Criminal Background Check Policy - Students

Applicability

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Nursing (CON) to conduct background checks on all students who may be required to complete clinical hours. This is done to provide a safe environment for students, employees, patients, and the public, as well as to protect property. This policy is intended to delineate the background check requirements and disciplinary sanctions of the University of Arizona College of Nursing.

Students are expected to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and all rules/regulations, including policies and procedures of the Arizona Board of Regents, the University of Arizona, the College of Nursing and individual clinical partner sites at which the students are assigned.

Requirements

The CON requires a criminal background check for full admission to all CON programs requiring clinical hours. This background check is completed in addition to the Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card. Students who fail to comply with all aspects of this policy will not be admitted to their intended program, removed from and/or not placed in a clinical site, and may be withdrawn from their program and the College of Nursing.

Protocol & Implementation

Students required to complete a background check must:

• Order the background check through the CON’s designated compliance system or the clinical site, if applicable.
• Pay all background check fees
• Have complete results consistent with CON policies recorded and visible in the designated compliance system by the published deadline
• Immediately inform the Director of Student & Academic Affairs of any arrests, convictions, or charges.
• Refusal to complete a background check will result in dismissal from the program, as this is a requirement of our clinical site partners.
• Students may be required to complete additional background checks as required by the specific clinical site partners, and at the student’s cost.

The following databases will be searched for the required background check. Searchable information may include, but is not limited to the following:

• County Criminal Database
• Statewide Criminal Database
• Statewide Sex Offender Index
• Statewide Parole and Probation
• Statewide Federal Criminal Database
• Nationwide Criminal Database
• National Sex Offender Index (NW Record Indicator with SOI)
• Nationwide Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Scan that searches sanctions taken by the following:
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG)
  • General Services Administration (GSA)
  • Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
  • Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)
  • Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC)
  • FDA Debarment Check
• Nationwide Patriot Act
• Nationwide Federal Criminal Database
• Nationwide OIG (US Dept Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General) Check
• Canadian Province-wide Criminal Database
• Canadian Nationwide Criminal Database
• International Criminal Database
• Nationwide FBI Fingerprinting Database
• Social Security Alert
• Residence History

Results

If a student’s background check produces any of the following results, the student will be denied admission to the program and/or will be dismissed from their clinical placement, program, and college.

• Inclusion on any registered sex offender database.
• Inclusion on any of the federal exclusion lists or Homeland Security watchlist.
• Any felony conviction.
• Any criminal arrest warrant in any state.
• Any misdemeanor controlled-substance conviction within the last 7 years.
• Any other misdemeanor convictions within the last 2 years, except for non-DUI traffic violations.