Reply With QuoteI don't think the discipline for or even issue of a nursing license because of a criminal record should ever be a "black or white" circumstance. Obviously details of the conviction and subsequent conduct have to be taken into account. For the record and perhaps as an exception to my own rule; I struggle with convicted sex offenders working in the field of nursing. The pathology behind committing such an act doesn't get cuerd by doing time or doesn't get cured at all. The offender must not be in vulnerable situations ie; with children. In the case of nursing, the offender is always in a position of power over another and furthermore, has intimate physical contact with the individual. Homecare visiting makes that scenario even more dangerous because the patient is usually or frequently alone and sometimes mentally incompetent.
I may have told this story before but it fits well here. Many years ago while working as a department supervisor in another healthcare discipline, I hired a senior student to work perdiem. This student had a stellar academic record and outstanding clinical performance. He fit in and was well liked by the staff members and wanted to go full time after graduation. Perfect, right? Wrong. This individual had previously worked as a Registered Pharmacist and had been convicted of diverting schedule II drugs- Benzos. Nothing stood between him and the job but that history. Under the specific circumstance, I saw no issue with hiring him because even though he would be dispensing certain drugs, he would never have access to any controlled substances. After checking with HR, I got the green light to offer him a position. He appeared very anxious during his interview and wanting to be completely above board, even asked if I was aware of his conviction. I said yes and explained my reasoning for wanting to hire him and for believing that this would be a safe environment for him to work in, he was grateful; even moved to tears. He really believed that he would be in for a struggle but that didn't prove true. He had a very fortunate situation where I had seen him in action over a long period of time. Had he not appeared truly repentent, or less than an excellent student, or displayed less than optimal attitude and work ethic, he may have had that struggle. Some may think that even being in the environment where those druge are available would be tempting but he would have an easier time trying to traffic out on the streets; not in hospital. This guy never used, he diverted. I beleve it was a case of youthful stupidity coupled with easy, serious, cash. Perhaps a character flaw but after knowing this individual and workiing with him for ahwile, I believe such a character flaw can be corrected and in his case, was. While entirely true, I know this is more of a fairy tale than usual but it should serve to support the notion that second chances should be given when the circumstance is right for it.
R
Originally Posted by cougarnurse
Re: Discuss criminal past here....
