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.
