and JCAHO certification in Fire and Safety Procedures
Copy of certification in care of “Vulnerable Adults”
Copy of “Consent of Student to Provide Information”.
RN License wallet card (RN Options students only)

In addition to the lists above, some facilities may require the student to agree to a Drug Screen Test for Chemical Dependence. Other facilities may require the student to be fingerprinted prior to the clinical placement. This list is subject to change. Your instructor will inform you at the start of the term, where your clinical placement will be, and what will be specifically required for your current placement.

This List Is Subject To Change.

In order to facilitate organization and safety of your documents, the School of Nursing will provide you with a portfolio in which to store your documents. Contact your advisor for more information.

General Reminders
Please be aware that copies of all required certifications and clearances must be received in the Student Services Office by July 1. Students are expected to carry the original certifications and clearances with them, at all times, in the clinical setting. A portfolio will be provided to each student at the beginning of the fall term. The original Initial Health Appraisal Form must be returned to the Student Health Service by October 1.

Items To Be Returned To The Student Services Office

Submit Copies by July 1

American Heart Association – BLS - Healthcare Provider Course CPR Certification (submit every two years)
HIPAA Privacy Awareness for Faculty, Students, Health Professionals, and Trainees (Formerly RPF Module 8) Certificate (submit only once at the end of your freshman year).
HIPAA Security Awareness for Faculty, Students, Health Professionals and Trainees (formerly RPF module 15) Certificate (submit only once at the end of your freshman year).
Child Abuse History Clearance (update and submit every year)
Criminal History Clearance (update and submit every year)

Items To Be Returned To The University Of Pittsburgh - Student Health Services

Submit Original Forms by

School of Nursing Initial Health Appraisal Form (October 1) (submit once)
School of Nursing Update Form (March 1) (submit original document every year)

CPR Requirements

School policy requires all sophomore, junior, and senior students to have a course in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) before they enter clinical experiences. You will be asked in September to verify successful completion of such a course.

The School of Nursing requires that you must successfully complete the American Heart Association (AHA) – BLS - Healthcare Provider Course Certification (Policy #363) before beginning clinical rotations. This course certifies students in adult, infant/child, 2-rescuer CPR, and in the use of the AED. This Basic Life Support course consists of a written test in addition to hands on training. An on-line course will not be accepted. As you may be required to perform CPR on an actual patient, you CANNOT take this course online. The AHA—Healthcare Provider Course Certification is valid for two years.

Contact the following agencies to see when courses are offered:

Center for Emergency Medicine, 230 McKee Place in Oakland
Refer to website for class schedules at www.centerem.org
Carnegie Mellon University EMS, 5032 Forbes Avenue in Oakland
Refer to website for class schedules at www.cmuems.org or call (412) 268-1025
Community College of Allegheny County, 808 Ridge Avenue (Northside) Refer to website for class schedules at www.ccac.edu/default.aspx?id=145703 or call (412) 237-2500

Clearances

Child Abuse History and Criminal History clearances are required of all nursing students by the clinical institutions. Clearances are valid for one year and must be updated annually. Therefore, it is advisable to submit the applications to ensure the clearances are valid throughout the entire year. If clearances expire during the program, you will be required to submit updated clearances.

Students are advised that it can take between 4-6 weeks to obtain the child abuse clearance. You can do the criminal clearance online if you have a credit card. Both forms can be found by clicking on the following links: http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/cwp/view.asp?A=4&Q=48275
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Resources/Documents/pdf/FillInForms/DPWchildabuse.pdf

HIPAA

Nursing students are required by the clinical sites to complete the following modules:

Course 490 - formerly RPF module 8
Course 492 - formerly RPF module 15

The modules present patient privacy and information security, summarized HIPAA policies, and document the clinical responsibilities of the nursing student and the strategies that can be utilized for maintaining patient privacy.

You should have completed this in the spring term of your freshman year in Introduction to Professional Nursing. If you did not, you must complete Course 490 and Course 492. Please click on the links above and follow the directions. Download a copy of both certificates verifying that you completed the modules and return a copy to Student Services. You must have this completed to be in clinical.

