Is your Hospital requiring a copy of your diploma or transcripts?

[floridaboundrn]

So my hospital is telling me that CMS is now requiring all licensed RNs in the ICU to have a copy of their diploma or transcripts on file in HR proving they graduated from nursing school.

If you have a license, doesn't the state issuing the license do a background check and make sure the requirements (graduation) are met prior to issuing a license?!

If CMS is nationwide, then we should all have to do this correct?

Is everyone diggin their diploma out to copy when they have been licensed for 20 years?

Thanks!!

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Yes. I've been hired at a hospital that required transcripts. Even after a year of exp.

[ADNOLOL08]

We were asked for a copy of our diplomas a while back, though the reason was lab-related. To perform a certain test (which we had been performing for years), it's suddenly been decided that we need a diploma in order to run and interpret the test as it was deemed a moderately complex test and a diploma on file was required.

[ZenLover, MSN, RN, NP]

Yeah, I just don't always get it with the lab stuff. You can graduate HS in this country and not know how to read at all, so what proof is that really that you can perform a complex test? Better to have the clinical nurse educator on the floor sign off on the fact that she taught you one and one, and watched you perform the test a certain number of times to determine your competence. Just my opinion.

As far as transcripts...I could see that. You might be able to get one past the state BON when applying for your license, so a good double check system is to provide it again to your employer and it should come from the school, not you, in a sealed envelope addressed to the person requesting it. Your transcripts are like medical records, only for eyes that need to know and if you had a patient come in with a copy of records wouldn't you actually feel more comfortable if the medical records were faxed to you directly from the provider instead? Just food for thought....or me thinking out loud. :)

[rita359]

45 years after graduating and the school closed couple of years after we graduated. Hope the hospital corp that took the hospital over still has that information. Likely in some dusty old file nobody can find anymore.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I don't think the after hire requests are for gpa. But I've filled out many online apps that want your GPA for all degrees completed. Why not? If you barely made it through college, that should be considered for all new hires.

[NJ2008]

No, my hospital just asked for a copy of my license. I think that is enough.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

We were asked for a copy of our diplomas a while back, though the reason was lab-related. To perform a certain test (which we had been performing for years), it's suddenly been decided that we need a diploma in order to run and interpret the test as it was deemed a moderately complex test and a diploma on file was required.

I don't mean to be obtuse but what lab could possibly require your college degree????

[DoGoodThenGo]

45 years after graduating and the school closed couple of years after we graduated. Hope the hospital corp that took the hospital over still has that information. Likely in some dusty old file nobody can find anymore.

IIRC in most every state education records are legally required to be held for a certain amount of years. Yes, somewhere your primary, secondary/high school records are archived. Ditto for higher education.

When a nursing program closes alumni records are kept *somewhere*, however tracking them down can be a challenge especially for hospital based programs where the entire facility is no longer around. Usually alumni associations are a good place to ask for information.

[floridaboundrn]

So I guess the grocery store should start asking for an official copy of your birth certificate when you buy a bottle of wine because the drivers license may not be genuine.

Why not? If it weeds out 1 underage drinker out of 1 million it will be worth it right?

[kogafietsen]

So do the M.D.s have to furnish their diplomas & transcripts [in addition to their licenses] before they are hired as well?

[wooh, BSN, RN]

My hospital is now requiring a copy of your diploma or transcripts for laboratory reasons.

We were told anyone who does any type of testing (urine dipstick pregnancy, bedside blood glucose, iStat labs) must have their diploma on file.

I don't mean to be obtuse but what lab could possibly require your college degree????

iStat. Not required for plain old bedside glucose though. Everyone on my unit does glucose, only some of us do iStat, and it's only the iStat people that have to prove they graduated.

Because it's perfectly safe for me to be fraudulently doing everything else. But I'd better not put that cartridge in wrong!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Many facilities where I live ask for a copy of your diploma or degree in addition to the license. It's very common actually. Too many potential frauds out there, I suppose.