6 DUIs, felony child neglect and now a nursing student

Published

A friend has 6 DUI convictions (3 within the last 10 yrs), felony child neglect (her husband got sole custody of their kids), and is obviously an alcoholic and bulimic. She was fired from her dietitians job at a hospital and is now in nursing school/ASN. I notified the state nursing board and the univ. and they did nothing. I informed people as I believe that she is an imminent harm to the public. It never amazes me that people like her get through, will kill someone, and all I have is that I told you so. My question is, should the nursing school not have done the background checks and/or does the state nursing board perform background checks?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

thats not your burden to take on. Get over it. Also, why do you call them a friend with all this negative talk about them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

She's not a nurse yet; she is in nursing school. If the board has a problem with her past, they will deal with it when she applies for her license. The state nursing board is not going to handle this situation when there is still a possibility of her failing/dropping out. I do understand why you are worried, but ultimately it is not your concern.

However, to answer your question, yes, most nursing schools perform background checks. Did you need to turn in a fingerprint clearance card? Also, when applying for your license, you need to turn in another fingerprint card that is even further investigated. In the state of Arizona, for example, the board will not grant licensure if a felony has been committed in the past 5 years, and a DUI is considered a felony. I'm not sure what your laws are, but they will make the decision on who is safe/not safe to the public.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in adult ICU.

When I went through nursing school, the college conducted a background check of it's students....it was required sometime during the first semester. Sometimes background checks take awhile. I remember ours weren't completed until the first few weeks of school. When we got the background checks back, there was one guy that was mysteriously gone...I asked about him, and sure enough, he was kicked out for a felony theft conviction. Is this your friend's first semester? If so, I would think this is going to catch up with her pretty fast.

I don't think that the BON would allow someone like this to sit for boards, but I don't think the BON of any state can get involved until you are requesting to sit for the NCLEX. This is all on the school at this point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Chances are she will not be allowed to sit for boards. Most states are pretty strict on things like this. I did not have to do a background check before starting school but we were warned about the background check. Our last semester we have to do SLED, fingerprints etc before given permission to sit for NCLEX.. A copy of all when to the State board of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The board won't look at her until she is done with school and has passed her Nclex she is just wasting her money because she won't get a job besides school just started the backround checks probally are not in yet

Up Vote Up Vote ×
thats not your burden to take on. Get over it. Also, why do you call them a friend with all this negative talk about them?

I disagree. When people like this one eventually do harm, eveyone always wants to know why something wasn't done to stop them before it happened. We all have a moral obligation to inform the appropriate authorities about someone who is a danger to others. Anyone who doesn't is morally complicit in any crime that person commits, even if not legally responsible.

OP...I do agree that your obligation is finished at this point. You informed the appropriate authorities of this person's potential for harm to others. There is nothing more you can do now. I also agree that I would not be calling this person "friend" any longer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
When I went through nursing school, the college conducted a background check of it's students....it was required sometime during the first semester. Sometimes background checks take awhile. I remember ours weren't completed until the first few weeks of school. When we got the background checks back, there was one guy that was mysteriously gone...I asked about him, and sure enough, he was kicked out for a felony theft conviction. Is this your friend's first semester? If so, I would think this is going to catch up with her pretty fast.

I don't think that the BON would allow someone like this to sit for boards, but I don't think the BON of any state can get involved until you are requesting to sit for the NCLEX. This is all on the school at this point.

My school required a background check too, but I had to get it done and pay for it myself before being allowed to start classes. I was directed to a company online that the school had contracted with, and results were available within a couple of days. I had to give the school a special ID and password to access my account so they could verify the results.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

The title of the post is highly misleading and should be changed as laypersons often read this BB and may easily misconstrue.

"and now a nurse" is not a nurse.....she is a nursing student. And while some schools do bar people with problematic charges from attending nursing school, some do not. The individual will have touble when it comes to licensing. But I do have to wonder how she will be permitted to do clinicals - many sites would bar her if they knew her history.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would agree there is cause for concern...and she will almost certainly have a problem getting anywhere with that record, but then again I really dont know specifics. As far as the earlier comment about calling her a friend but taking steps to notify the State Board...Well, sometimes we do have friends that are a danger to themselves and others and someone must intervene and say "stop you must not do this, it is wrong" despite the friendship you may have. If it weren't for people that do have the courage to step forward and report and or get involved when they see that something is wrong where in the would we be?? it takes much more courage to confront these types of situations than it does to ignore them and not get involved....getting back to the original post, now if everything is as you say it is...she will not get anywhere. Very soon it will come to the surface.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

THANKS for all the useful info. I do appreciate it. I teach high school so believe me I need all my energy and time to focus elsewhere but this one should not fall through the cracks. Thanks again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly geri :).

Well, as far as the legal stuff, she honestly may or may not be able to sit for boards. Depends on the state. If this was MY friend, I'd be advising her about the possibility of being denied licensure, encouraging her to consult the BON, her school, and attorney, etc.-rather than airing her dirty laundry online seeing how hard she may fall. Perhaps she's more of an acquaintance, really hope people don't treat their friends like this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion