Louisiana's Approach to Criminal Background Checks of Nursing Students

In recent years, growing concern for patient safety has led to additional requirements for health-care personnel. Prominent among these requirements is a criminal background check on all persons who provide patient care, including students. In many cases, contractual agreements between nursing education programs and health-care institutions compel faculty and students who need hands-on clinical experience to meet these requirements. But who is responsible for conducting background checks-nursing education programs, health-care institutions, or the state board of nursing? With the current focus on student privacy rights, increased Joint Commission requirements, and complex jurisdiction over nursing student regulation, this is an appropriate time to examine regulation of students on their enrollment in nursing programs and throughout the progression of their clinical course sequence. Louisiana is the only U.S. state or territory with the authority to regulate nursing students. This article discusses the issues surrounding criminal background checks of nursing students, using Louisiana as a model.