Why do Hospital Schools of Nursing ask for so much more personal information?

itsmejuli · Feb 8, 2010

Its not unusual for an employer to do a credit check, driver's license check as well as background and drug test.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 8, 2010

The increased screening is probably due to the difference in history and affiliation of the institutions.

The junior college is probably part of the state education system -- one that is tax supported and designed to serve the needs of everyone wanting an education. They are not accustomed to "being picky" in the selection of their students as their mission from the state is to take every student who meets the minimal academic requirements. State institutions have to be very careful not to favor one group of citizens over another.

Hospital schools of nursing have a different history. They are probably private and were founded to provide that particular hospital with nurses. They did not want to invest their resources into "just anyone" who wanted to attend. Their emphasis has picking those most likely to work at their hospital after graduation and most likely to succeed as a nurse there. Hisotrically, they therefore scrutinized the applicants more -- and thus their culture has developed differently than the culture of the public education system's "junior colleges."

elkpark · Feb 9, 2010

The increased screening is probably due to the difference in history and affiliation of the institutions.
The junior college is probably part of the state education system -- one that is tax supported and designed to serve the needs of everyone wanting an education. They are not accustomed to "being picky" in the selection of their students as their mission from the state is to take every student who meets the minimal academic requirements. State institutions have to be very careful not to favor one group of citizens over another.
Hospital schools of nursing have a different history. They are probably private and were founded to provide that particular hospital with nurses. They did not want to invest their resources into "just anyone" who wanted to attend. Their emphasis has picking those most likely to work at their hospital after graduation and most likely to succeed as a nurse there. Hisotrically, they therefore scrutinized the applicants more -- and thus their culture has developed differently than the culture of the public education system's "junior colleges."

ITA. The public institutions have a mission of providing education to anyone who meets minimal admission standards. Hospital-based schools are private institutions that have a history of being much more selective about who they accept.

A diploma from a hospital-based school is not necessarily worth "less" than an ADN degree. Most BSN completion programs (for those who are already RNs) are set up to accommodate diploma grads as well as ADN grads. I am a diploma grad and had no difficulty getting accepted into a BSN completion program, or getting credit for my diploma program work. I would encourage you to not automatically dismiss diploma programs from your decision process -- many of them offer an excellent nursing education (mine certainly did).

puravidaLV · Feb 9, 2010

think about it, your an insurance risk from the minute you walk in the door as well.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 9, 2010

The silliest info I ever provided was my mother's maiden name (she died in 1986) and my father's name (he died in 2002). This was for me who was in my 40's!

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 9, 2010

Unlike ADN or BSN programs, hospital based diploma nursing schools do not a "pre-nursing" sequence. Once one has applied and been accepted to the program, you are a student nurse from the day one. Therefore such schools have always been "picky" about whom they admit.

Just as with the religious orders that founded many of these hospitals and their nursing schools, just because one wants (or think they want) to become a nun or a nurse for that matter, it is the job (or duty if you will),of those in charge of admitting to see beyond the applicant's desire to weather or not they would be a "good" nurse (or nun). Otherwise the insitution is loosing time and resources that could be best applied towards someone else.

SPG1975 · Feb 9, 2010

Thanks for the great answers, all. I didn't know about the transferability of a Diploma into a BSN program, glad to know I was mistaken about that. I also didn't consider that it's more of a Job Application as WELL as a school application.

I do know that some schools are even tougher to get into. I've heard of Nursing schools that won't even look at your app if you're not already a CNA or some other kind of health professional. I imagine that would save a lot of time in the 1st semester clinicals if everyone already knew patient care.

bell47 · Feb 9, 2010

I don't understand the credit check. What happens when you don't believe in credit and if you can't pay for it you don't get it? I have a really low credit rating/score because I don't finance anything and don't have any credit cards. A credit score is an "I love debt score". Anyone else listen to DAVE RAMSEY?

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 9, 2010

I don't understand the credit check. What happens when you don't believe in credit and if you can't pay for it you don't get it? I have a really low credit rating/score because I don't finance anything and don't have any credit cards. A credit score is an "I love debt score". Anyone else listen to DAVE RAMSEY?

that is why you save up the money, then finance something and pay it off over a few months....

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 9, 2010

I don't understand the credit check. What happens when you don't believe in credit and if you can't pay for it you don't get it? I have a really low credit rating/score because I don't finance anything and don't have any credit cards. A credit score is an "I love debt score". Anyone else listen to DAVE RAMSEY?

Yes, I've seen Dave Ramsey on TV ... and these types of situations are ones he hasn't thought through when he preaches his particular "no credit lifestyle" gospel.

I agree with a lot of what Mr. Ramsey says, but his "No credit, never, for anyone" is a bit too extreme to accommodate the legitimate and reasonable needs of everyone. It's rare in life that an extremist, rigid, "one size fits all" approach is as perfect as the guy making money from selling it says it is.

Having a good credit score is helpful in life. It can get you lower interest on your mortgage, better car insurance rates, a short-term low-interest emergency loan if you need it fast in a crisis, and it can help you get the job you want. It's worth paying attention to ... and you don't need to spend a significant amount of money to get a good credit score. Just pay your bills on time and have a few lines of credit available to you (that you can pay off in full promptly to avoid interest charges). Mr. Ramsey's extreme hard line against ever having/using credit for any reason may be necessary for people with poor self control. But they can pay a steep price if they neglect their credit scores and allow themselves to maintain a low score.

And as for the falacy that in order to have have a good credit score, you must have debts ... well, that's simply not true. My credit score is above the "maximum" score because I get extra points for a few things. And I have always paid my credit card bill in full each month -- never carrry a balance -- had only a tiny student loan that I paid of quickly. I HATE the thought of being in debt and won't do it. But my score is excellent, proving that you don't need to carry debt to have a great score.

elkpark · Feb 9, 2010

A high credit score isn't an "I love debt" score -- it's an "I'm responsible about paying my bills" score, and it's a v. handy thing to have. I have no outstanding debt, period, besides my house payment, but I have a v. high credit score and, as llg noted, that gets you definite advantages in dealing with many situations in life.