At the end of our last semester, they announced that all nursing students will be required to have a criminal background check done...at their own expense. The reasoning, they say, is because several students apparently had felonies and were unable to take the state boards. They also stated that if there were any felonies found, the student would be dismissed from the program with no recourse whatsoever.
I went and got my background check without any problems but my concern is, what if a student had a felony 10, 15, even 20 years prior. Is this really a fair way to do things?
In our state, when a background check is done for boards and a felony is found, the person has the option of meeting with the board and explaining the circumstances. This gives the board the option of giving a probationary liscense, permanent liscense, or telling the person sorry.
Does your school have a requirement like this and if so is there any recourse for the student who may have "messed up", but is now on the right road? Your opinions would be appreciated!
