Group One background checks in Texas

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

I agree and see there is a desperate need for nursing support groups! I have witnessed far worse unprofessional conduct from the management than from the nurses where I have worked. United we stand. After all we are here for patients not power trips!

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

Could yo please explain how the two organizations are tied in with each other and how do you access the information on line? Help anyone! I am waiting for the ax to fall, been threatened and not sure if they went thru with it. I only hope that when my manager has a family emergency she remembers how she treated me. No remorse or empathy. Probably same way she treated her patients only never got called on it.

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

You Go Girl!!!! Listen, if we do not do something it will be a shame. I am an ADN nurse, had NO idea that TNA would only allow BSN nurses join. How prejudice! After all, ADN is a stepping stone for many to get to a BSN. Is that not why they have 2 yr colleges so one can earn a 2 yr degree to go on to a 4yr college no mater what their area of study is in. That is the craziest thing I ever heard! Why are some organizations shooting themselves in the foot?

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

I'd like to point out here that "Safe Harbor" has it's limitations in protecting nurses and does not even come close to being any type of equivalent to CA's mandatory staffing ratios.
When declaring "Safe Harbor" during an unsafe staffing situation, you become shielded from any disciplinary action from the TX BNE if something were to go wrong or a patient gets hurt or killed because of an unsafe assignment.
It does not, however, provide any protection whatsoever from a patient or family bringing lawsuits against the nurse if something goes wrong during their shift and someone gets hurt or killed.
This is a very important distinction for nurses practicing in a state that is consistently among the highest in the nation in lawsuits brought on by patients and family members.
My malpractice premiums skyrocketed (more than tripled) when I moved to TX and this is why.
I'd also like to point out that although I've never had to declare Safe Harbor myself, I've worked on units where it was done and witnessed severe retaliatory action against the nurses who declared it.
Nothing unusual in a Texas hospital.

I worked with a nurse that attempted to call safe harbor one night. It was not pretty for her future at that job. She finally had to quit due to bullying by the manager. Treated bbbaaaaaddddd!!!! I felt so sorry for her. All she cared about was patient safety!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2007

you just have to be a rn to join tna. educational level does not matter.

you go girl!!!! listen, if we do not do something it will be a shame. i am an adn nurse, had no idea that tna would only allow bsn nurses join. how prejudice! after all, adn is a stepping stone for many to get to a bsn. is that not why they have 2 yr colleges so one can earn a 2 yr degree to go on to a 4yr college no mater what their area of study is in. that is the craziest thing i ever heard! why are some organizations shooting themselves in the foot?

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

I just followed the "icon" on their website, I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a Becky Oliver report. I do know they are still "investigating" issues in the metroplex, use see the commercials all the time. I have decided that I will contact all the News companies, how would you like to have a loved one in the hospital and they lose a limb, use of their legs, or their life because they are short handed?????????????? They can investigate on hundreds of issues, I think if they would really enjoy this one if "whoever" reads the e-mails passes it on or however it works. I am sure their would be quite a negative response from the public because "grandpa" or "grandma," or whoever did not get the help in time due to employee shortage. And they see on the news......................GROUPONE, I know I would be furious if it were a family member of mine.
The union thing, my only hang up would be the overtime issue. I don't know how many of you pick up extra shifts, especially around the holidays, for the extra cash. I don't want an organization governing that or they say we can't work 2 hour shifts. I like my work week over in a few days. If we could have a union and this would not be a big hang-up I would be all for it, taht way we would not have this GO crapppppppppppppp..

I have worked in states that had unions. They do not prevent you from working overtime. They prevent the employer from "making" yo work overtime and make sure you are paid fairly. Also, they make sure your senority is protected! There is bad and good with unions, but mainly have seen the good. There is little or no bullying. Anyone can get around contracts and rules, but it is harder with the union. At least you have a voice!

Kelly_the_Great · Nov 24, 2007

Could yo please explain how the two organizations are tied in with each other and how do you access the information on line? Help anyone! I am waiting for the ax to fall, been threatened and not sure if they went thru with it. I only hope that when my manager has a family emergency she remembers how she treated me. No remorse or empathy. Probably same way she treated her patients only never got called on it.

