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In Temple, Scott & White, King’s Daughters Hospital and the Temple VA do background checks on nurse applicants as well as other employees.

Criminal background checks are performed on all Scott & White employees, said Judy Curtis, media relations manager.

“We do it so patients are safe and the staff feels safe, so when they come to Scott & White to work or to get care they know their environment is of the highest quality and is as safe as it can possibly be,” Ms. Curtis said.

It is King’s Daughters Hospital policy to obtain a criminal history check on any applicant for employment including nurses and nursing students, said Robin Bodkin, director of marketing at the hospital. It is also policy to check the nurse aide registry to verify that applicants are listed as “active and employable.”

All VA employees have their fingerprints run before hiring, said Nelia Schrum, public affairs officer for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Nurses at the VA have a background investigation in addition, but can be hired after the fingerprints, education, references and license verifications have returned, but pending the background investigation called a National Agency Check Inquiry.

The investigation of VA employees may take several months and, if there is a problem, appropriate administrative actions are taken up to and including removal from federal service.

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