Background Check DENIED

U.S.A. New Jersey

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Hello,

I was recentley rejected by my college to enter into their nursing program because I had a speeding offense and reckless driving back in 2004. I am so upset about this and spent so much money on my education just to have them tell me I cant be in the program for a speeding offense. Is this the case at most schools? I am not sure where to turn. Has anyone passed a background check in New Jersey to get into a nursing school with something like this on their record? Please help :cry:

Phoenix,

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, but all my mishaps occurred in California.

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u need to talk to a lawyer that works in this area, california has a couple. You need to find one in Jersey. I think that after talking with a lawyer you will have all your questions answered. Then then what every anybody else says, doesn't really mean much, because everyone is different and the lawyers know the game, this is what they do and they know what the schools and hospitals are looking for. It cost me 2 K to get mine off my record. Plus after seven years most police departments store your records, and don't look that far back on misdameanors only felonies.

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The last time I wrote something on this thread I mentioned a lawyer handling the case for me...I was apprehensive in giving the lawyer money to have the case handled because a few other lawyers in the area said that the case would not be dismissed. Now I may face the same diemma at a new school. I wanted to know if anyone else is a nursing student in NJ with any traffic/criminal violations that was able to continue with clinicals and if so what school or how where they able to continue? Any help is greatly appreciatted.

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Specializes in School, LTC, OB, LNC, Instructor, etc.

Hello, I hope this will help you.

Depending on your income and where in NJ you live, you could possibly get legal advice free from a Legal Services attorney. There are also agencies called EEOC, Equal Opportunity and if you feel you are unjustly discriminated they might take your case and non profits that help people with problems that they need legal advice to resolve.

I am not familiar with your whole story, so I am giving you general places to go. There are also elected officials who might be able to give you direction of how to go. Many of our State elected people are attorneys.

Don't give up if this is what you really want to do. After entering my 35 th year of nursing, I am seriously concerned that the direction that nursing has taken.

Good luck.

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Why is everyone so sue-happy? You got a speeding ticket, you broke the law. Why "deny" what happened instead of owning up to your mistake? So someone who has a lower GPA but no record SHOULD NOT be admitted into nursing school because you feel you should?

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Thank you DDV106 for your advice but its more complicated than that. Tyler you are an idiot!!

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Specializes in School, LTC, OB, LNC, Instructor, etc.

Hello Tyler,

I really hope that your comment wasn't directed toward me. No one said to sue anyone. It said to contact someone who is more familiar with the law to give advice and assistance as to what path to follow. Not every attorney takes their client's into court and sues. They also tell them how to take care of matters.

Your tone was rude, insulting and definitely judgemental. I hope you are not a nurse who would make comments like that. If you don't have anything nice to say, please say nothing. This is a place where we try to listen to each other and help when we can.

Happy New Year to you!

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cgreen203, I know this thread is old, but I have a question for you. I thought BCC did criminal background checks, but I didn't realize they checked driving history, too - if that's the case I'm screwed, too, as I have a traffic offense -- although it's fricken 12 years old. I have a massage license, and it didn't affect me...t understand hospitals not wanting to hire anyone with a convicted criminal background, but a driving offense?? This seems extreme…. Was there anything else that was told to you in regards to this? Was there something special about the reckless driving ticket? What school did you end up going to? Sorry for all the questions, but since you've been through this I would love some advice. I'm sure you're a very successful nurse by now!
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Reisskj, I'm pretty sure you're okay to go. I've had traffic violations (like everyone else) but during the nursing information orientation, I was told that minor traffic violations do not matter.

*I'm also clear for my criminal history background check.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
cgreen203, I know this thread is old, but I have a question for you. I thought BCC did criminal background checks, but I didn't realize they checked driving history, too - if that's the case I'm screwed, too, as I have a traffic offense -- although it's fricken 12 years old. I have a massage license, and it didn't affect me...t understand hospitals not wanting to hire anyone with a convicted criminal background, but a driving offense?? This seems extreme.... Was there anything else that was told to you in regards to this? Was there something special about the reckless driving ticket? What school did you end up going to? Sorry for all the questions, but since you've been through this I would love some advice. I'm sure you're a very successful nurse by now!

I suspect the issue was that while a lot of traffic tickets result in essentially infractions, that particular case was a misdemeanor, a higher level of criminal complaint than an infraction. Also, the original complaint was visible: 90 in a 70. It's one thing to be cited for, say, 5 over, but for 20 over? Might have actually been higher than that.. in any event, it's well over the limit and that normally doesn't exactly show good judgment. My suspicion is that while the BON may not have denied the application, the school didn't want to take the chance with their clinical sites, so they denied entrance and it also doesn't look good publicly if they're admitting "criminals" into the program, only to have licensure denied by the BON...

Remember, perception often is reality. After all, you wouldn't want your program to become known as the program that accepts "criminals," would you?

Don't get me wrong, I've worked with some great people that have a criminal past, that because of their past choices, have their future options severely limited. More than a couple of people I've worked with would have made excellent Nurses and Paramedics, but can't do it because of their past.

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I was clear, too. Thanks for responding! You're right; traffic violations don't count. Her reckless driving was a misdemeanor - completely different thing.

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Hey, I am having a similar issue, I just wish you would post more about your current situation. I hope you are now finally a nurse.

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