Guidelines for Assessing Candidates with Criminal Histories

Biometric state and federal criminal background checks provide the most comprehensive information available for determining whether a nurse applying for a license has a history of criminal activity. In some cases of past criminal behavior, it will be clear that licensure should be denied and in other cases, it will be clear that the potential licensee should be considered. However, in many cases, the decision is not clear, which makes the task of risk assessment so crucial. Was the violation of the law an indiscriminate act or does the individual have deficiencies in his or her personality or moral integrity? Does the individual exhibit criminal thinking? In 2012, National Council of State Boards of Nursing convened a task force to develop a method that would assist boards of nursing (BONs) in the interpretation of a criminal conviction history. The guidelines developed by this task force are presented here.