Clinical
agencies mandate criminal history background checks for all individuals
engaged in patient care, and all students must undergo criminal
background checks prior to beginning clinical/practicum courses
(regardless if the student is licensed as a professional registered
nurse). Information about the process will be sent to the students from
the Office for Student Services. These checks are conducted by an
external vendor and the information is sent to the College of Nursing.
The cost of these checks is the student's responsibility. If a
reference should occur on a student's report, the report is sent to the
clinical agency. Agency personnel will evaluate the information they
receive and, in their sole discretion, make the final determination as
to each student's ability to engage in patient care in their agency.
In
addition, the New Jersey Board of Nursing requires a criminal
background check to obtain licensure as a registered nurse. Past
criminal history may have an impact upon the ability to obtain
licensure and employment as a registered nurse.
As a result of
the new Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations'
requirement, all clinical/practicum students are required to have a
negative Panel 10 urine drug screen on file prior to beginning
clinical/practicum coursework. Refusal to comply will prevent students
from attending clinical and may prevent students from completing the
course/program.
