Student Resources

When you begin as a student in the RN to BSN program at UW-Green Bay, your advisor will create a personalized academic plan outlining the requirements needed for graduation and will help you maximize your academic path. Follow the process below each semester to complete registration. All correspondence will be sent from the university and advisors​ through you UW-Green Bay email, so be sure to check it regularly.

1 Review the Nursing Registration Newsletter

Stay up to date on all you need to know about nursing registration, program requirements, resources and planning for the upcoming semester. The newsletter is sent to your UW-Green Bay email before each semester starts.

2 Review Academic Plan

Make sure your academic plan still aligns with your career and educational goals.

3 Log into SIS

Check for any holds on your account and find your enrollment date in SIS. Under "Enrollment Dates," click on the "Details" link to see your assigned day and time.

4 Complete Forms

• Complete your Payment Agreement following the payment agreement instructions.
• Update your Demographic Form if this is your first semester.
• Complete a Commitment Form if you are registering for any upper level classes.

5 Register for Classes

Learn how to register for classes in SIS. As an RN to BSN student, you'll follow all UW-Green Bay deadlines and tuition reimbursement schedules for all of your courses.

Explore BSN@Home Course Schedule

6 Order Textbooks

For nursing textbooks, order through the UW-Extended Campus. For non-nursing courses, order through the Phoenix Bookstore.

7 Before Classes Start

• Three weeks before: Review course confirmation email from BSN@Home.
• Two weeks before: Review course access email from UW Extended Campus. If you are taking nursing electives of Health Assessment, School Nursing or Interdisciplinary Care of Children, check for an email from the UW Extended Campus to begin the course access process two weeks before the semester starts. If you don't receive an email and are taking one of these classes, contact your advisor.
• One week before (Preview Week): Explore your upper level nursing courses. Check your email for course access information. If you don’t see your course, verify that you are registered in SIS and email your advisor.

The Community Health Nursing Practicum (Nursing 455, 3 credits) complements the theory, models and concepts learned in 454 Community Health Nursing. It is a practice component that brings community health nursing into reality. The focus is on disease prevention and health promotion for individuals, families, aggregates and communities.

Prerequisites

Clinical placements are made on a “first come, first serve” basis once you have completed all prerequisites. The Practicum course often fills prior to the designated deadline, so it is to your advantage to complete the prerequisites early.

The five key steps to complete the prerequisites for the 455 Community Health Nursing Practicum course are:

1. Sign up for a CastleBranch Account: The UW-Green Bay nursing program requires background checks and health prerequisite documentation through CastleBranch. Once you have determined the semester you plan to enroll in the practicum course, request the student instructions with the package codes for the background check and Medical Document Manager (immunization tracker) from Practicum Assistant Kaitlin Williams.
2. Pay the $86 fee for the background check and health document tracker and review. The background check is valid for four years from the date of order, and the Medical Document Manager is an annual renewal.
   Note: Some practicum agencies have additional requirements for student participation in their settings. These may include, but are not limited to, documentation of a physical examination or drug screening. The cost of such requirements is the responsibility of the student. Students are advised of these requirements by faculty so that they can be completed before the practicum experience begins.
3. Complete Compliance Report: Once you have completed your background check and Medical Document Manager and all items show as “Complete,” submit your Compliance Report (Medical Document Manager only) from CastleBranch to Kaitlin Williams.
4. Fill out the Demographic and Public Health agency survey: After your Compliance Report is received, the Practicum Assistant will send you a Qualtrics survey to complete requesting your demographic information and public health agency placement choices.
5. Complete 454 Community Health Nursing (theory) prior to the Practicum or be concurrently enrolled during the Practicum.

Identify County/City Public Health Agency Information

For Community Health Nursing Practicum, you are required to complete 70 hours in an official public/community health setting. Practicum placement is contingent on accurate information (name, address, phone, website, contact person) for your three preferred community health sites. Faculty will attempt to place you in your first choice, however, when unavailable, they will attempt to place you in your second and third options. Incomplete or inaccurate information may result in a delay or inability to place you in a practicum site.

To determine an appropriate community health practicum site, search for your county health department on the Internet. The placement faculty will arrange your primary placement on your behalf; do not contact the agency.

If you reside in Wisconsin or neighboring states, you may find information about your county health department at the following websites:

• Wisconsin Public Health Departments
• Minnesota Public Health Departments
• Michigan Public Health Departments

If you reside in another state, search for your public health department information on the internet.

Want to learn more about Public Health Nurses? Check out Shining a Spotlight on Pennsylvania's Public Health Nurses.

1. Notification of placement for Practicum: After you have been placed at an agency, you will receive an e-mail with permission to register for the course. Most students who are placed will receive permission to register approximately four to six weeks prior to the start of the semester.
2. Practicum packets: Practicum packets including the course syllabus, confirmation of placement site, agency contact information, etc. will be sent to you and your mentor approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester. You are required to contact your assigned agency at the start of the semester to arrange a mutually agreeable Practicum field hours schedule.
3. Maintaining up-to-date prerequisites in CastleBranch: You are required to keep your health prerequisites up-to-date in CastleBranch until the completion of your Practicum field hours. You will receive renewal notice emails from CastleBranch approximately three weeks prior to the renewal due date.