Outraged by no more privacy

Published

I want to know why do RNs, LPNs, and NAs now need to have their fingerprints in the system in PA. I consider this a huge violation of privacy for employees. Under what circumstance would they need the fingerprints in the first place. And I've tried to find the law that states it be required. Other than having most of my entire history, criminal background, child abuse clearance, and drug test, along with my SS# everywhere, why do I need to subject myself to more validity and no privacy. By the way, I have nothing on my record and have never taken (nor will I ever) taken drugs. So this isn't about covering up indiscrepancies. If you agree or have an opposing view please comment. And if anyone knows the law I'm looking for and could provide a link. Thanks.

Specializes in LTC.

I don't have a problem being fingerprinted. I DO however have a problem being credit checked! I'm sorry, yes I have bad credit. This is the result of a stupid 18 year old girl getting in over her head. I lived through it and I certainly learned! I'm not going to steal someone else's money or do anything unhonorable b/c of my bad credit!

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Going to disagree on that. I don't think bad credit translates to bad, or even irresponsible, person by any stretch but I do see a use outside of jobs that require handling large amounts of cash. People with bad credit tend to have a lot of debt and I can appreciate the link between debt and bribery enough to understand why a credit check would be prudent even in fields where handling large amounts of cash isn't the norm. I agree it doesn't seem useful for most nursing jobs, but I could understand it if someone was applying to be a cop for example.

Ah I will admit I did not see the bribe angle on this and because of that I can agree a little more with it then. Now that I am viewing it this way I can see how it could possibly involve nursing as well.

"I'll give ya $50 bucks if you get me some extra pain meds!"

Actually that brings up a whole other topic. Do RNs get offered bribes from patients? I honestly think they would especially from the frequent flyer pill heads that roll into the ER every other day.

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So while I don't trust everyone I have to have faith because if I didn't what kind of life is it to live thinking the boogeyman is out to get me? I'd be sitting at home all day with a tinfoil hat on my head worrying about the 'guvment stealin' my thoughts'. :lol2:

You don't do that? I thought everyone did.....If you surround yourself with twenty four (for every hour of the day) 1/2 empty mountain dew cans and a special steel spatula that can only be found at Family Dollar (the govt KNOWS about them---THEY are the ones that have them made for their special ops people that are in groups throughout the city, that are stealin' our thoughts), centered right over your forehead, you can fend them off, but just barely. It's a 24/7 job............

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Specializes in ED.

and the Army has my DNA on 3 different swabs

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Specializes in LTC.
Ah I will admit I did not see the bribe angle on this and because of that I can agree a little more with it then. Now that I am viewing it this way I can see how it could possibly involve nursing as well.

"I'll give ya $50 bucks if you get me some extra pain meds!"

Actually that brings up a whole other topic. Do RNs get offered bribes from patients? I honestly think they would especially from the frequent flyer pill heads that roll into the ER every other day.

Really!? Just b/c I'm having money problems doesn't mean I'd be giving someone extra pain meds. That would risk my license for one thing and then I'd only be able to work at McD's which would increase my money problems. Not only that but I have ETHICS and know that is wrong.

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I received my first LPN license from California in '75 and had to be fingerprinted then.....so this is not new.

Maybe new for some states, but it has been around for awhile.

And if they have your social security # they already know practically everything about you.

It's a shame.....Big Brother is surely watching us closely.

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Really!? Just b/c I'm having money problems doesn't mean I'd be giving someone extra pain meds. That would risk my license for one thing and then I'd only be able to work at McD's which would increase my money problems. Not only that but I have ETHICS and know that is wrong.

I didn't say you would or any other nurse who has ethics and morals and also knows the legal ramifications would accept bribes. I know I could be living in a gutter and I would still earn a dollar honestly.

Sad thing is some nurses (or cops or lawyers or even doctors) do not possess those qualities and sometimes desperate people resort to desperate things. It doesn't have to be pills. I just used that because it seems logical that that's what a patient would more than likely want and try to bribe for. Heck it could be a diabetic offering a nurse 5 bucks for a bowl of ice cream.

PS I think you misinterpreted my post. I said get offered not accept bribes.

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

I am in NY, and I graduated from nursing school in 1998. I started a hospital job right after. I worked at a few places in my career. I was never fingerprinted for school or any of those jobs. The first time I was fingerprinted was for my RN refresher course this past summer. When I was hired for my job after my class was done, that hospital didn't fingerprint me, either. They did a background check, but never asked for fingerprints. Strange...

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I am not all that fine with it, but I have had it done so many times, I don't know the difference. I can understand it, especially when working with children. It's just, well, a sad sign of the times. Pretty soon it will be standard everywhere.

Think I will have to definitely draw the line with an implantable chip or iris scans.

Right now I am not cool with the whole airlines scans and pat downs. It's ridiculous. What's next? Crevice searches for passengers?

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Actually, although I will graduate from nursing school in May, I've been working in admissions/registration at a hospital for 2 1/2 years. When I started working here, they just wanted to a standard criminal background check. Now, ALL new employees have to go through the check and fingerprinting. So, it's not just nurses, they are doing it to everyone. I really don't see the big deal. At least it might catch some people who shouldn't be working in healthcare from slipping by the background check.

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Specializes in MPCU.

I see a different point. We law abiding citizens are required to give up fingerprints, submit to drug screenings and background checks. Just to be safe, while criminals have no such requirements.

It seems strange: So you want to be a nurse, prove that your not a criminal or drug addict. Cuz really, why else would you want to be a nurse?

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It always comes a little bit at a time. First it's x-raying our bags at the airport. That's ok, I've got nothing to hide. Then it's major patdowns or going through giant scanners showing off your privates. But that's ok, I've got nothing to hide, and I want to be safe. So next week, when someone hides a bomb in their rectum and they do strip and body cavity searches to keep us SAFE, will that be ok, as you have nothing to hide?

At what point do we finally draw the line? Now we're getting fingerprinted and background checks, why not strip and body cavity search us on the way out of work each day to make sure we didn't steal drugs and hide them in our coochies? I mean, we take care of people that need to be SAFE. We can NEVER be too careful.

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