Health Forms

Undergraduate students must have a health evaluation upon admission and annually until completion of the program. Students will not be permitted to register or participate in clinical activities until the completed health form has been submitted. POLICY NO. 20

New students admitted to the School of Nursing will submit the INITIAL HEALTH APPRAISAL FORM, which you received in your packet, to University of Pittsburgh-Student Health Services Office. The Initial Health Appraisal form must be completed and returned to the Student Health Services office prior to the start of the first Undergraduate level term for the Nursing School. You must submit your health form to the following address (keep a copy for your records):

University of Pittsburgh-Student Health Services
3708 Fifth Avenue
Medical Arts Building
Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Current students admitted to the School of Nursing will submit the ANNUAL UPDATE HEALTH FORM to University of Pittsburgh -Student Health Services Office. The Annual Update Health form must be completed and returned to the Health Service prior to March 1 on a yearly basis for all continuing Nursing Students. You must submit your health form to the following address (keep a copy for your records):

University of Pittsburgh-Student Health Services
3708 Fifth Avenue
Medical Arts Building
Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Uniforms

All students are required to wear a University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing student uniform during clinical rotations unless specified by the instructor.

Uniforms should be ordered and received prior to the first day of classes. Please note, newly admitted internal and external students who are admitted at sophomore status, should order a uniform during the summer before the start of fall clinical.

Uniforms are purchased through American Discount Uniform Inc., 109 New York Ave., Lower Burrell, PA 15068. American Discount Uniform is a mail order company that ships directly to the student. You can download an order form here. If there are any problems with your order, please contact the company directly by calling 724-339-5177. You are reminded to review Policy 91, Dress Code for Students. You are expected to comply with the regulations.

Transportation to Agencies

Students must assume responsibility for all transportation to clinical practice sites, community health agencies, and field trips.

Assigning Clinical - Exceptional Circumstances Justification Request

When clinical assignments are being made, the School of Nursing will take into consideration a student's exceptional circumstance that would justify being placed into a specific clinical or skills lab assignment. Such circumstances include but are not limited to: taking a course in the Honors College or student athletes. Requests that will not be granted include but are not limited to: having a friend in clinical with you, wanting a specific instructor or specific facility, etc.

You must submit your form to the Associate Director of Student Services, Undergraduate Programs in the Student Services Office by the following date.

The deadline is as follows:

Fall Term Deadline is February 1
Spring Term Deadline is September 1
Summer Term Deadline is January 1

Exceptional Circumstance Justification Request Form

Specialty Examinations

The Undergraduate Program will incorporate Specialty Examination results into a weighted part of the final course grade in nursing courses where those are given. The weight the examination will carry in the final grade will be stipulated in the course outline. The instructor will provide further information at the start of the term.

NOTE - FOR SENIORS STUDENTS ONLY: Part of the educational package that includes your “Specialty Exams” and the BSN Comprehensive Exam also includes a “Mid-Curricular Examination” which should be taken during the first semester of the students’ senior year. This examination is also a requirement of the school’s assessment and progression system, which will be used by students and their advisors to evaluate each student’s individual progression through the program.

Graduating Requirements/Advising

It is very important that you schedule an appointment with your academic advisor before the end of the add/drop period during the fall term (Friday, September 5, 2008) to review your academic transcript and insure that you will have all of the course requirements in order to graduate.

You can obtain a copy of your academic transcript by logging onto PeopleSoft Student Administration. Check your academic transcript with the curriculum guide to make sure all of your course work will be complete in time to graduate.

Note: It is important that you schedule an appointment with your academic advisor before the end of the add/drop period so that you can make sure you have registered for the necessary classes.

Transfer Credits

If you are enrolled in courses through another college or university, please remember that we will need an official transcript sent to April Bruce immediately following the availability of grades from the school. Courses taken at another college or university will have to be completed and grades available before final certifications (verification of graduation) can be signed off on. We will not be able to submit final certifications until we receive this information. Please be sure the school submits this information to us ASAP or your graduation could be delayed.

Seniors Graduating in December 2008

You will receive information regarding the Senior Graduation Meeting once the fall term begins.

Graduation Application

Graduation applications are due in the Student Services Office by noon on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 or a late fee will be assessed!!!!! You can stop by the Student Services Office to pick up the GRADUATION APPLICATION.

