Completion of your Orientation course is MANDATORY and failure to complete Orientation may impact your ability to proceed in your program. Each online program will have an Orientation course opening four weeks before the program begins. You will have access to it through L.I.V.E, located in your MyWilkes Portal, and we strongly encourage you to take full advantage of all the resources provided within. It will hold program-related information, as well as guidance on how to navigate L.I.V.E and how to be a successful online student.

There are required components of Orientation that must be completed before the start of your courses. You will need a grade of 83 or higher to pass Orientation (the same is true for all courses in Graduate Nursing). This means you will have a grade of 100 on all assignments EXCEPT the quiz. The quiz requires at least one question correct to pass. Please contact your Orientation instructor for further guidance on your progress in Orientation.

If you do not successfully complete Orientation, the course will show as a “FAIL” and you will not be able to enroll in future term courses.

Please see short video below on logging into the MyWilkes Portal.

Your Student Advisor will be sending you an email reminder once Orientation opens and will be a resource for you throughout those four weeks.

Interested in syncing your Wilkes student account to your phone? Please review the below links for more information!

Iphone
Android

Your Academic Advisor will update your Degree Plan in Degree Works, which will outline your program course schedule. We strongly encourage you to review your degree plan and become familiar with it.

Download the degree plan templates to see a sample of program schedules. Please note your registration is subject to change based on several factors, including but not limited to transfer credits/gap analysis, academic progression, Passan School of Nursing registration policy, etc.

Registration FAQs:

• You will not see your courses in “LIVE” until Early Access opens. Early Access opens Friday before the start of the term.
• We are unable to register students that have a financial hold on their account. Make sure you are up to date on your payments and contact Financial Aid/Bursar with questions.
• Students who do not complete Orientation with an 83% or higher will be unable to get registered for their 2nd term. Please complete Orientation to ensure you can proceed in courses, and contact your Orientation instructor for further guidance.  
• Upon returning from a Leave of Absence, students must notify their Academic Advisor about their return. Failure to do so may impact your ability to get registered for that term.
• We register students according to seat availability, by section. We are unable to accommodate specific section (faculty) requests and/or requests to take courses with fellow peers.
• All registration is subject to change based on academic progression, clinical clearances, placement sites, financial clearances, etc.
• Your Academic Advisor will determine your degree plan (found in Degree Works) which outlines your required upcoming courses. Your Student Success Advisor and our team will assist you in getting registered for your courses during your first year enrolled in the program. After your first year, students will be able to register themselves in their courses per your degree plan.
• In the unexpected instance you are taking a clinical course and we do not have a preceptor with approved paperwork on file by the end of week 1 of the term, you will be able to stay in your didactic course, but we will need to remove your clinical course and schedule that course in the next term. We do not plan for this to occur, and our team works diligently to secure sites with paperwork before this deadline. Referrals are encouraged to help mitigate this from occurring.
• Students enrolling in the RNMSN program must become clinically cleared by the end of their first term’s add/drop period. This means you have submitted the intake form and all clearances are marked approved in Castlebranch before this deadline. Failure to be clinically cleared may result in your removal from classes.
• Students enrolling in the PGC program who bring in transfer credit and would take a clinical course in their 2nd term, must become clinically cleared by the end of their first term’s add/drop period. This means you have submitted the intake form and all clearances are marked approved in Castlebranch before this deadline. Failure to be clinically cleared may result in your removal from classes.
• Students need to be financially cleared to continue with their term courses. The university deadline to become financially cleared is 2 weeks before the start of the term. Failure to become and stay financially cleared may result in your removal from classes.
  • You can become financially cleared in one of the following ways:
    • Sign up for a payment plan on the student portal. You must sign up for a payment plan each term.
    • Pay your balance in full on the student portal.
    • Apply for and receive Financial Aid. Please make sure you receive enough financial aid and/or a loan to cover the complete balance owed.
    • Submit a signed deferment agreement. This must be submitted every term deferment plans to be used.

To check your registration, please follow the following steps:

1. Log into portal.wilkes.edu.
2. You should be on the “Home” screen (look towards the top of the screen to see the word “Home”). You can always tell which screen you are on because the name of the screen should be highlighted. For instance, “Home” should be highlighted in yellow. Next to “Home” you will see “Student”. Click “Student”.
3. Select “Graduate Students” from the drop-down menu.
4. Find the My Registration box. It should be the first option.
5. Under “My Registration” there should be an option titled “”View Your Student Schedule”. (There are two options. Try both!)
6. Make sure to navigate to the appropriate term you are being registered for (example, Spring 2022), and hit ‘Submit’.

