Group One background checks in Texas

scampi710 · Oct 29, 2005

one way to fight back is to ask, when interviewed if the facility uses group one. if they do, refuse to have the background check by this company, and if the hr tells you that is not an option, refuse to work there based on their utilization of group one. if we all stick together, report complaints to the tx bne and to hospitals using group one, we can win. anyone agree?

RN34TX · Oct 29, 2005

one way to fight back is to ask, when interviewed if the facility uses group one. if they do, refuse to have the background check by this company, and if the hr tells you that is not an option, refuse to work there based on their utilization of group one. if we all stick together, report complaints to the tx bne and to hospitals using group one, we can win. anyone agree?

i'm all for it but you'd be hard pressed to find a job if you live in the dfw area. all of the hospitals and even ltac's use it there. if everyone refused to work for group one facilities in dfw, they'd be looking at working in nursing homes or maybe clinics.

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 1, 2005

Sorry - but nurses are pretty much stuck with this in DFW. The only way to fight it is to access your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Refusing to work for a facility who uses it is cutting your nose off to spite your face and pointless.

You can dispute the information and the reporting party has to respond within a certain time frame. You also have the right to have your own response comments added.

They also have to give you a free copy of your report every so often (annually?) even if the report didnt cause you to be denied employment or credit.

Learn the fair credit reporting act and go from there. That's how they operate, that's the only way to fight back.

sunnyjohn · Nov 1, 2005

Sorry - but nurses are pretty much stuck with this in DFW. The only way to fight it is to access your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Refusing to work for a facility who uses it is cutting your nose off to spite your face and pointless.
You can dispute the information and the reporting party has to respond within a certain time frame. You also have the right to have your own response comments added.
They also have to give you a free copy of your report every so often (annually?) even if the report didnt cause you to be denied employment or credit.
Learn the fair credit reporting act and go from there. That's how they operate, that's the only way to fight back.

Gauge14v is right,

Using the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I was able to force Group One to correct my file and remove information that had kept me from getting employment. It was either remove the information or be faced with a huge lawsuit. The FCRA is your friend.

mtnmom · Nov 4, 2005

what about the ANA or your state nurses' association...better yet, what about your elected officials...surely all cannot turn a blind eye to what you people are going through in Texas.

I am so sorry that you have to deal with this monster.

RN34TX · Nov 4, 2005

what about the ANA or your state nurses' association...better yet, what about your elected officials...surely all cannot turn a blind eye to what you people are going through in Texas.
I am so sorry that you have to deal with this monster.

We have no union protection here and an almost invisible nursing organization of any kind.

The elected officials would be in favor of it and get a lot of support from the public because they would paint Group One like another protection to the public like the BNE.

They'd make it look like Group One is the public's friend and helps keep nurses who are drunks, drug addicts, and sexual predators from touching patients.

scampi710 · Nov 4, 2005

We have no union protection here and an almost invisible nursing organization of any kind.
The elected officials would be in favor of it and get a lot of support from the public because they would paint Group One like another protection to the public like the BNE.
They'd make it look like Group One is the public's friend and helps keep nurses who are drunks, drug addicts, and sexual predators from touching patients.

:idea: I know I feel helpless here in TX., but maybe getting in touch with legislators could be a way to go....forget the TX BNE though, that board is as punitive and biased as Group One. How do we form a cohesive group to present a viable request for protection from agencies such as Group One? :idea:

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 6, 2005

We teach people how to access their rights under the fair credit reporting act for starters.

Other than that - there isn't anything that can be done unless the law is broken.

You will NEVER get a Union going in Texas (I don't think they are such a great idea anyway)

If people would actually JOIN their state nursing association here, then perhaps the group would be more representative of them. In addition - the numbers tend to speak loudly - when the numbers are low, the impression is that people don't care enough to be active. Put your money where your mouth is I say!

RN34TX · Nov 6, 2005

We teach people how to access their rights under the fair credit reporting act for starters.
Other than that - there isn't anything that can be done unless the law is broken.
You will NEVER get a Union going in Texas (I don't think they are such a great idea anyway)
If people would actually JOIN their state nursing association here, then perhaps the group would be more representative of them. In addition - the numbers tend to speak loudly - when the numbers are low, the impression is that people don't care enough to be active. Put your money where your mouth is I say!

Believe me, I don't have my head in the clouds thinking that unions will ever exist in the South, particularly TX!!

I've worked union hospitals up north and don't necessarily think that they're the best idea either.

After working union hospitals up in MN, my impression was that unions protect the laziest, "barely meeting standards on a good day" worker, and you can never get rid of them.

However....look at CA!!

I'm sure that CA hospitals are chock full of smug, lazy nurses who know that they aren't going anywhere and will try to get out of as much work as possible on any given day and know that no one can touch them.

But they have staffing ratios (thanks to the CNA) that the rest of us could only dream about.

Meanwhile here in TX , my partner was recently accused of drinking on the job because two RN's claimed that they smelled alcohol on his breath.

Had it not been for his manager who didn't believe any of it, he would have been fired on the spot.

Anyone who has a grudge or prejudice against you in TX could cost you your job. They can make up a story about you and get you fired with no evidence or grounds because it is a "right to work" state and workers have little, if any, recourse.

I think I am going to "put my money where my mouth is" like you put it, and look into joining something here.

I love TX and if nurses weren't so vulnerable to employers here, it could eventually be a great place for a nurse to make a life and career.

sunnyjohn · Nov 7, 2005

I used the Fair Credit Reporting Act to halt Group One in it's tracks!

My situation was a M-E-S-S until I did my research.

FirstYear2005 · Nov 11, 2005

tell me what is so wrong w tx. i have about 18 mos left of school and we are OPEN to move anywhere after school, as long as i have a job. Let me know , i am curious. I want to prepare myself or bypass a problem all together.

austin heart, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2005

I personally don't think there is a problem in Texas. I have lived here all my life and have never nursed any where else. I love it!