Calendar for Graduation and Related Dates for the Office of the University Registrar

2008		2091 December Graduation
August 25 - September 19	Monday-Friday	Graduation Applications accepted by the Registrar's Office without penalty. Academic centers may establish deadline dates for students that precede the dates set by the University Registrar. Students should contact their Academic Center Graduation Coordinator for deadline information. School of Nursing’s deadline date to turn in your Graduation Application without penalty is Wednesday, September 17, 2008.
December 13	Saturday	Official date for degrees awarded in December 2008.
2009
January 9	Friday	Final Certification Day for December 2008.
January 15	Thursday	Transcripts with degrees posted for December 2008 graduates are available.
January 30	Friday	Approximate date to begin mailing diplomas and complimentary official transcripts to December graduates

2009		2094 April Graduation
January 5 - January 23	Monday - Friday	Graduation Applications accepted by the Registrar's Office without penalty. Academic centers may establish deadline dates for students that precede the dates set by the University Registrar. Students should contact their Academic Center Graduation Coordinator for deadline information. School of Nursing’s deadline date to turn in your Graduation Application without penalty is Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
April 25	Saturday	Official date for degrees awarded in April 2009
May 18	Monday	Final Certification Day for April 2009.
May 26	Tuesday	Transcripts with degrees posted for April 2009 graduates are available.
June 16	Tuesday	Approximate date to begin mailing diplomas and complimentary official transcripts to April graduates.

Certification of Enrollment

At your request, the Transcripts and Enrollment Verification office will verify to a third party your enrollment status and the number of units for which you are registered. Your enrollment status will also be provided to state and federal funding agencies at their request. The Transcripts and Enrollment Verification office will respond to telephone calls that need to verify enrollment information.

If you receive a form requiring verification of enrollment, bring or mail it to Transcripts and Enrollment Verification office in G-3 Thackeray Hall. You may request an enrollment verification by completing an Enrollment Verification Form at the counter in G-3 Thackeray Hall. You may also request an Enrollment Verification by printing an Enrollment Verification Form and mailing it to:

University of Pittsburgh
Transcripts & Enrollment Verification Office
G-3 Thackeray Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

There is no fee for Enrollment Verification requests for students and alumni.
There is a $2.00 fee for services to third parties.

BSN Comprehensive Exam

The School of Nursing will require all Senior-level Traditional Undergraduate and Accelerated 2nd Degree students to take the BSN Comprehensive Examination in their last academic term prior to graduation. The student must achieve a passing score on the examination in order to graduate. Failure to achieve a passing score on the first attempt will require the student to register for and take subsequent examinations until a passing score is achieved. A student may take the examination up to three times within an academic term, including the initial attempt. The cost of the initial attempt is included in the University-School of Nursing fees.

Senior Special Topics for Spring term 2094

Senior Special Topics 2094

Senior Advisors

Senior Advisors (updated 09/04/08)

Senior Year Expenses

The following is a list of estimated graduation expenses to help you anticipate the upcoming year. For additional expenses (tuition, clearances, miscellaneous fees, immunizations), please refer to the tuition & fees information below.

Tuition & Fees

Uniform for Pinning/Graduation	$75.00
Senior Photo	$35.00
Cap & Grown	$48.00
NCLEX Review (recommended)	$150.00
PA Permanent License & TPP	$135.00
NCLEX Exam	$200.00

Academic Advisory Board

Your student representative for the Academic Advisory Board is Charles Moore (crm32@pitt.edu). He will serve as a communications liaison for the Senior academic group. Meetings are scheduled once per semester with the Dean and the appointment is for one year.

Dean's Student Advisory Council

Your student representatives for Dean's Student Advisory Council are Susanne Apgar (sea17@pitt.edu) and Tiffany Riser (tjr21@pitt.edu). The student representatives serve as a communications liaison for the senior academic group and appointments are for one year.

Peoplesoft

Student Self Service (PeopleSoft)

Students can check their grades, view class schedules and more by using the PeopleSoft Student Self Service feature of the my.pitt.edu Web portal. To use this feature, log in to my.pitt.edu and click the Student Services tab.

Getting Started with the PeopleSoft Student Center

The PeopleSoft Student Center is the central online location to access your student information. Student Center enables you to view your academic history, update contact information, view your class schedule, search for University classes, and more from one location.

StudentCenter features include:

Clickable links and drop-down menus provide easy navigation and quick launch views
Schedules which include your registered classes, exam dates, and University registration enrollment dates
The ability to update personal information such as addresses and phone numbers

Accessing PeopleSoft Student Center

Log in to my.pitt.edu with your University Computer Account username and password. Next, click the Student Services tab at the top of the page, and then click the Link to Your Student Center. Next, click Self Service and then click Student Center.
For more instructions, click on the following links.

Sigma Theta Tau-Eta

Sigma Theta Tau-Eta is the international honor society of nursing. Membership is offered to those students who have succeeded academically as well as professionally in their undergraduate program. All junior students are encouraged to attend an Information Social for Sigma Theta Tau-Eta Chapter in November. Membership applications are available in the Student Services Office in mid-November and need to be returned by mid-January to Shelia Alexander in 336 Victoria. A membership committee reviews each application and students.