Background Checks, Drug Test, and Health Records
Clinical Program/Practicum Students
Welcome to Mercy College of Ohio!
Please bookmark this page to help you locate important information needed for your journey as a Mercy College clinical/practicum student. Here you will find answers to your questions regarding your clinical health requirements, background check/fingerprinting and drug test, and other helpful information.
Step #1: Gather Requirements Documentation
Share the Physical/Health Screening and Clinical Requirements document with your Provider to determine what titers (blood tests) are needed to prove immunity; as well as any additional tests that must be completed. If local Provider not available, see Resources for Obtaining Health Requirements under FAQs and Tips below.
NOTE: Tuberculosis (TB) skin test can be done on the same day as live vaccines (MMR, Varicella) but if not given on the same day, the TB skin test must be delayed at least 4 weeks after the live vaccines (live vaccines can reduce immune response to the TB skin test).
- Students unable to receive vaccinations due to temporary or permanent circumstances should review Exemption or Due Date Extensions for Clinical Requirements posted under FAQs and Tips below. Requests require additional documentation and should be made a minimum of two weeks prior to the due date to allow processing time.
- Exemption/due date extension requests are not automatically approved. If a clinical site that will accept the exemption/waiver request cannot be found, student will not be able to complete the course – and may not be able to continue in the program. Requests are subject to acceptance/denial each semester as clinical sites change
Step #2: CastleBranch Overview and Placing Orders
OVERVIEW
CastleBranch is the depository for clinical documentation, and CastleBranch reviewers ensure that information submitted meets the program requirements.
The CastleBranch instructions and forms for completing the fingerprinting and drug test must be followed; results from other parties are not accepted. Items within the CastleBranch account must remain current to maintain eligibility for clinical participation.
When entering personal information for the fingerprint appointment, student is pre-ordering the fingerprinting; therefore, all information (name, date of birth, SSN, etc.) should be carefully reviewed. If fingerprint reports are processed using incorrect information, student will be required to pay for updated fingerprint reports.
Because most clinical sites are in Ohio, on-campus students complete FBI and OHIO fingerprinting (Michigan fingerprints are not accepted). This may vary for out-of-state or online students or those whose clinical/practicum sites have different requirements.
The CastleBranch account contains:
- Clinical Health Requirements
- Drug Test (results automatically uploaded to student account)
- Fingerprinting
(normal processing time can take up to a month; fingerprint reports are uploaded to student account within two business days of receipt)
- Student must:
- Acknowledge receipt of instructions/fingerprint registration form
- Enter date fingerprinting was scheduled and/or completed
- Student must:
- Background Check (processes automatically once the CastleBranch order is placed) Results are uploaded to student account when complete
PLACING CASTLEBRANCH ORDERS
CastleBranch FAQs regarding order placement can be found here: https://mycb.castlebranch.com/help.
Mercy College of Ohio program package codes and deadlines can be verified under FAQs and Tips. Place orders by accessing the CastleBranch Custom Ordering Portal:
A comprehensive video library of frequently asked help topics is available in CastleBranch.
Other Tips
Information provided under FAQs and Tips is updated whenever new resources are available.
- Upload PDF documents to CastleBranch for best results (photos become blurry). Use a phone scanning app for convenience.
- Students may be asked to provide a CastleBranch To-Do List (TDL) Summary to verify eligibility to attend clinicals (refer to Printing the CastleBranch To-Do List (TDL) Summary and Uploading Clinical Verification to Canvas - TDL Summary under FAQs and Tips).
- “Compliant” is a temporary status. The TDL Summary is modified whenever new documentation becomes due/is submitted/approved and the “Compliant Until” date is updated.
- CastleBranch emails reminders when renewal items are due; however, the space to upload renewal documents will not appear until 21 days before current document expires.
Returning Students
Clinical students follow the Clinical Compliance Policy, located on the Compliance and Consumer Information page under Policies and Procedures.
Students returning to clinicals within three semesters must ensure that all CastleBranch information is compliant and that any new requirements have been met. Students who have been absent for longer than three semesters must purchase new CastleBranch accounts.
For help with questions not answered here, please contact CastleBranch or reach out to the program contact identified in Program Contacts for Student Questions under Related Resources below.
Related Resources
CastleBranch Programs and Contacts
Clinical Requirements Information
-
Document .pdfBackground Check and Fingerprinting
Requirements for fingerprinting and background checks for clinical students
Download -
Document .pdfDrug Test Requirement
Information on completing the drug test requirements for clinicals.
Download -
Document .pdfHealth Requirements
Overview of Health Requirements
Download -
Document .pdfPhysical/Health Screening and Clinical Requirements
Physical/Health Screening and Clinical Requirements Form must be completed and shared with Provider to determine action steps for health requirements. Document will NOT be uploaded to CastleBranch.
Download -
Document .pdfConfirmation of Physical Exam and Clinical Requirements Clearance
Confirmation of Physical Exam and Clinical Requirements Clearance Provider's confirmation of physical exam (student will upload completed form to CastleBranch)
Download -
Document .pdfHealthcare Provider BLS
Health records requirements per the American Heart Association for healthcare provider Basic Life Support (BLS)
Download -
Document .pdfTuberculosis (TB) 2-step and TB Renewal
Complete this form for two-step and one-step TB vaccination renewal
Download -
Document .pdfTuberculosis (TB) Symptoms Review
This document is a TB checklist only for use with Chest X-ray report
Download
Additional Program Specific Requirements
-
Document .pdfHeartsaver Certification - Community Health Worker Students Only
Heartsaver CPR AED Requirements for Community Health Worker Students Only
Download -
Document .pdfProfessional Licensure - Medical Imaging Students Only
Health records requirements and professional licensure verification for Medical Imaging students
Download -
Document .pdfState RAD Licensure - Medical Imaging Students Only
Health records requirements for current state radiologic licensure for medical imaging students
Download -
Document .pdfState RN Licensure - Master of Science in Nursing Students Only
Health records requirements for current state RN licensure, relative to the Master of Science in Nursing program
Download -
Document .pdfNational Incident Management System (NIMS) Certificate Verifications - EMT and Paramedic Students Only
Certificate verification for EMT and Paramedic students
Download
FAQs and Tips
-
Document .pdfAutomatic Bars for Obtaining Nursing License Ohio Board of Nursing (PDF)
A list of automatic bars for obtaining a nursing license in Ohio, relative to criminal background
Download -
Document .pdfCastleBranch Codes and Program Deadlines
A list of programs and their corresponding codes and deadlines in CastleBranch
Download -
Document .pdfCastlebranch Help
A summary of multiple ways for students to receive assistance answering questions about Castlebranch health and background check requirements
Download -
Document .pdfCastleBranch Turnaround Times
CastleBranch Turnaround Times
Download -
Document .pdfExemption or Due Date Extensions for Clinical Requirements
Information regarding Exemption or Due Date Extensions for Clinical Requirements
Download -
Document .pdfPrinting the CastleBranch To-Do List (TDL) Summary
Step-by-step instructions for printing a To-Do list on CastleBranch
Download -
Document .pdfResources for Obtaining Health Requirements
Tips on Where to go for Physical, TB Test, Titers and Vaccinations
Download -
Document .pdfUploading Documents to CastleBranch
Instructions on how to upload documents to CastleBranch
Download -
Document .pdfUploading Clinical Verification to Canvas - TDL Summary
Instructions on how to upload To-Do List (TDL) Summary to Canvas for clinical verification
Download