What background check company does WA state use?

Nurses Criminal

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I'm graduating soon and looking to take my NCLEX. The application has few questions about criminal background stuff... So here are some of my info:

1. I got stopped for a traffic ticket and got charged for possession of marijuana and parapheneria.

2. Possession of marijuana was amended to criminal attempt, which I opted for bail forfeture and paid fine. No guilty plea or not guilty... and years later, I got it vacated and record expunged. And possession of parapheneria was dropped.

3. background company still finds all 3 charges: original charge that was amended, charge that was vacated and expunged, and dismissed charges.

4. I applied for CNA license in WA and in that application, I said NO to all questions regarding criminial background, and I got my license no problem.

My lawyer worked hard to get rid of my record to even show up, so I can honesty say no to those applicatino questions, but the record won't go away. I asked them to write a letter to 2 background check companies to see if they can remove them.

I can't believe I'm getting punished for charges I'm not found guilty of!

Anyway, here are 3 questions I want to ask.

1. Does anyone know which background check company WA uses?

2. Should I answer yes to questions like "have I ever entered a similar plea"? or "violated any drug law"? or

3. Should I answer "no" like I did with CNA license and expect my RN license to go through like CNA license?

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Usually a state BON will use a FBI criminal background check because they are allowed to see all records, even the expunged ones. You should call the BON ask them.

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Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

I am an RN and as far as I am aware for RNs anyhow they use the Washington State Patrol Background Check system and can use FBI for RNs hope this helps and the DOH here in Washington is no help with any kind of legal questions. I would talk to your lawyer again. Good luck .

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Miiki is correct.

All state boards use the FBI data base and all expunged records will show up.

You are better off answering yes to any BON questions and explaining...if they suspect you are falsifiying information it will not go well for you.

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Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

With all due respect I happen to live in Washington and that is what all employers and the state uses through this document you fill out for every job if you are in the healthcare field in Washington. You fill it out for each place you work . I have been fingerprinted by the FBI for a corrections job at a state prison here. However DOH here did not want fingerprint records from me in 2007 when I was licensed and endorsed into here from another state. I do know they use the Washington State Patrol (WSP) records system for sure. Saab should get ahold of DOH but we dont have a BON here our licensing is set up here through the DOH and is called the nursing commission.

Here is the link. https://fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch/ for the WSP.

Nursing Care Quality Assurance C Link for Nursing Commission. Hope this helps Saab.

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Thank you Psychtrish39 for acknowledging WA DOH is no help. When I called, all they said was if you have anything, submit the paperwork and let us decided. I should be able to talk to (or have my lawyer talk to) a lawyer who wrote the application question so I can clarify what they mean by "similar plea" and "found to have" Why can they list all the plea deals instead of saying "similar" and use words like convicted or charged instead of "found to have"

I know WSP background check does not show any matches to my name. Only ones consistantly digging up the dirt and not removing it even though the carges are vacated and expunged are the private back ground check company my nursing school used and few other private ones.

Oh well, like others suggested, I have decided to disclose every charges whether it was dropped, amended, or closed without actual judgement (bail forfeiture). I will keep you updated.

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I think that these background checks are a invasion of privacy, people are so worried about identity thief ,these background checks are opening windows to expose our selves to just that, especially if a person has made some bad choices in younger years,then change their lives around,if criminal charges do exist in a person's pass,then it should be just that in thee pass,whatever happen to thee statue of limitations? In thee Medical Field, we are subject to protecting our clients/residents/patients rights,through HIPPA Law,who protects us? I think that anything pass thee 7 year mark,and so long that there is NO new charges or criminal matter should be expunged from job applications, And that a person can honesty say NO, I have applied to several positions,and get no response back from employers, and I reply YES, to criminal convictions,to be honesty with my employer,and only to judge, and incidents like traffic tickets should be dropped automatically from background checks. Its been five years now,since I went through a bad divorce from an alcoholic/drug user/drug dealer an abusive man, where I just want to forget and start over,but! I am constantly reminded of our marriage through background checks, Trying to do this all myself, trying to go to school, trying to buy a flat.and raise my daughter,without thee assistance of an attorney, with no job can not afford one, I can not even get my maiden name change back, So what is a person to do? when background checks come back negative to an employer, that happen 30 yrs,20 yrs.or even 13 yrs ago. Then they wonder why? thee unemployment is so high in Washington State,so many foreclosures,so many empty houses,so many homeless people, and why? our food banks and thee churches for assistance have funds available for thee public. If any one out there, does have any advice,please tell.

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