[NRSKarenRN]

Verifying Nurses’ Backgrounds — How Much Should We Know?

Carol Dunbar, APRN, BC
Nursing Spectrum
Masthead Date January 26, 2004
http://community.nursingspectrum.com....cfm?AID=11290


Also see:
Pyrek KM, Healthcare serial killers:recognizing the red flags, Forensic Nurse available at http://www.forensicnursemag.com/articles/391feat1.html

[NRSKarenRN]

Any response?

[traumaRUs]

I think these cases are very sad for both the patients and the nursing profession. As to how much info should be given to future employers, certainly if a nurse is convicted of a crime or been involved and disciplined for an event - that should go on to the next job. However...many times many people are questioned regarding an incident without indicating they are guilty of a crime. I don't think every mistake should be a matter of record, unless it shows negligence or a pattern of mistakes.

[Havin' A Party!]

Karen -- Agree with the gist of the article.

Don't have a problem with the psychological screening, reporting to Boards and other standards discussed so long as they apply to ALL in health care... not just nurses.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by LarryG

Karen -- Agree with the gist of the article.

Don't have a problem with the psychological screening, reporting to Boards and other standards discussed so long as they apply to ALL in health care... not just nurses.

ITA!!

I would want my loved ones protected. I personally have NO problem with having background checks done on me....and they have been.

I have NOTHING to hide. And I want the same for all patients. We are not the most-trusted profession for NO reason, right????

OH and yes, all medical/allied health professionals should be held to the same standard nurses would be. INCLUDING DOCTORS! (which is NOT the case today) I could tell you a serious HORROR story that I personally witnessed years ago. It's high time we "cleaned" up that profession, too.

[jnette]

Originally Posted by LarryG

Karen -- Agree with the gist of the article.

Don't have a problem with the psychological screening, reporting to Boards and other standards discussed so long as they apply to ALL in health care... not just nurses.

Ditto ! Agree.

[hbscott]

In my current position I had to have a 15 year background check with a polygraph administered by an agency doing the background check. In my health care employment background checks it appears that all that was looked at was my license status and sometimes my references. Why is that?

The IT field is holding me to higher accountability than the health care profession it seems and that is a little puzzling.

-HBS

[-jt]

<<all medical/allied health professionals should be held to the same standard nurses would be. INCLUDING DOCTORS! (which is NOT the case today)>>

Maybe it should be a national uniform standard instead of having different rules determined by each state. In NY, these background checks, called "credentialing" do not pertain to nurses but are already required for physicians, physician’s assistants, dentists and podiatrists here. In response to the Cullen story, there is a sudden push by our governor to expand the law to include the same credentialing for nurses, pharmacists and respiratory therapists as well...... to protect our pts and their safety in the hospital. Oddly enough though, our Gov is making no such big push with the safe staffing ratio and mandatory ot bills that were designed to protect our pts and their safety in the hospitals. I dont know how he can keep talking about how important it is to keep our pts safe but still not yet have passed the safe staffing & mandatory ot bills into law. Seems a little hypocritical to me. Or as my grandpa would say "hes a talkin' outta both a side a heez a face".

[mattsmom81]

My question would be : Is there any meat to any comment made negatively? OR is it just a personality conflict?? or personal 'opinion' from a company man/ manager?? (who may have had a beef with the nurse???) ie do they support union activity? Do they speak out for patient care issues/better staffing?

IME these 'background check' organizations seem to me to be mostly a PR / rumor mill committee for good ol' boy healthcare executives trying to protect the corporate staus quo and only hire 'yes sir' type employees.

HOW does this fit with our professional image of a good nurse????