Students who have been in their program for 1 year or more will follow the below steps for self-registration:

Please note: Students who have not been in the program for 1 year or more will not be eligible for self-registration

To begin this process, please review your degree plan on the DegreeWorks Dashboard. To view your degree plan, please follow these steps:

1. Log into the student portal at: portal.wilkes.edu
2. On the “home” page of the portal, scroll about halfway down the page
3. On the left-hand side, you’ll see a link labeled “Degree Works”. Click here.
4. You might have to provide your WIN, but from here, you can view your "workbook".
5. Click the "plans" tab, then select your program.
6. From here, you can see your degree plan and the courses you'll be taking each term.
7. NOTE: you will register yourself for the courses listed under the “TERM YEAR” column.

After checking DegreeWorks, watch this self-registration guide video on enrolling in classes. After checking DegreeWorks, watch this self-registration guide video on enrolling in classes. All eligible students must register themselves for courses at least two weeks prior to the course beginning so they can become financially cleared for the term on time. All eligible students must register themselves for courses at least two weeks prior to the course beginning so they can become financially cleared for the term on time.

Please note your Student Advisor will send you more information about this process when the time comes and will be here to further assist you if you have questions.

Here at Wilkes we offer many different ways for you to finance your education. Students are able to apply for financial aid, make tuition payments, and/or set up payment plans.  We encourage you to go to the Financial Aid website, see below, and familiarize yourself with all of your options.

Please watch this short video that briefly reviews the Financial Aid information you can find on your MyWilkes portal.

Download Student Tuition Bill Flyer

Financial Aid Contact Information:

Graduate financial aid instructions (PDF)

Loans and limits (PDF)

Financial aid information

financialaid@wilkes.edu

570-408-4512

Bursar’s Office Contact Information:

Bursar's office information

570-408-4960

Scholarship Opportunities

Wilkes University provides, but does not endorse, scholarship resources for students. Students are responsible for completing all scholarship applications. Additional resources are added as they are received and are subject to change.

• Scholarship Guide for Nurse Practitioners: A site with an overview of many scholarship opportunities: https://www.npschools.com/blog/scholarships-for-np-students
• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA): National Health Service Corps: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/eligibility-requirements
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): Available annually: https://www.aanp.org/education/professional-funding-support/scholarships
• The Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania (NFP): For PA residents only, available annually: https://thenfp.org/
• Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania: https://www.nightingaleawards.org/

Each course that you are registered for will have required course materials that you will be responsible for obtaining.  We strongly encourage you to check what the required materials are for each course at least 3-4 weeks prior to the start of your courses.   Students are able to see what materials are required through the University bookstore, see link below.

Ordering books

Barnes & Noble Wilkes University Bookstore

Book shop at Wilkes

7 South Main Street

Wilkes Barre, PA 18701

570-208-4700

STORE HOURS

• Mon 9am-5pm
• Tue 9am-5pm
• Wed 9am-5pm
• Thu 9a-5pm
• Fri 9am-5pm
• Sat 10am-6pm
• Sun 12pm-5pm

Here at Wilkes we pride ourselves on the personal attention we provide to our students. With that said, we have many different departments and individuals that can help you along your journey here at Wilkes. Each department / individual plays a different role and can help you with various needs: such as, admission requirements, financial aid questions, registration questions, placement and preceptor questions, etc… Please watch the short video below and don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Department Contacts:
Student Success
Email: Studentsuccess@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu
Call: 1-570-821-0338

Wilkes Financial Aid
financialaid@wilkes.edu
Phone: (570) 408-4512
Fax: (570) 408-4939

Wilkes Bursar’s Office
billing@wilkes.edu
Phone: (570)-408-4960

Wilkes Registrar
registrar@wilkes.edu
Phone: 570-408-4961
Fax: 570-408-4004

Wilkes IT Helpdesk
helpdesk@wilkes.edu
Phone: 570-408-4357

CastleBranch
Phone: 1-888-723-4263

Clinical Placement Team (Master's level only)
placement@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Here at Wilkes you have a dedicated team of Student Advisors that are here to help you throughout your program. Meet the team below and feel free to reach out to us at:

studentsuccess@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu
570-821-0338

Alyssa Barajas
570-846-0362
Alyssa.Barajas@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Image

Miguel Brady
570-821-0317
Miguel.Brady@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Image

Taylor Brehm
570-821-0326
Taylor.Brehm@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Image

Haley Clebanoff
570-846-0363
Haley.Clebanoff@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Image

Allyson Strasen
570-821-0332
Text: 570-413-0099
Allyson.Strasen@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

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Lauren Maisano
570-821-0313
Lauren.Maisano@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

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Kenneth Nellis (they/them)
570-821-0318
Kenneth.Nellis@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

Image

Derek Reed
570-846-0378
derek.reed@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

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Kaitlyn Spina, MA (she/her)
570-846-0361
Kaitlyn.Spina@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu

On this page you will find many helpful videos that should be a resource to you as you begin your first courses. These videos will cover anything from logging into your MyWilkes Portal to navigating your courses in L.I.V.E. Please take a moment to watch through these videos and bookmark this page for future reference.

Billing and Financial aid

Logging in and Accessing Your Email

Class Schedule and Degree Works

Ordering books

Presentation for Graduates: Dr. Caruso & Mr. Press Interviewing Skills
VIDEO
Video Passcode: +Y1+m2t9

For more information about clinical placement, please consult the PDF resources listed below.

Please note that the following information is for Master’s level clinical placement and does not pertain to the DNP program.

Reminder: Please note that prior to beginning and continuing in any of the nursing programs with Wilkes University, you must be located in an authorized state and be licensed in the state where you intend to complete your clinical activities, per that state’s clinical requirements. For more information please visit our State Authorizations site.
Students who change their address need to update this with Wilkes University by submitting a Student Address Update Request. When changing addresses, students should notify their Student Advisor right away to discuss placement implications.

