I went through the background check HELL in Texas in 2003. I was fortunate enough in that I was only about 2 years into a BS RN program in college and decided to simultaneously take a short vocational course to get my CNA so I could start applying at the major hospitals as a PCT (Patient Care Tech) while still finishing my RN. Boy, was I dropped into a vat of boiling reality. About 8 years prior to returning to college at 42 years old in 2003 I had written several checks all under $100 for groceries, etc. and then closed my account and had to move. It took about 1-2 years before I realized these checks had hit my prior bank account and then went into warrant. I found out by being pulled over for a burnt off tail light and then I was taken to jail for the warrants. So, I have Class C Misdemeanor offenses on my record. All fines and fees were paid so all matters closed BUT I pled "no contest" which is the same as a guilty plea. It is on my record for LIFE...as if I had been a serial murderer....so YEAH!!! Here's the real kicker: I was taking a full load in college working on my nursing pre-reqs and also taking the crash course of about 6-8 weeks to get my CNA. I made it and got my CNA and applied and went through permanent offers of employment from FOUR major hospitals in the DFW area. Within a few days of my start date, every one RESCINDED (removed/retracted) their offers stating the information on my prior misdemeanors prevented their "risk management/admin hiring board" to hire me. They did a background check and YES, I was full disclosure on their application about my misdemeanors thinking there would be no way they would reject me based on a few returned check offenses from 8-9 years prior...right? By the way, it is better to disclose it on the application because they WILL do a full background report and you will only look like a LIAR in addition to whatever they find on your background report so just throw it up out of the gate people.
Now also add to this that I have been a paralegal for 22 years prior to this so I was interviewed by 2 DONs (Director of Nurses) at these hospitals and 2 ER nurse managers. After they saw my resume with my computer skills and legal background and seeing a print out of my grades in A&P I and II, they were literally salivating and couldn't wait to get me in their group. Some JACK WAGON in the hospital's "risk management / hiring approval board" pulled the plug. Again, this happened at FOUR of the major hospitals, Texas Health Resources, Tenet...etc. My legal professional and personal references all checked out, my grades were excellent and my prior work history in the legal field was excellent. This is what plays in my brain about all of this...some little 22 year old who has a degree in business is sitting in their "risk management/admin" hiring dept and they get the background report back and put a big red REJECT stamp on my background report and application as well as many other people's from what I am reading on nurse posting boards and blogs like this one. I am apparently not alone so I wanted to share my experience as well.
NICE HUH?!!!
I also petitioned the BON in Austin to pre-approve me through a Declaratory Order to sit for the NCLEX and I was cleared from them.
What good does a BS RN with state licensure if NO CREDIBLE HOSPITAL WILL HIRE YOU?!
This is just absolutely bone ***** CRAZY. AND...let's see, with our record aging population of the baby boomers which I am a part of --- the health care field and health care providers will be strained now and going forward in the next 10-15 years more than it has ever been in HISTORY!!!
Oh, and another nice ironic note to all of this is my mother who is in her 80s now was a medical recruiter the last 10 years before she retired in her early 70s so I know "what's up".
Can someone FIX THIS CRAZINESS??? It will obviously have to be on a judicial level and it will take some serious kicking up the legislative ladder to get it done.
Bottom Line is this:
If you think you have anything on your background, even Class C Misdemeanors...disclose it up front and it may serve you well if you apply at hospitals for non-nursing positions to see if they would even give you a second look. Wouldn't you rather do that then bust your a... in nursing school which by the way folks, as you all know is hard as h..... You are taking pre-med classes where the drop out rates are 50-70%, and you have the 2 strike rule in most colleges so if you retake it you better make a solid B or A to have a rat's chance when you apply for nursing school - the last portion of your degree plan and you are, depending on the school one of 1000-2500 applicants applying for 150-300 slots...you get in and many have to apply with decent GPAs 2 or 3 times before they get into nursing school...you make it through and you take your NCLEX with the BON and you get that approval also so YEAH!!! Now you are ready to apply for what you have worked so hard to get...that nursing position with a major hospital or clinic facility and you interview, butterflies in your stomach...you may tell several family members and friends about your job offer from one of the big hospitals in your city and you start in 10 days. You go to your mailbox and find a letter from the hospital which includes a printout of your background report and a short form letter from the hospital rescinding their job offer.
Your guts are now shreaded and laying on your floor and you start crying.
Here's a question I have...does anyone remember the CNA several years ago that was driving home from being out with friends at 2 or 3 in the morning and she admitted to having consumed alcohol and she hit a homeless man under an underpass and KNEW she had a dying man half way impailed in her windshield and pulled into her garage and left him there to DIE through the rest of the night/morning before calling a couple of friends to go with her to dump his body at a local part...SHE WAS EMPLOYED BY A MAJOR HOSPITAL.
