Nursing and Traffic Violations?!? SERIOUSLY

WalkieTalkie, RN · Jan 28, 2009

Sounds lame! Unless your job requires you to transport people occasionally, and it's not something like a DUI or gross negligence, I don't see why this would be important.

sbyramRN · Jan 28, 2009

If it was in a school zone, then that is a Class A misdemeanor (I think) and can keep you from getting your license. We were warned of this prior to enterning nursing school at the orientation....Were you speeding in a school zone?

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2009

What's an "Ambulance Driver"?

Sincerely,

hypocaffeinemia, EMT-B

VORB · Jan 28, 2009

It's always best to go overboard when filling that stuff out. Unless it says to omit minor traffic violations, include them. [usually they will define what minor means.]

As far as the 'why' of all this, it goes to the character issue. Same reason they might do a credit check even though they will not be extending credit to you.

tencat · Jan 28, 2009

Ohhhh....DO NOT call EMTs 'ambulance drivers"......

It does seem rather silly to have to fill out a report about a speeding ticket....even if it is in a school zone. Sheesh. Unless you were going 100 mph at 3:15.........then I see the point.

tryingtohaveitall · Jan 28, 2009

Off topic, but it's possible to actually have ambulance drivers who aren't EMTs. Our hospital uses security guards for our EVOs. They wouldn't ever be offended by being called an ambulance driver.

sbyramRN · Jan 28, 2009

Ohhhh....DO NOT call EMTs 'ambulance drivers"......
It does seem rather silly to have to fill out a report about a speeding ticket....even if it is in a school zone. Sheesh. Unless you were going 100 mph at 3:15.........then I see the point.

Well, I am sure many agree with you, because I watch people fly through my kids school zone on a daily basis. I for one do not think there is anything "silly" about not obeying the school speed zone. They are in place for a reason.

Plagueis · Jan 28, 2009

It's always best to go overboard when filling that stuff out. Unless it says to omit minor traffic violations, include them. [usually they will define what minor means.]
As far as the 'why' of all this, it goes to the character issue. Same reason they might do a credit check even though they will not be extending credit to you.

So getting a speeding ticket, or being two weeks late on a car payment, is actually correlated with whether someone will make a good nurse or not? What about other "character" traits that some employers may think is wrong, such as getting drunk or going to bars? Should they ask those type of questions on a job application? ("How many beers do you drink in a week?" "Do you have unprotected sex?") What kind of character questions are acceptable, and at what point do they become ridiculous? And are some of those questions even legal?

sbyramRN · Jan 28, 2009

So getting a speeding ticket, or being two weeks late on a car payment, is actually correlated with whether someone will make a good nurse or not? What about other "character" traits that some employers may think is wrong, such as getting drunk or going to bars? Should they ask those type of questions on a job application? ("How many beers do you drink in a week?" "Do you have unprotected sex?") What kind of character questions are acceptable, and at what point do they become ridiculous? And are some of those questions even legal?

Well, your traffic violations come up on your criminal background check which you agree to when you apply for the job. Your credit comes up on your background check on your pre employment screening which you agree to when you apply for/accept a job...If you don't like it, don't agree to it, and don't take the job. They do not come out and ask you these things at a job interview, that would not be legal. But as an employer, they have the right to do a full background check on you.

Ared1 · Jan 28, 2009

As a former insurance salesman the only connection I can see between the ticket and dependent or child abuse would be seatbelt violations. Even though they don't count against you for insurance or points on your drivers license (at least in Indiana) they still show on your violations.

RN student c/o '09 · Jan 28, 2009

Personally I find it ridiculous that they would check your credit and driving history in order to get a nursing job. Whether or not I went with the flow of traffic (which is almost always over the limit) or ride slowly along the slow lane has absolutely zero to do with my nursing abilities. If I paid my mortgage late because my husband was between jobs and I was in school 4 years ago will not affect whether or not my patient gets good care. Your credit goes back 7 years, well 7 years ago, I was a teenager!! How I behaved as what I deem to be still a child will not affect my nursing care as a mature woman. Personally, I am a different person when I step foot in the hospital. I am on time, every time, and often early. However, outside the hospital, I'm tend to be late a lot. I am at times lazy at home, but always diligent at work. I take my work extremely seriously and give my all every second I am there, that is what should matter, not whether or not I was late on my credit card bill freshman year of college. If I didn't wear my seat belt, I put my own life at risk, no one else's. What's next, no smoking nurses allowed?? Have you heard of 3rd hand smoke? I understand not giving someone with a drug problem access to drugs or child abuser access to children, but the thought of a hiring manager sifting through my financial history makes me feel dirty. Sorry if this got a bit ranty, I just feel this stuff is getting a bit out of hand! Also it's hard to not apply to a job that requires these, when it's becoming pretty standard practice in all jobs to do these kind of checks.