• InPlace
  • InPlace Logbook Instructions
  • Student Guide – How to Log Into InPlace
  • Mandatory Clinical Preparation Form Tutorial Video (formerly Intake Survey)(Must be viewed on the Google Chrome browser)
• Castlebranch
  • How to Create a Castlebranch Tutorial Video (Must be viewed on the Google Chrome browser)
  • PA Child Abuse History Check – Volunteer Only
    • Child Abuse History Clearance Example
  • PA Fingerprints – Dept of Human Services
    • PA Fingerprints -Dept of Human Services - Physical Mail-In
    • Fingerprints Clearance Example
  • Wilkes University Flu Declination
    • Students who do not want to get the vaccine must sign and upload this declination form
  • Wilkes University Physical Form
  • Wilkes TB Questionnaire
  • Wilkes University APRN Clinical Clearance Guide
    • Please refer to this document for further information about clearance completion
  • Students are responsible for monitoring rejections in Castlebranch and resolving the clearance needed. Items must be marked approved in Castlebranch to be clinically cleared.
    Please check Castlebranch for these notices and refer to the below documents for further information.
    • TB Rejection Notice
    • Flu Rejection Notice
• Referrals
  • Referral Submission Form
  • Referrals are due no later than 4 weeks prior to the start of the term.
  • Clinical Quick Guides will outline clinical course objectives and clinical experience requirements.
    Please review that your referral will meet the qualifications needed for your clinical course.
    • To review your scheduled clinical course, please consult your DegreeWorks page in your Student Portal and contact your Academic Advisor with any questions pertaining to your degree plan.
  • Referrals are nurses or physicians with whom you have made a past connection. Before submitting a referral, you should be sure this person has agreed to precept you for the requested term and can meet the requirements of the clinical course.
  • Students must accept financial responsibility for any referral submitted in which the site/preceptor requires payment. Wilkes University and the placement team will not reimburse students for preceptor payment.
  • Please allow our team 2 weeks to connect with referrals submitted. We will reach out to preceptors through multiple modalities, but if we cannot reach the referred preceptor within the first few weeks, please know we will encourage the student to help facilitate this communication. Please remember a preceptor is not confirmed until all preceptor paperwork and an Affiliation Agreement are on file.
  • For each preceptor, please note the following documents will be needed. Our team will assist in this process, however if the student is able to acquire these documents it will help speed up operations, particularly for referrals.
    • Current Nurse or Doctor’s CV/Resume
    • State License
    • RX Prescription License (not required for FNP)
    • Board Certification
• Geisinger Employee Referrals
  • Geisinger employees should review the Geisinger Employee Referral Application Instructions and submit the Geisinger Rotation Application.
    • Please be aware that Geisinger DOES NOT allow students to Cold Call or Email their providers/clinics/departments for placement.
    • Geisinger requires applications to be submitted at least 8 months in advance.
    • To submit a referral for Gesinger, students must follow the above instructions and submit the above application.
    • Students will be responsible for helping to collect all required preceptor paperwork from their referral.
    • This process only applies to referrals for Geisinger healthcare agencies
    • Students must notify their Student Advisor if they are pursing a Geisinger Referral.
• FAQ
  • Q: How soon should I start working on my clinical clearances?
    • A:You should be working on your clinical clearances as soon as possible. Each document you upload is reviewed and approved by a human, not a computer, and can take up to 10 days to be reviewed. On average, 25% of clinical documentation is rejected from failing to meet the program’s standards. The sooner you submit your documentation, the more time you will gain if issues arise.
  • Q: I have a previous CastleBranch account from another school. Can I use this?
    • A: Students must still purchase a Wilkes CastleBranch account but may call CastleBranch to see if they can transfer account information and merge with the correct Wilkes package. If not, you will have to upload the documentation to your newly purchased account.
  • Q: I do not live in Pennsylvania. Do I have to complete the Pennsylvania fingerprint and child abuse requirements?
    • A: All students must complete the Pennsylvania fingerprint and child abuse requirements, regardless of location. Please note that some states may have you complete additional requirements as well.
  • Q: I still have not received my fingerprint results or my child abuse history results. Will this impact my ability to meet the deadline?
    • A: Receiving fingerprint results and child abuse history results can take up to ~100 days to receive from the Department of Human Services. As long as you are on the final step of each of these clearance items, our team will consider you conditionally cleared for the deadline.
  • Q: One of my clinical clearance items was rejected. Why?
    • A: For any item marked “Rejected” simply click on the “+” sign next to the requirement to view helpful guidance and the recommended next steps. Items can be rejected on technicalities (such as the date not being on lab results or your physical sheet). If you believe there is an error on why your item was rejected, you can contact Placement at placement@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu for additional assistance.
  • Q: My CPR certification was rejected and they follow AHA guidelines.
    • A: All students must get their CPR certification through the American Heart Association. We do not accept American Red Cross CPR certifications. Wilkes University only accepts CPR Certifications from the American Heart Association. No other CPR certifications will be accepted.
  • Q: Fingerprints-
    • Q: Can I use fingerprints from my job?
      • No, these must be completed through CastleBranch
    • Q: Can I go to any IndentoGo location?
      • Yes or to the police station
    • Q: Do students get fingerprint cards in the mail or is this something available online?
      • They can schedule an appointment with IdentoGo or they can get a mail-in kit
    • Q: How long does it take to get fingerprint results?
      • Can take ~100 days
      • You will be determined clinically clear if all fingerprint paperwork has been submitted by the deadline (pending fingerprints results alone will not result in your removal from the placement sourcing list)
  • Q: Mandatory Clinical Preparation Form
    • Q: I am a new student. Do I need to complete an Intake survey?
      • Yes
    • Q: I completed an Intake survey last term. Do I need to complete an Intake survey again?
      • Yes
    • Q: I already have a confirmed placement. Do I need to complete an Intake survey?
      • Yes
    • Q: I submitted a referral form. Do I need to complete an Intake survey?
      • Yes
    • I am staying at my current site. Do I need to complete an Intake survey?
      • Yes
    • I am planning to participate in Summer 2024 clinicals. Do I need to complete an Intake Survey?
      • Yes
  • Q: TB Skin Test-
    • Q: What does 2-step mean?
      • There are 2 separate injections and 2 separate readings that occur, 1-3 weeks a part.
    • Q: What is accepted?
      • 2-step TB skin test OR QuantiFeron Gold Blood Test
      • If results are positive, provide a QuantiFeron Gold Blood Test. If blood test is positive, submit a clear chest x-ray and TB Questionnaire
    • Q: Can I submit a chest x-ray?
      • Yes, with a TB Questionnaire, and must be within past 12 months
  • Q: Titers-
    • How long are they good for?
      • Titer results do not expire and are good for a lifetime.
    • Q: I have a religious exemption -how is that handled?
      • The student can complete the clearance letter and if the site accepts the reason for declination the clearance letter can be uploaded to CB. This will need to have an override because it will be rejected by CB initially. Please reach out to the Placement team for further assistance in this situation.
    • Q: Varicella immunization- do I need a titer?
      • You can provide documentation from a doctor verifying history of varicella
  • Q: What is required of a healthcare provider plan?
    • A:  If a student’s clearance submission results in needing to provide a healthcare provider plan, we recommend that you set up an appointment with your primary care provider to provide feedback on your results. Your provider will need to create a letter for you to upload to CastleBranch stating their recommended action plan and sign and date the letter. For example, if a titer for Hepatitis B has a negative result, your care provider may recommend beginning a vaccination series for Hepatitis B or they may sign off that no further action is required.
  • Q: How often do I renew my clearances?
    • A: Each clearance item has a separate renewal timeline. Please review each clearance item in this packet to reference their renewal date. CastleBranch will e-mail you with a 60 day and 30 day notification prior to an item expiring.
    • It is the student’s responsibility to maintain their clinical clearance status. Please note that failure to renew your clearance items can impact your ability to attend your clinical rotation and document your hours.
  • Q: What is the Graduate Clinical Uniform & Supplies?
    • A: Graduate student dress code is dependent on the requirements of the clinical setting, and the student is responsible for discussing with the preceptor. If a lab coat is required, students should wear a short, white lab coat.
  • Q: My CPR doesn’t have a signature because they sent an electronic version. Will this work?
    • A: Yes
  • Q: Covid-19- Is a copy of my card acceptable?
    • A: Yes
  • Q: Covid-19 - Is there an exemption for this?
    • Students can select “No”. No additional declination form needs to be completed; however, this can potentially impact the student being placed if the site requires the vaccine.
  • Q: How do I contact CastleBranch?
    • Contact Information: 1-888-723-4263

