Are Hospitals Checking Credit Reports For new Hires?

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I'm not up for a job but I received a package from a big hospital (several large locations in my area) for a volunteering opportunity. I expected the child abuse and criminal records check but there's a credit check too!

Seriously? I had some bad marks a whlie ago and overall my credit isn't all that great. How much do credit reports matter? I'm hoping to apply for a job there when I graduate.

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Credit checks are becoming more and more common. Have never heard of anyone being denied employment because of a bad one though, although it would be possible depending upon the criteria of the entity requesting the check.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Credit check can be the straw that breaks the camels back. I.e. if you have a petty theft on your record, and a poor credit score.

Something along those lines.

You won't be denied employment solely around poor credit.

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I heard one in my area was doing it..but I haven't heard anyone denied either. I got offered a job at the facility as well as the one I'm at now and my credit isn't exactly stellar.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

If it makes you feel better, my credit score is around 300 - with 4 unpaid accounts on it - and I had no troubles getting work at a Hospital, School District, Military, ect. with credit checks required for all of the jobs.

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They have to do background checks at the school I go to, and one of them is through TransUnion to make sure that we're giving them correct SSN and address info. Makes sense because what's the point of going to nursing school in I'm not legal to work in this country or something.

And based on my understanding (I had concerns myself and happened to talk to the FAFSA lady at my school who knew a lot about credit stuff, and she helped me, lol), an employer would look into what caused the a credit score to go down. Like, it wouldn't go down much at all (a point? half a point?) just for checking my SSN and address. Plus they wouldn't deny me employment because my credit report said that my SSN and address was checked for nursing school.

I don't know. Maybe I'm not concerned enough bc my credit is fine. Should I be?

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Specializes in Army Medic.
They have to do background checks at the school I go to, and one of them is through TransUnion to make sure that we're giving them correct SSN and address info. Makes sense because what's the point of going to nursing school in I'm not legal to work in this country or something.

And based on my understanding (I had concerns myself and happened to talk to the FAFSA lady at my school who knew a lot about credit stuff, and she helped me, lol), an employer would look into what caused the a credit score to go down. Like, it wouldn't go down much at all (a point? half a point?) just for checking my SSN and address. Plus they wouldn't deny me employment because my credit report said that my SSN and address was checked for nursing school.

I don't know. Maybe I'm not concerned enough bc my credit is fine. Should I be?

The only jobs I'm aware of that actually use your credit report history to determine if you should be employed or not are those dealing with government security clearances, banking, and other financial related jobs.

I fail to see how some one incurring debt and then not being able to find work in today's economic climate in order to pay those debts off is an assessment of how they will perform in a medical setting.

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Specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

Credit checks have been pretty standard practice for awhile in the corporate world.... I think companies feel that if you mismanage your own money, you may be cavalier with theirs as well. Not saying it's right, but that's the philosophy. I wouldn't be worried about it preventing you from getting a nursing job however. They probably just include it because for some positions (CEO, etc.) it may be a necessary step.

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

Our hospital does it as part of a background check. It does seem to be getting more and more common even though it does seem to be a little invasive.

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there are bean counters that compile stats to see who are the best employees. businesses want to know this info (because it saves them $$$), the data is all over the place. people with poor credit scores are "less likely" to be good employees than those with good credit scores.

also, past employers don't give much info these days (potential liability issues), so employers are using credit reports, psych test and so on to try to figure out potential employees.

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Wow, great feedback!! This is really good to know. Thank you!!

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