Please list your opinions on this subject i am dealing with.

[49*1]

hello, i am new to allnurses.com. i have a question that i would like to ask all of the nurses out there. i finally decided to go to college to become a nurse, it took for a few more years than most, im 24. I have worked from job to job just to pay the bills. i was doing fine and always, always made sure to pay them on time and never be late. but it has come to the point in order for me to attend college i would not be able to make the necessary payments each month. i have credit card debt, personal loan, car loan, insurance, etc. totaling somewhere around 1400 a month. my question is im looking to bankruptcy, i can not work the amount of hours needed and do school as well, especially when it will come time to start my nursing classes. ive heard around that employers are now looking at credit reports to make a decision on employment. do you feel claiming bankruptcy now will affect my chances of getting a nursing job in the future. more likely 3-4 years from now.

thanks again

[Atheos]

Never seen a nursing home do a credit check for employment. I seriously doubt hospitals do either.

Background checks are very rare and are usually found in higher paying jobs along with govt jobs.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

the hospital and the LTC facitlity both work in did credit checks on me... they have done it for every nursing job i have had.. and thats for the past 23 years...

[pugluvr310]

I'm not a nurse yet, but I do work at a hospital as a nursing assistant. They didn't do a credit check on me (that I knew about), but I have heard of places doing that in the area, so I would keep that in mind. Also, usually people don't claim bankrupcy when they're only $1400 in debt. I'm sure you'll be able to figure something out to be able to work at least part time during school so you don't have to totally destroy your credit. Best of luck to you!

:heartbeat

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I can't imagine they would do a credit check, only because it's not relevant...a criminal background check, yes, but not credit.

Personally...I would NOT declare bankruptcy over 1400 dollars. Hold off on any college debt or whatever until you can pay it off. I don't think it's worth that big of a blow to your credit for that amount. Again, JMO.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

She's saying that her debt PAYMENTS total $1400 a month.

[Atheos]

Do you mean 'background' check?

General background checks don't include credit. Just police.

Credit checks are very expensive. I don't see LTCs doing it. It's not very cost effective. Never even been brought in HR or staffing conferences I go to. Never seen it in TX, IN, MD, VA or DC.

Where do you live?

As to bankruptcy. Try to find a credit counselor. I wouldn't declare bankruptcy from the get go. Sometimes you can work out reasonable terms with creditors through a counselor. Maybe your job has a form of employee assistance?

[49*1]

sorry i meant that i have bills totaling 1400 a month, i would never declare bankruptcy over a total debt of 1400.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I signed a waiver for a credit check at my current job but don't know if they checked it or not...I do know that I had poor credit at the time but got the job anyway.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

She's saying that her debt PAYMENTS total $1400 a month.

I'm sorry....I can't read.

LONG night.

That must have been what the edit was. I could have sworn it didn't say that before, LOL, but like I said, my brain is fried so who knows.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I had to have a background check AND a credit check when I applied for my current position as a nurse in a LTC facility.

If push comes to shove, try to borrow the money. But please, think long and hard about filing before you do it. Its easier to pay off a debt than to get rid of bad credit. JMHO

(just want to add, all of my fellow classmates have had background and credit checks for the positions they all hold now. Some work LTC, some are in doctors offices, a few in clinics, I am seeing it is becoming the norm.)

[AnnaN5]

How much total are your debts? Not how much per month you pay for bills, but how much do you owe on your car, credit cards, etc.