Please note that the following information does not pertain to the DNP program.

Learn more about the clinical placement process by reading our Wilkes University Placement Onboarding Overview.

Refer to the Placement SOP for critical information pertaining to Wilkes University Clinical Placement. This document will outline Student Expectations, Clinical Clearances, Declinations, Referrals, and Mid-Clinical Activity.

Mandatory clinical preparation forms, formerly known as intake surveys, are required each term a student plans to take clinicals. You will receive a link to complete the mandatory clinical preparation form from our Placement team.

A mandatory clinical preparation form will be required to be deemed clinically cleared. Students who have completed clinical clearances but have not submitted this form for that term will NOT be eligible to be on placement’s list in the upcoming term.

Some students may believe they are in a situation that may not require the mandatory clinical preparation form. Please see below for a breakdown of situations that require this document.

Please review the Online Photo Submission Information form for your Wilkes Student ID card before proceeding. After your photo submission, please see below for the order process:

1. The Office of Public Safety receives your photo submission
2. Within 5 business days, you will receive an email if the photo is accepted or declined
3. If accepted, your Wilkes ID card will be printed at the time of acceptance. If declined, you will need to resubmit a new photo that adheres to our guidelines listed in the form.
4. The Wilkes ID card is sent to the Registrar’s Office to be mailed out to the address that is on your Wilkes file.
   • Please note: There is no way to track delivery
5. Wilkes ID cards are mailed out within 3-5 business days from acceptance

Additional Information:

• Your first Wilkes ID card is provided free of charge.
• Replacement cards are $30.
• You must wear your ID at all times in the clinical setting.
• Your Wilkes ID card will have your name, photo, and "Wilkes University" on it.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to: Lyndi Moran (Office Manager Public Safety) lyndi.moran@wilkes.edu or (570) 408-3817

Congratulations on completing your program and being well on your way to taking your Board Certification Exam. To better prepare you for your next steps, Wilkes offers a scholarly review course in your final semester with materials and resources to assist you after completing your program.

Quick Notes:

• NSG-590 Scholarly Review is a 3-credit course offered to students in the MSN and RNMSN programs in their final semester.
• NSG-591 Scholarly Prep for NP Boards is a 2-credit course offered to students in the PGC/PGAPRN program in their final semester.
• In your course, you will find “Preparing for Certification and Licensure” instructions in the Content tab.
  • This houses information regarding the following:
    • Exams for your respective concentration
    • Board, state license, and DEA application instructions
    • Contact information
    • Prescriptive authority requirements

Transfer Credit Notice:

Wilkes accepts transfer credits based on course information and the knowledge of certification requirements.

In the event that Wilkes University accepts transfer credits (using the submitted documents), students are responsible for additional information and requests related to transferred courses made by relevant certification organizations (ANCC and AANP). This may impact the ability to complete board certification. Students are responsible for assuming the cost associated with other certification requirements.

More information can be found on pages 42-43 of the Graduate Nursing Handbook. In addition, further information on specific certification is available to students in clinical/practicum courses of each graduate nursing program concentration.

Any questions? Please reach out to Annie Lenahan, Graduate Staff Assistant at: grdnsglicbrdfms@wilkes.edu