A CNA Training Class And The Need For Background Checks
A CNA training class usually covers the various duties of CNAs and how to perform them properly for patient safety. Since CNAs will deal with patients most of the time to fulfill their every basic and even emotional needs, the employer needs to be able to trust a CNA put in charge of a patient or patients which makes the need for background checks important.
As covered in a CNA training class, employers need to be able to safeguard their patients as well as other members of staff to avoid abuse, theft, and other criminal activity. In order to do this, a thorough background will be required of a nursing assistant before becoming employed. In some cases, some background checks may be required before enrolling in a CNA classes and completing the training program. This requirement of when the background check occurs varies and may depend on state guidelines.
What Kind Of Checks Are Performed
The specifics of a background check will also be determined by the state and/or the employer or training program requirements as you shall learn in CNA training classes or from your potential employer. In general terms, if you have violent crimes in your past, this may preclude you from CNA employment or even enrolling in a CNA training class.
While having a felony in your past will usually ensure that you are not hired, some states or employers may take additional steps with background checks by evaluating whether you have a history of drunk driving, domestic violence, misdemeanors and various other citations and you may be unable to work in the healthcare industry or even enroll in a CNA training class.
This thorough background check is necessary due to information provided by various statistical data showing that patient abuse or other instances of abuse in a work setting, theft as well as other criminal activity is usually perpetrated by those with a history of various criminal activities.
Some employers or CNA training classes may require finger printing as a surefire way to check your background for any felonies. Your education history will also be verified with independent parties, references will be checked and some employers may even conduct a credit check.
Another way to verify a nursing assistant's background before employment or enrolment in a CNA training class is to request a motor vehicle record from the appropriate state department. An area that will not be checked and were privacy is respected relates to medical records. This is an area that will not be checked although a CNA may be required to pass a physical before getting hired.
Before conducting any type of background check, your consent will usually be required and you will need to sign the appropriate document if you consent to a background check. The particulars of the background check will be discussed with you prior to requesting your consent. A background check will usually be requested in the final stage in the enrolment or hiring process when you have passed every other requirement to be enrolled in a CNA training class or when the employer is ready to offer you a position.
Honesty is especially important because every circumstance is different even if you have areas of concern in your past. As long as the circumstances can be laid out, you may not necessarily be precluded from employment. Telling lies will not turn out well for you even if you do get hired as a result because everything will eventually come out and you will be caught in your lies.
Employers usually want someone that is not only hardworking but someone who is honest as well even if you lack work experience since there is always a great demand for certified nursing assistants and many employers will be willing to work with you if you are the kind of individual that they are looking for.
If you fail a background check, you will usually be provided with information on why you will not be hired or enrolled in a CNA training class based on the results of the background check. If the information is erroneous, you can then follow up with the appropriate agency to get the information corrected.