BON and Background Check

[Camillus_Was_a_Murse, BSN, RN]

Hey everybody! Since my last post, I’ve made it to my last semester of nursing school and I am so excited to be almost done. I had a thought that’s been bugging me for a while, and lurking on the boards hasn’t turned up anything relevant. I’ve been concerned about my work history prior to entering nursing school, and how (or if) it’ll effect my background check for my RN licensing with the BON. 
 

I’d been working food service since high school about ten years ago, and never had any significant problems other than minor write-ups for showing up late a few times per job. But being young and immature for quite a while, I took advantage of New Mexico being an at will employment state. I submitted resignation letters to all but one of my past employers. Most of the time when I was younger, I didn’t really care if I was considered “rehireable” by a company I left and didn’t realize that this could impact my future as a nurse until recently. Most of the companies I worked for here in NM wouldn’t consider you rehireable if you didn’t work your last scheduled shift, and my immature younger self would just find a cover and skip out. I definitely regret being that person, and I like to think I’ve matured out of that phase of my life because I certainly won’t do it again. 
 

Sooooo now I’m panicking a bit after hearing that previous employers stating that a former employee is not “rehireable” in the background check could negatively impact even getting an RN license. Other than my work history, there really isn’t anything in my background that I’m worried about (mental health question got taken care of at least). Does anyone have any relevant experience with this? Is this going to be the end of my career before it even starts? Just looking for some guidance and/or reassurance. Thanks in advance y’all. 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The background check for the BON is not employer references. They’re looking at criminal history. Licensing isn’t going to be an issue. 

However, be prepared to answer questions at an interview, because employers do look at job history. 

[Iris S., ASN, CNA, LVN]

So now that you know a background check isn't about employment history, you should learn what your former employers are allowed to say, or not allowed to say. Here in California, they wouldn't be allowed to state anything other than, start date, end date, position and responsibilities. There are ways around that, but people don't bother. 

 

I worked in another industry for 20 years before I became a nurse, and nobody contacted, nor cared, about my non-nursing past. 

Nuses are always understaffed, they don't care too much about your past, they care how soon you can start.