Student Criminal Background Checks: Considerations for Schools of Nursing

Abstract

Heightened public scrutiny of the nursing profession has prompted many schools of nursing, acute-care hospitals, and health policy groups to question the exclusion of nursing and allied health students from criminal background checks. Due to an increasing demand for such screening, it is likely that in the future nursing schools will seek to develop procedures relating to a search of the criminal history of an individual. This article presents an overview of Federal and state law pertaining to such screening. Landmines abound in this area. Nursing schools should proceed with caution and engage counsel. It is important to observe the law and formulate policies and procedures that will benefit and protect students, patients, and the community.