Okay, just since yesterday, it appears they have changed their website address or the server's down or something. Because I just went to the site that I posted yesterday (and accessed) to get the "contact us" info and it's coming up with a generic web page from Network Solutions, stating that the site is underconstruction or coming soon. :uhoh3:

currentlytx · Nov 24, 2007

Here's the complete list, Cammy:
Group One Hospital List

Hi Everyone interested in the "GO" subject! Click onto the list above and it will take you to some interesting information on the Group One. It is saying it was started by a phys from Parkland and for the reason to protect patients and hsopitals alone. But what I understood it to be is it was started to protect pts and hospitals from unsafe health care workers! Not punitive for giving a 13 day notice and not a 14 notice like for me. Or for some of the other problems others have had. It is a shame they do not have a panel to address some of the complaints instead of all accursed are guilty. Scarry huh? I am not sure what can be done but it is sad that there is not something. Together we stand, divided we fall. I think we should ALL join TNA and see what numbers can do. If nothing then look into another route. After all, they created this organization, why can't nurses start an organization that can be used as a central employment center for recommending wht hospitals are best for who or something along that line? Let's get our thinking caps on!!!currently TX

Kelly_the_Great · Nov 26, 2007

Together we stand, divided we fall. I think we should ALL join TNA and see what numbers can do. If nothing then look into another route. After all, they created this organization, why can't nurses start an organization that can be used as a central employment center for recommending wht hospitals are best for who or something along that line? Let's get our thinking caps on!!!currently TX

Hey Currently TX,

I admire your fervor, I truly do. But, can I tell you something? Most nurses really don't care that others are controlling our practice. To them it's just a shift, a work week, you know, a job. It's not a profession in which they devote any kind of real investment in, past nursing school or the day to processes at work, that is. You know, they're just gettin' by and goin' through th' motions.

They won't unite, they won't join any kind of professional organizations. Hell, they won't even willingly join and participate in committees at work that effect their jobs, their patients, etc.

No, they just want to do their time and receive directives from others and then bicker about it ~ why they're not viewed as "professionals" and what not. Why they're not given any respect. Well quite simply, it's because they don't deserve it. They're insecure in their own knowledge so they feel like they have to constantly degrade others. Usually, the "others" are their own colleagues. LOL, and then they wonder why the patients and doctors don't respect them. It's because we don't respect ourselves. I mean, who's the first person to complain about about or put down a nurse? Oh, I know, it's usally another nurse! So, if we're doing it to ourselves, why should we care that others (Group One) are doing it as well?

I don't know, I think a lot of this insecurity begins in nursing school. You know the first day of an MD's class after being accepted into their respective programs, they're greeted by their professor with a handshake, smile and a, "Welcome, Dr. X." In nursing school, some old hag at the front of the class goes, "Look around, 2/3's of you won't be here by the end of the program." :uhoh3:

Anyways, regardless of the reason, I guess it all boils down to general lack of respect for one another. And imo that should be the prime characteristic of a professional ~ respect for your colleague.

Oh well, I'm sure most of you won't agree with me. There will probably be all kinds of responses about how your a member of this or that organization or you contribute to our profession by this or that means. And I would venture to say, that most of the people who participate on this site probably are active members in our profession. But the truth is, the majority of nurses aren't actively involved in their profession, as I stated from the outset of this little tirade. And thus organizations like Group One and the like are what we get.

