Background Checks and Healthcare???
I work for an organization which provides nursing education and other healthcare related programs. Does anyone know what the recommendations or best practices are regarding background checks for those looking to enter nursing, in regards to how far the inquiry should go (i.e. 7 years, 10 years, indefinitely)?
I work for a similar organization and depending on the career of choice you will need to have access to several options. For nursing I defer to the board of nursing. For some of our other medical careers there is some gray area. Always make sure to error on the side of caution, to complete a background check before class to ensure no issues with employment.
I think it's best to refer students to the Ohio Board of Nursing. We do have disclosure statements to ensure students have been informed properly.
I thought they went back 7 years.
I know that even misdemeanors as juveniles are noted in our state. Hospitals and medical facilities want a clear record.
We require a federal FBI background check and drug testing for all nursing candidates before they are accepted into the program and another before they graduate. I believe that this is required by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Depending on what the offenses are, they may not be able to participate in clinicals, therefore not eligible to enroll in the nursing program. The fingerprint results are from age 18+.
These checks can go back age 18. If a student has a major incident, he/she should not be permitted to start the program as problems may arise when getting a clinical site assignment, much less the Board of Nursing permitting the person to take the N-Clex.
I think background checks are a very important and necessary need in todays world of healthcare.
We require background checks for our students being that we are a medical facility. This needs to be done by the eighth week of attendance. Often during the entrance interview, potential students are asked about prior run-ins with the law. They say no, only to find out that they have felonies on their records. No medical facility in our state will accept an employee with this on their record.
LISA,
You may want to contact the Ohio Board of Nursing for guidance on that topic.
Kimberly Stein
