When applying for a California nursing license, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) is required to carry out background checks. It is a standard practice among many industries. While it may seem unnerving to you as an applicant, it helps reassure patients that they will be in safe hands.
While there is no need to fear background checks, occasionally, they can cause problems that lead to your application being delayed or even denied. However, the BRN website lays out the requirements you must meet to receive a nursing license, so you can check before applying to ensure you meet them.
What exactly does a background check look for?
- Social Security number: As long as you are who you say you are, there should be no problems. If you are not a U.S. citizen, your immigration status will need to be valid to work.
- Education history: People have made false claims about their education before. This check ensures you have the proper training to do the job.
- Employment record: Experience counts for a lot as a nurse. The licensing board needs to ensure you have the experience you say you do.
- Criminal convictions: If you have one of these, you may want to consult an experienced license defense attorney. Not all convictions prevent you from nursing, but they often cause issues during the application process.
- Any license sanctions: Background checks cross state lines to reduce the chance of people picking up a sanction in one state and simply moving to practice in another.
While the background check system is essential for patient safety, it is not without flaws. Seek legal help if you are having problems getting your California nursing license application approved.
