Does New York State do background checks on nurses?
Nurses are left out of the New York State Department of Health’s Criminal History Record Check program, or CHRC. Non-licensed medical professionals, such as CNAs, housekeepers, barbers, dietary aides, and others at adult homes, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare locations are included in this program. The CHRC does not cover nurses, administrators of nursing homes, other licensed healthcare professionals, employees without patient contact, or volunteers. If you are an HR professional or administrator at a healthcare facility, you can take preventive action beyond what is required by the state. Background investigations should include a Healthcare Compliance Search and a check of employment history, as these help to ensure that potential hires have a clean work history, have been compliant with industry regulations, and that they’ve done the work they say they have.