Hospitals do "credit" checks, when applying 4 a job???

[CNA/glorified maid]

A male classmate of mine, got very lucky and got a job at our local hospital. The same hospital we did our clinicals at. The nursing director, shook my classmate's hand and said " you got the job". My friend was eccstatic. However, my friend has to pass the drug test, background check, and credit check........Credit check??? Why would a hospital do a credit check. Isn't that personal information, that has nothing to do with where you are going to be employed? He asked me what I thought, as to why they would do this. The ONLY logical explanation I can come up with, is maybe the Hospital wants to see if he has ANY unpaid and ignored past due hospital bills.... Has anyone heard of this and could you tell me why they would do a credit check? I mean do all hospitals do this to new hires??? Do nursing homes do the same? My ex ruined my credit. I have some major debt issues, but I wouldn't think the Hospital facility I am applying at, needs to know about that. Am I wrong???

[Sanuk]

Unfortunately, some hospitals do this. It seems that the worse the economy gets, the more employers feel they are entitled to delve into your background - this is not only in the medical field. If you're in Texas, you may also have to deal with Group One which keeps a database of sorts of people who have been let go, had problems in previous jobs, etc. I only see this getting more invasive in the future.

[caliotter3]

Many employers now include credit checks as part of their background checks for potential employees, however they state that they get much info from the credit check besides your credit status. Credit checks are mainly used to verify info, such as addresses. I have read this in more than one place discussing the practice.

[sunshine100]

I don't think my credit is anyones business.. I would not allow a hospital to go that far into my life...

[elkpark]

I don't think my credit is anyones business.. I would not allow a hospital to go that far into my life...

That's your choice to make, of course -- but you'll be eliminating a lot of potential employers.

[futurepractitioner1]

Hmmm....I wonder if they're worried that us nurses will try to skip out on paying our hospital cafeteria bill lol!

[CNA/glorified maid]

Thanks for your replies. I don't mind if the Hospital checks my credit. Hell, I'll be the first to admit that it's bad..... (thanks to my ex). I'm not going to jeapordize a potential job position, by not allowing them to check it. I do agree, it is not any of their business, but as long as they don't use the credit check as a means to not accept me, because of my debt. In fact, I have an unpaid ER bill, right now, but I'd just explain to the Hospital, that maybe that's why I am applying for the position. To pay off my debts. :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

A credit check is often the best (and sometimes only) way to verify a person's resume. Unfortunately, people lie on their resumes and/or leave out important information.

For example, someone who has had their RN license in another state suspended or revoked will move to another state and leave that information off their resume and/or lie about it. The credit check will show that they lived in that state and evidence that they worked there. As the employer investigates a little further, they find the suspended license.