Possible to have job rescinded from background check?

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Hello all,

Hope I can find some advice from allnurses with my current job situation. I have a contingent job offer from a private hospital in a fairly competitive large urban city that I'm hopefully looking forward to working with. The interview went smoothly - the managers seemingly impressed with my skills and experience and whatnot (I'm a RN with a few years experience).

I got the verbal offer, then a contingent offer that included the start date and pay - which is contingent upon passing background check and pre-employment physical/urine tox. Had absolutely no issues with the medical part.

.... but then the background check comes back. Surprisingly the background check was extremely intense and invasive, and looked through all of my employers. The HR recruiter called me back and asked about why I left a job a few years ago without two weeks notice and that this employer put me on a Do Not Rehire because of it. I explained it wasn't my proudest moment, but it was a per diem position and I barely worked there for less than 15 shifts on and off for a month and a half (although not an excuse). Truthfully, I didn't feel comfortable working in that environment and felt woefully unsafe (I was new grad at the time) - so I never returned. All of my other jobs were left on great terms. I have great references from past and current employers as a result.

I'm worried, actually terrified, if this job offer will be rescinded because of this. I'm not perfect, and I didn't badmouth the past employer who put me on a Do Not Rehire when HR asked for an explanation. Right now I'm waiting on HR if they will finalize my job offer and every second has me feeling like pins and needles. Am I overreacting? What should I do?

Thank you Allnurses

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

I'm not surprised the background check was thorough, and I wouldn't call contacting all your previous employers "invasive" -- it's actually pretty standard. It's an employer's market these days in most areas, and employers can afford to be as picky as they like. Plus, most employers have had bad experiences at some point with people they didn't check out thoroughly. I have no idea whether that single incident will be a deal-breaker for your potential employer, but I hope this will work out for you.

I hope that at least some of the people who post here, when people post and ask about leaving jobs they hate and whether they should or can quit without notice, "Sure! Do it! Life's too short! It's your life! Follow your dreams! Just don't use them as a reference in the future! You don't owe them anything!" (etc., etc., etc.) will see this. Getting flagged as "Do not rehire" by a previous employer matters. It's worth going to some trouble to avoid that. We boring old fogeys who keep telling people that it's important to always give the appropriate amount of notice, work your notice gracefully, and leave on good terms aren't just talking out of our hats.

As for your original questions, none of us knows what the employer will decide (of course, they are within their rights to decide to rescind the offer). At this point, there isn't really anything else you can do but wait to hear something back. You were correct to not badmouth the previous employer when you were asked about the situation. Going forward, you'll know to avoid having any more situations like that on your record, and, the more of a positive work history you build up over time, the less that one incident will matter.

Again, I hope that the job offer will work out for you. Best wishes!

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Entirely agree with the PP. Also wanted to say that if the employer rescinds the offer over that bad mark, then scores of applicants who have 'dirtier' records than yours will not have a chance there. Many people do not get through a lifetime of jobs without having a bad fit somewhere, and sometimes at more than one 'somewhere'. Eventually, even these people get another job.

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Many people do not get through a lifetime of jobs without having a bad fit somewhere, and sometimes at more than one 'somewhere'. Eventually, even these people get another job.

Of course -- but not everyone leaves those jobs in a manner that results in their being flagged "do not rehire." That's the issue in this situation, not just that the OP left a job. But, yes, even most people with work histories significantly worse than the OP's eventually find another job and are able to rebuild their careers over time. The OP's situation is not that bad. I hope that this will work out for her/him! :)

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It certainly does not pay to leave a job abruptly and burn bridges, even if this job was per diem for a month and a half. Hard lesson learned and didn't think this would come back to bite me. I just hope this single event in my career does not overshadow all of the positives. I have relevant experience, skills, no criminal history, and solid references to boot from past nursing managers and doctors I've used to work with, including one from my current manager. I feel I'm a really strong candidate for this position. It's just a waiting game now and not much I can really do at this point, as previously mentioned.

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It certainly does not pay to leave a job abruptly and burn bridges, even if this job was per diem for a month and a half. Hard lesson learned and didn't think this would come back to bite me. I just hope this single event in my career does not overshadow all of the positives. I have relevant experience, skills, no criminal history, and solid references to boot from past nursing managers and doctors I've used to work with, including one from my current manager. I feel I'm a really strong candidate for this position. It's just a waiting game now and not much I can really do at this point, as previously mentioned.

Best wishes and, again, the more time passes, the less that single incident in your past will matter. People survive much worse. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical care.

I am a little surprised that your old employer released that much information. Sort of like HIPAA, your employment history is confidential to a point. I was always told that HR can only confirm dates of employment when we do our background checks.

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I am a little surprised that your old employer released that much information. Sort of like HIPAA, your employment history is confidential to a point. I was always told that HR can only confirm dates of employment when we do our background checks.

Various people here keep posting this, and it's simply not true. Many employers have a policy that HR only releases hire and separation dates, possibly salary info, and whether or not the individual is eligible for rehire, but, previous employers are legally welcome to release as much information as they like as long as that information is factually accurate (true). Many employers have policies limiting the release because they don't want to end up in court arguing with a previous employee (who is suing them) about whether what they said was true or not, but there is nothing legally preventing them from releasing more detailed and comprehensive information.

All the more reason to avoid give employers anything negative that they can say to a future potential employer. :)

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Various people here keep posting this, and it's simply not true. Many employers have a policy that HR only releases hire and separation dates, possibly salary info, and whether or not the individual is eligible for rehire, but, previous employers are legally welcome to release as much information as they like as long as that information is factually accurate (true). Many employers have policies limiting the release because they don't want to end up in court arguing with a previous employee (who is suing them) about whether what they said was true or not, but there is nothing legally preventing them from releasing more detailed and comprehensive information.

All the more reason to avoid give employers anything negative that they can say to a future potential employer. :)

This is essentially what an employment attorney told me (not for free) with the added emphasis that it is next to impossible to prevail against a former employer because what they say is taken as the truth, whether it is true or not.

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Update: Job is secured! Seems like HR just wanted to know if I wasn't fired for anything detrimental like stealing or patient endangerment/gross negligence. Thank you everyone for the advice!

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Update: Job is secured! Seems like HR just wanted to know if I wasn't fired for anything detrimental like stealing or patient endangerment/gross negligence. Thank you everyone for the advice!

Congratulations!

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