Flame away...:stone

cammy429 · Nov 26, 2007

Hey Currently TX,
I admire your fervor, I truly do. But, can I tell you something? Most nurses really don't care that others are controlling our practice. To them it's just a shift, a work week, you know, a job. It's not a profession in which they devote any kind of real investment in, past nursing school or the day to processes at work, that is. You know, they're just gettin' by and goin' through th' motions.
They won't unite, they won't join any kind of professional organizations. Hell, they won't even willingly join and participate in committees at work that effect their jobs, their patients, etc.
No, they just want to do their time and receive directives from others and then bicker about it ~ why they're not viewed as "professionals" and what not. Why they're not given any respect. Well quite simply, it's because they don't deserve it. They're insecure in their own knowledge so they feel like they have to constantly degrade others. Usually, the "others" are their own colleagues. LOL, and then they wonder why the patients and doctors don't respect them. It's because we don't respect ourselves. I mean, who's the first person to complain about about or put down a nurse? Oh, I know, it's usally another nurse! So, if we're doing it to ourselves, why should we care that others (Group One) are doing it as well?
I don't know, I think a lot of this insecurity begins in nursing school. You know the first day of an MD's class after being accepted into their respective programs, they're greeted by their professor with a handshake, smile and a, "Welcome, Dr. X." In nursing school, some old hag at the front of the class goes, "Look around, 2/3's of you won't be here by the end of the program."
Anyways, regardless of the reason, I guess it all boils down to general lack of respect for one another. And imo that should be the prime characteristic of a professional ~ respect for your colleague.
Oh well, I'm sure most of you won't agree with me. There will probably be all kinds of responses about how your a member of this or that organization or you contribute to our profession by this or that means. And I would venture to say, that most of the people who participate on this site probably are active members in our profession. But the truth is, the majority of nurses aren't actively involved in their profession, as I stated from the outset of this little tirade. And thus organizations like Group One and the like are what we get.
Flame away...:stone

I definitely agree with you. That's one of my gripes with nurses that I've worked with in Dallas, Texas. I have worked at 3 hospitals in 6 months (2 at one, 1 at another and 3 at my last). I moved here from NYC and I find that the nurses up there were so much more proactive. All the nurses that I worked with on my unit were enrolled in masters programs to become practitioners and it was pretty much the same hospital-wide because I would often get floated to other units. They did a lot to keep the morale high on the unit. There was also a lot of education by our units. The doctors as well as our supervisor made us feel like a big part of the interdisciplinary team. We had such a good rapport with our docs. Everyone got trained to be charge (which i find is NOT the case with the units I have been on here).

Most of the women that I have worked with here, have really been tattle-tales for the lack of a better word. I see how they stab each other in the back and its been unbelievable. No one ever questions anything. They do things cause "that's the way it is." I have never been spoken to in a condescending manner in NY but it happens often by the MD's here. It is just a mess. A could tell you one thing, Unions or not Group One would never fly in the northeast or California.

radercat · Dec 14, 2007

in twenty years of nursing in texas and oklahoma, i have never been able to obtain information on how to get a group one report on myself. many employers use group one as part of the background check and i have had several reports done on me but have never found out what is on mine.

here is the info if anyone is interested:

send a letter with $10 to group one, 250 decker drive, irving, texas 75062. phone ([color=#085241]800) 683-0255. if you have been turned down for employment, it is free. if not, it costs $10. state your address, phone number, ss# and date of birth in the body of the letter. it takes about a week to get the report back. they go back 7 years for routine background checks and 7 years if there is a misdemeanor. if a felony is reported, it stays on for 10 years.

[color=#085241]good luck!

:balloons:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2007

:welcome: welcome!

groupone's website is http://www.gp1.com if anyone is interested in more information. groupone is a subject that has been discussed rather extensively on our forums.

by the way, we have a texas nurses forum: http://www.allnurses.com/forums/f175/

in twenty years of nursing in texas and oklahoma, i have never been able to obtain information on how to get a group one report on myself. many employers use group one as part of the background check and i have had several reports done on me but have never found out what is on mine.
here is the info if anyone is interested:
send a letter with $10 to group one, 250 decker drive, irving, texas 75062. phone ([color=#085241]800) 683-0255. if you have been turned down for employment, it is free. if not, it costs $10. state your address, phone number, ss# and date of birth in the body of the letter. it takes about a week to get the report back. they go back 7 years for routine background checks and 7 years if there is a misdemeanor. if a felony is reported, it stays on for 10 years.
[color=#085241]good luck!
:balloons: