Conducting a nursing background check is an essential process every healthcare organization must carry out before hiring nurses. The nursing industry is heavily regulated, and background checks are mandated by several statutes, including state laws, federal laws, and accreditation requirements.
Conducting background checks for nursing is just one step in the nurse hiring process. Here are the essential steps that healthcare organizations should follow when hiring new nurses:
1. Job Posting – Healthcare organizations should create a job posting that clearly outlines the qualifications and requirements for the position. This will help attract qualified candidates who meet the organization’s needs.
2. Application and Resume Review – After receiving applications and resumes, healthcare organizations should review them to ensure that applicants meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
3. Interviews – Healthcare organizations should interview promising candidates to assess their skills, experience, and fit for the position. During the interview process, organizations should ask questions that help reveal the applicant’s character and work ethic.
4. Reference Checks – Healthcare organizations should conduct reference checks to verify the applicant’s work history and character. It’s essential to conduct at least two reference checks for each candidate.
5. Nursing Background Checks – After reference checks have been completed, healthcare organizations should conduct comprehensive nursing background checks. This includes criminal background checks for nursing licensure, employment verification, education verification, and exclusion list checks.
6. Offer and Hiring – Once all of the above steps have been completed and the healthcare organization is satisfied with the candidate’s qualifications, they can make a job offer. The hiring process is complete when the candidate accepts the offer and completes any required training or orientation.
