I did not pass background check done by the DHS for a job in a nursing home.

[koneydog]

So, I made a terrible mistake in 2003 and my license was suspended for 2 years. I got it back in May and have been applying for jobs. I have had 3 offers and the first of the 3 was a nursing home who wanted to give me a second chance at being a nurse which after 20 years of nursing means a lot to me. So, I'm thinking that I have gotten past the worse of it (the BON and getting a job), but come to find out the DHS won't clear my background check because of the mistake I made even though I did everything I could do to make sure I would not ever make that mistake again. I was taken off of federal probation early, given my license back, and given a job, obviously somebody was looking at how sorry I was and how much I did to make amends. But, not clearing a background check at the dhs level will pretty much assure that I never am a nurse again. A lawyer is involved now and we are appealing his decision and I'm praying for a better outcome, but may not get one. The lawyer suggested maybe trying to get a license in another state because some of them don't use the DHS for background checks. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there are other states that are easier to get licensed in and find jobs in that others. I also wonder if anyone has had to challenge a background check by the DHS? I am waiting for their letter but if it states that I can't work with Medicare or Medicaid patients I will be devastated. That is the kiss of death for anything in medicine. I didn't hurt anyone and this had nothing to do with a Medicare or Medicaid patient. It had to do with a bad choice I made when I was suicidal.

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

First of all I am sorry that you are having to go through this situation. It seems like you have done everything that you can to put things right. You are doing the right thing by involving a lawyer to speak on your behalf. Without knowing the specifics, I hope you have the outcome you are looking for. Getting a license in another state probably wont help. You will still need to be licensed in the state you are working in, unless you are planning to relocate? Once you have been denied in one state you will have problems. A standard application question asks: 'have you been denied licensure in another jurisdiction?" Unfortunately there is no getting around it.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

You can usually petition to get off the OIG Exclusion list, eventually. There are some threads in the recovery forum that you might find helpful surrounding that process.