Help: hospital wants to run a Credit Check

allnurses Guide · Oct 12, 2007

I applied at a hospital that, if I recall correctly, stated on the application that they may run a credit check. I am assuming that that is a good reason I didn't get the job; my credit is unfortunately horrific.

I think it's seen as a testament to your character. If so, I'm Jack The Ripper. Between student loans, dozens of medical bills, and old credit card debt, I often feel like I'm drowning and don't have a clue where to begin...

happydays352 · Oct 12, 2007

I think they are generally looking at your credit score to determine if you are responsbile. Responsible with finances= responsible about work, at least that's their thinking.

You should check your credit score and see how much damage it did. If your credit score is average you're probably just fine.

kendel · Oct 12, 2007

I think they are generally looking at your credit score to determine if you are responsbile. Responsible with finances= responsible about work, at least that's their thinking.
You should check your credit score and see how much damage it did. If your credit score is average you're probably just fine.

my credit score is 701

fronkey bean · Oct 12, 2007

there was a post recently in which a company named group one acted as a credit reporting agency for hosp. but in reality they kept track of hosp. employees work record and had the power to get an employee black listed. this was in texas, i don't know if that is what is happening there but i can't imagine why an employer needs to run your credit.

allnurses.com/forums/f87/group-one-107377.html

that is the link to the story if you want to read it.

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Oct 12, 2007

Don't loose any sleep over this. The credit check is a common practice. They are looking for high risk people. It's part of the package they look at when choosing to hire you. Like in all cases it's safest to be honest about everything, and don't hide anything.

I had pretty bad credit after a divorce, things that she was supposed to pay and didn't showed up on my report. Didn't keep me from a job.

DoubleblessedRN, ADN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-P · Oct 12, 2007

701 is a good credit score. And if you said you paid an outstanding balance from a collection agency, I don't think it will be a problem. Better late than never. The reason behind looking at credit reports is to get an idea of how responsible you are. Some perspective employers also look at your driving record. Excessive moving violations (not just DUI's) give an impression that a person is careless and irresponsible.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2007

They are also looking to see if there are going to be garnishments and collection calls to them. Garnishments and collection calls mean time away from the job and more resources used to handle paperwork. I dont know that they wouldnt hire someone unless they just had trashed credit, and that would be more likely due to what someone else said,, the responsiblity factor.

Crash_Cart · Oct 12, 2007

Consider this scenerio:

Does a foreign nurse who is applying to a US hospital for employment (No SSI# or Brand New SSI#) with no previous credit history considered to be "financially irresponsible credit risk" because they have no previous credit history or a zero credit score?

?

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 12, 2007

I think a lot depends on how badly you want this particular job, and how much they need you.

Personally, I refuse to allow a credit check for employment. As long as my job doesn't involve handling money (or other negotiable valuables) I don't feel that my credit rating is any of their business. I've consented to employment history, criminal background checks and urine drug screens, but this is where I personally draw the line.

This topic has come up repeatedly as a traveler,but Ihaven't been unemployed in the last 25 years. If they don't agree, I'm on to the next place.

As long as most people continue to tolerate this invasive behavior it will continue and worsen.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 12, 2007

As an earlier poster said, unless your credit is horrific, they won't worry about your character. Many employers do credit checks to avoid hiring people who will require them to enforce a lot of court ordered garnishments. Those garnishments cost the employer time and money -- which makes them their legitimate business.

Crash_Cart · Oct 12, 2007

As an earlier poster said, unless your credit is horrific, they won't worry about your character. Many employers do credit checks to avoid hiring people who will require them to enforce a lot of court ordered garnishments. Those garnishments cost the employer time and money -- which makes them their legitimate business.

There is no way any credit rating check conducted by any employer today, can accurately determine any future potential litigation, divorce or other financial problems any new hire can encounter tomorrow. That's why the whole credit check thing as a basis for employment is completely bogus to begin with.

My concern is will this "system" get to the point where employers will only consider potential candidates solely based on a certain credit score/number within a certain range? If you fail to maintain a certain credit score or range, will you still "measure up" and be considered for employment, or will your application be automatically assigned to the round filing cabinet?

The good credit = responsible employee mentality is not accurate. Many people have bad credit for many reasons. Sometimes unexpected health, litigation, unforeseen circumstances, educational loans or unpaid medical bills are some legitimate reasons. Does that somehow suggest they are a bad employee to hire?

This is a problem for everyone. Credit scores are quickly becoming the new GPA rating and measure of your employable skills and abilities in the workplace. That is after all why you were educated at the college/university in the first place wasn't it? ...so you could have a good credit score for employment purposes? :)

Finances and personal investment portfolio's have absolutely nothing to do with your educational and employable skills you have to offer an employer.

Employers are incorrectly merging these two completely unrelated independent entities making them a single employment requirement when they have absolutely nothing to do with one another.

Perhaps tomorrow this practice will extend into further requirements and measurements of your employment possibilities such as including the credit scores of your "responsible" family members in addition to your own credit score before you are considered for employment? Perhaps you will be "scored" on the number of frequent flier miles you have as the primary basis for employment eligibility.

The only possible conclusion this and other similar hiring practices clearly suggests, is that a potential nurse's "worth" is directly proportional to their credit score.

This hiring practice serves to reduce the legitimacy of a conferred degree as the standard of qualification in your field of practice.

This hiring practice is irrelevant and should be abolished.

My Best.