Posted by mantle on 10/27/2007, 3:47 am, in reply to "How To Start A Nursing Agency | Capitalize on the Nursing Shortage Crisis!" Question: If a clinical agency denies a student with a prior conviction from being placed at their facility does the BRN require that the student be dropped from that course or from the program? Question: Should results of criminal background checks be placed in the student’s academic file? Question: If a student is denied access to a clinical site due to a positive criminal background check does the nursing program have to find an alternative site for the student to meet course requirements?
72.20.3.58
FAQ on Verifying your Nurses Background
Question: Does the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) require that student nurses in California have criminal background checks done prior to the students participating in a clinical rotation in a JCAHO approved facility?
No. JCAHO requires that clinical agencies follow state law/regulation and their own organization’s policy regarding background checks on students. (See JCAHO website [url]www.jcaho.com) There is no state law in California that mandates background checks be completed on nursing students. Some clinical agencies have included student nurses in the category of individuals that need to be screened, therefore, JCAHO would also require that nursing students need background checks done.
No. The program is encouraged to evaluate such students, in collaboration with their clinical agencies, to find possible alternatives for the student to complete the objectives of the course. All students are expected to meet course objectives as defined by the course syllabi and program policy.
The self-disclosed student information and the results of a background check are confidential information. The nursing program must develop in consultation with their administration and clinical agencies a means to safeguard this information. It is recommended that the process, maintenance and security of student background checks should be described in the program’s contract with those agencies requiring screening of nursing students and in policies provided to students and applicants.
No. The Board encourages programs and agencies to work collaboratively to review students with a prior conviction on an individual basis since the specific conviction may not prevent the student from ultimately being licensed. While the BRN encourages alternative placement ultimately the program would need to follow their published policy regarding the options available to the student in this situation.
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