Previous felony convictions, 1400 percent increase!

Nurses Criminal

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Many state nursing boards are reporting a 1400 percent increase in previous felony convictions among nurses applying for

nursing licenses since 1992. Is this just a sign of the times? Boundary violations are at an all time high and is a real

problem for state nursing boards. Employers ask on employment application forms "have you ever been convicted of

a crime". Should students be asked about criminal convictions prior to applying for nursing school? That's one deserving

student who gets bumped.

Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

onece again the institutionalised bigotry and Narcotic Panic of the 'Land of the Free' strikes ...

risk assessment ladies and gents risk assessments ...

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Okay, not all felony convictions are drug related. Some could be far worse than just drug offenses. Would you want a violent person or a pedophile to take care of your loved one?

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Your legal rights are drastically different when appying for school vs applying for a job or licensure.

In many nursing programs (such as mine), the school has a policy that admission practices for one program cannot be different from another. In other words, if you do background checks for nursing, you would have to do it for education, etc. Therefore, they do not.

The law changed the year I graduated, nursing students are now required to have background checks because the surrounding hospitals required it of all students before attending clinical experiences.

To me, if you have been convicted of ANY crime, you need to do a substantial amount of research before you choose a profession that a background check is pretty much guaranteed before you are offered a job. It is not the school's responsibility, it is that of a student's. Its not like they "forgot" that they went to court and got a conviction....cracks me up every time I hear someone make that claim.

However, recent past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior. We had a girl in my class that actually got a felony removed from her record FOR THE PURPOSE of being able to attend nursing school by the court. However, she had an issue with anger management and got into another fight, therefore, another conviction, during nursing school. That pretty much sealed her fate with regards to my school. To me, she got what she deserved.

Always good to be honest about past 'problems'. That last student sure was interesting.

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Nobodies perfect. We all have had lapses in judgement some of us may never have gotten caught but we are just as guilty it should be one set standard but also take into account different mitigating factors our school had you do a background check because you were required for clinicals. I wouldn't want to be able to take classes pass and still unable to get a license and consider the fact that many practices we have that companies have that are unsafe that are considered the norm esp ltc but do we jail those employers

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

only one board of nursing has documented % of increase felony convictions: arizona

i. introduction and background

the board has seen an increase in the number of individuals with criminal backgrounds who are applying for licensure and certification or who have been convicted of felonies and misdemeanors while they hold an active license or certificate. in 1995, the board received only 4 applications with disclosures of felony convictions. during 1996-1997, the board received 4-5 applications per month, or approximately 60 applications per year, with disclosures of felony convictions. these numbers reflect a 1400% increase in the number of applicants withdisclosures of felony convictions.

arizona state board of nursing guidelines for criminal conduct

shaking my crystal ball, i see contributing to the increase in disclosures:

a. advent of internet + use of computer databases -- able hide in paper records days.

b. federal legislation omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1987 (obra '87), landmark legislation for federal standards for nursing home care requiring criminal background checks for those working in skilled nursing facilities and home health.

c. certification of nursing assistants increasing number applicants

d. increased population moving to az

e.development of national council of state boards of nursing created framework with bon sharing information, especially 2005 position paper that all boards should conduct criminal background checks on applicants as means protecting public.

f. criminals tired of living in cold climates ;)

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Seriously people? I hope non of you judgemental bigots ever treat me. People make mistakes. People mess up, we are human. I came to this forum out of a search for employment for felons in this field to find if there was any hope. And all I see if a bunch of ignorant people lashing out about how they would never want a felon to work in this field. How they should never be able to. Yes some are sicker than others and I understand not wanting a pedophile working in the pediatrics unit, but how can you seriously lump us all together. Are you that naive? Most other countries have already begun in rehabilitation instead of jails. We are so behind. I messed up when I was 19, and 20. Should I really be held accountable for all my life for some stupid decisions I made as a young adult? Especially since the first one was made to save someone's life. I called 911 to get help and was arrested. I was in the wrong i admit. But serously. I can't believe the hostility on here. So please try to keep an open mind and realize we are not all the same, it goes case by case.

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I'd love to see the statistics as to what percentage of these grads went to "private" (High cost) programs. I'd bet the schools really don't have any concern whether or not the grad can get licensed as long as they've already gotten their money.

Amen to that. There are multiple for profit schools that will take your money gladly, students who get into great financial debt, only to find out at clinical time that they can not participate. And by the time one's clinicals roll around, you have invested a great deal of time on a nursing course of study. To then essentially start over with something else at....well....more tuition funds or loans.

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Seriously people? I hope non of you judgemental bigots ever treat me. People make mistakes. People mess up, we are human. I came to this forum out of a search for employment for felons in this field to find if there was any hope. And all I see if a bunch of ignorant people lashing out about how they would never want a felon to work in this field. How they should never be able to. Yes some are sicker than others and I understand not wanting a pedophile working in the pediatrics unit, but how can you seriously lump us all together. Are you that naive? Most other countries have already begun in rehabilitation instead of jails. We are so behind. I messed up when I was 19, and 20. Should I really be held accountable for all my life for some stupid decisions I made as a young adult? Especially since the first one was made to save someone's life. I called 911 to get help and was arrested. I was in the wrong i admit. But serously. I can't believe the hostility on here. So please try to keep an open mind and realize we are not all the same, it goes case by case.

A lapse in judgement when one is a young adult happens. Unfortunetely, some of those things could prevent one from becoming a licensed nurse. However, if this is the case, it should be spoken about beforehand, as opposed to when someone has paid dearly for a college education that may not be worth the paper it is printed on. And most can't afford to "wait and see" what the BON or the clinical site will say when the time comes.

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You have to pass a criminal background cgeck before attending the nursing school.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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You have to pass a criminal background check before attending the nursing school I currently attend. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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We had to have (and pay for ourselves of course) an extensive background check for school and THEN once a year after that to prove we were still safe to work at the hospitals. I'm surprised so many get through, however when did they start background checks? Are they required now (or since a date within that time period)?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Background checks started being mandated of those working in home health, hospice & LTC in 1987. Hospitals and other health care facilities started requiring them within the following 5 years.

Students, therefore, also had to clear background checks before clinical rotations.

There are a few felonies that are absolutely no chance of working in healthcare: insurance /Medicare/Medicaid fraud, child abuse, elder abuse, murder, certain felony assault & battery, drug distribution (large quantities of controlled substances especially class I & II narcotics , not small amounts of pot), aggravated rape, child Mediaography, attempted murder.

Other convictions may require stipulations & monitoring depending on the individual circumstances

I think we can agree that those with the above convictions might be better suited for other career choices.

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