Backround Check Before Nursing School

obrnteacher · May 29, 2004

At our school we are beginning criminal checks but it is because the hospitals mandate it. I've been told that the BON in our state would consider each case separately but there is no guarentee that if you finish nursing, you would get to sit for boards. It is up to the individual student to contact the board. They will not talk to the nursing schools. If a student did complete the program, I would probably write a recommendation to the board depending on the student's ability and conduct.

I do agree that it would be nice to have the criminal checks done before hand. This was my first year teaching full-time and I was on the admission committee. I learned how hard of process it is to decide who can enter.

Hope this helps!

lisamc1RN, LPN · May 29, 2004

Our school does do a criminal background check.

danaRN2b · May 29, 2004

Our school just implemented the criminal background check for the students entering in the fall. Did your school charge you a fee for doing this? We had to pay $38.

lisamc1RN, LPN · May 29, 2004

Our school just implemented the criminal background check for the students entering in the fall. Did your school charge you a fee for doing this? We had to pay $38.

Yep. We pay $65 for it.

fiestynurse · May 29, 2004

There are still many states that don't require fingerprinting and background checks for licensure, let alone nursing school.

NewEnglandRN, RN · May 29, 2004

My school runs a CORI background check before you start clinicals.

Michelle

Still Riding · May 29, 2004

At my school we need to show up on september with a criminal check done within the last year.

imupallnite · May 29, 2004

the only thing i have ever been given a ticket for and ended up going to jail for 5 days, was a minor in possesion of alcohol. is that going to be a problem?

obrnteacher · May 29, 2004

Probably not. BUT be honest on your application. submit a letter with your application explaining the situation. This should be okay abut again can't guarentee it. Wish I could be more help. You could also talk to your dean of nursing or admission committee and let them know of the circumstances. Just remember to be honest. That's the important thing.

phxgoddess · May 29, 2004

You need to contact the Board of Nursing in the state where you want to be licensed. Doing this early, will hopefully save you a lot of problems later on. Good luck.

on the subject of background checks prior to nursing school. -

ASU requires a fingerprint/background clearance prior to clinicals.

That's two years into school, prior to acceptance in the BSN program.

This is a good "heads up" for people, but it is separate from licensure.

I asked my state board and received this reply:

"When you apply for licensure in AZ you have to answer 2 questions: Are you currently under investigation or is a disciplinary action pending against your nursing license or CNA certificate in any state or territory of the US? AND . . . have you ever been convicted, entered a plea of guilty, nolo contendre or no contest, or have you ever been sentenced, served time in jail or prison, or had probation or sentence deferred in any felony or undesignated offense? If you respond with a "yes", your application will be reviewed.

We also require fingerprints. If the report comes back positive, you will also be reviewed."

z's playa · May 29, 2004

the only thing i have ever been given a ticket for and ended up going to jail for 5 days, was a minor in possesion of alcohol. is that going to be a problem?

Forgive me if this sounds like a stupid question but were you the minor? I don't get why you spent 5 days in jail.

We have criminal reference checks at our school for both nursing and medicine. Summary offenses do not show up.