Just hired to hospital. Traffic violations in Nursing?

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Hello everyone. Just got hired to a NY City hospital. Really good job, so excited! Want this position badly. The human resources department is currently unavailable so I'm unable to ask them directly. I also want some personal insight on this if anyone has any. I have two questions regarding this: It's about the paperwork for a background check.

1) I only have traffic violations which resulted in paying a fine & points on my license. No mandatory court and no mandatory repercussions otherwise. I voluntarily took a defensive driving course to reduce the points on my license. Will this affect my employment in anyway as a Registered Nurse to a city hospital? More specifically the violations were disobeyed traffic device & another one for passing a red light. No arrests or mandatory court.

2) On the application form it says these words specifically: "Were you ever convicted of a violation of any law or ordinance in this state or elsewhere? (Convictions for juvenille delinquency, youthful offender or wayward minor need NOT be reported. Traffic violations MUST BE included. If yes, explain each violation, setting forth the date, charge, court and action taken in the boxes below: (then it asks for in individual columns) Violation..... Date of Violation... Charge.... Court and Action Taken. then it asks to attach a copy of the final disposition for each violation.

Alright, so does this mean this only applies to violations which resulted in Court action? Because I just paid the fine & no mandatory court or arrest. I thought it wasn't a big deal but now I'm a little paranoid. I'm a bit confused on this one. Any idea? (I would have never thought this would pop up on an application traffic tickets. If I had known, I would have fought them in court!)

Regardless, anyone hired to a hospital with traffic violations? How big of a deal is this? Even if you haven't been, what's your assumption of this and do you have any friends that have had this? I really want this job! What's the best course of action to take? Should I speak to my employer in person as well or just write it on the application & wait for them to say something to me?

Obviously I'm a bit obsessive right now. Really want everything to run smoothly.

Any help or insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Tell them everything, including the two tickets for running red lights.

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Should I tell them through the application or in person as well? If in person as well, Do I tell the lady who directly hired me or just human resources in general?

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Thanks, btw. Do you know how this generally blows over?

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

I had a 400 dollar picture ticket from running a red light. I paid the fine during the same time I was getting hired at a county hospital never mentioned to me once.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Cool. I think picture tickets are different though, they don't give you points or go on your license. 400$ for a picture ticket! Wow, unheard of until now. Unbelievable. I had been pulled over by a cop and written a ticket but I just paid it. I don't know.

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I agree it is kind of ambiguous language. One is not usually "convicted" (as in a crime) of a moving violation.

My guess is they are fishing for people with a habit for carelessness (multiple moving violations/tickets indicating irreponsibility, lack of attention).

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

They are getting ridiculous with these background checks. Nobody used to give two rips about traffic tickets. But list them if the paperwork says you have to......it shouldn't affect your eligibility for hire. After all, how many people can honestly state they have never in their lifetime gotten ticketed for speeding or parking too long in the same spot?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
2) On the application form it says these words specifically: "Were you ever convicted of a violation of any law or ordinance in this state or elsewhere? (Convictions for juvenille delinquency, youthful offender or wayward minor need NOT be reported. Traffic violations MUST BE included. If yes, explain each violation, setting forth the date, charge, court and action taken in the boxes below: (then it asks for in individual columns) Violation..... Date of Violation... Charge.... Court and Action Taken. then it asks to attach a copy of the final disposition for each violation.

The hospital has told you exactly what they want to know--I bolded it. So tell them that you have two traffic tickets (explain for what) for which you pled guilty and paid the appropriate fines.

See if you can get a copy of your traffic tickets, though to be honest, I'd call your hospital's HR first and ask if they need them before doing battle with the DMV for copies. Tell HR what the tickets were for...if the traffic violations were minor, they may not want/require copy of the tickets--a statement from you may be enough.

And yes, nurses with traffic violations on their record can and do get hired.

Ask me how I know. And I just told you exactly how I did it.

Good luck.

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