CORI checks

[ljgonz]

HI!

I'm a nursing student and about to begin clinicals this comming fall. Im ready and excited to begin everything but I do have one concern. When I was 18 (I'm 22 now) I was arrested when I threw a party at my house. "Delivering alcohol to minors" was the official offense. I got a lawyer and was put on probation for a year but nothing else came of it. But I was still arrested and I don't know how hospitals (for clinicals) or potential employers will see it. Does anyone have any input about this kind of stuff?? It's really embarressig but I need to ask someone about it.

thanks

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

Since every school and state is different, embarassing as it may be, you will probably have to contact someone to find out what exactly this means for you.

My school does a background (criminal history) before you are accepted into the program. If there is anything that would prohibit you from attending clinicals at any of the hospitals, you are not accepted, period. They also will strongly encourage you to contact the BON before you start classes if ANYTHING is on your record...that way you don't pay for X amount of years of school for nothing.

The main thing is do not lie about what happened even though you received probation. Omission is considering lying to the BON and to many schools. This could rear it's ugly head either #1 when you do your clinicals or #2 when you get ready to test for your NCLEX and become licensed so I would do some serious checking it out with your school and BON before too much longer.

I wish you luck!!!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

The only clinicals sites that required a background check for us was during our psych rotations. But other than that, I don't think the hospitals did background checks, we just had to have up-to-date immunizations, CPR certification, and CNA certification. And I don't think our school did a background check before we were accepted into the program. Like the previous poster said, every state is different. Even if they do a background check, I don't really see how that would affect anything. Just be up front and honest about it. I wish you the best of luck!! :)

[ljgonz]

The only clinicals sites that required a background check for us was during our psych rotations. But other than that, I don't think the hospitals did background checks, we just had to have up-to-date immunizations, CPR certification, and CNA certification. And I don't think our school did a background check before we were accepted into the program. Like the previous poster said, every state is different. Even if they do a background check, I don't really see how that would affect anything. Just be up front and honest about it. I wish you the best of luck!! :)

Thanks for the input. Honesty IS the best policy. I was a dumb high school kid and everyone makes mistakes. I looked at some other posts about similar problems and it seems like other people have been worse off than me and still get through it. Really gives me hope that what I did when I was 18 will not end up haunting me for the rest of my life. I just have to be honest and upfront about it. Thanks again for responding!