Related Experiment Videos
Criminal background checks: necessary admission criteria?
Kenneth Burns1, Marilyn Frank-Stromborg, Yan Teytelman
1School of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2894, USA.
The Journal of Nursing Education
|April 10, 2004
Summary
Nursing schools face challenges when reviewing applicant criminal backgrounds. This article provides guidelines for admissions staff to balance student potential with professional standards.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Healthcare Admissions
- Professional Ethics
Background:
- Increasing trend of criminal background checks for healthcare professionals nationwide.
- Mandatory criminal background checks for NCLEX-RN licensure and healthcare employment.
- Majority of state boards of nursing now require criminal background checks for licensure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the complexities nursing school admissions staff encounter when evaluating applicants' criminal histories.
- To offer guidance to nursing programs that opt to conduct criminal background checks on prospective students.
Main Methods:
- Review of current trends and requirements for criminal background checks in nursing.
- Analysis of the potential consequences of both admitting and denying students based on criminal records.
- Development of suggested guidelines for nursing program admissions.
Main Results:
- Decisions on criminal background checks are ultimately made by individual nursing schools.
- Failure to conduct checks may lead to negative outcomes and reputational damage.
- Denying admission based on past infractions could exclude qualified candidates.
Conclusions:
- Nursing programs must carefully consider the implications of criminal background checks.
- Guidelines are needed to assist schools in making fair and informed admissions decisions.
- Balancing professional standards with opportunities for potentially well-qualified students is crucial.