Background Check

As a practice discipline, nursing has required coursework that involves patient contact such as in a healthcare facility, conducting research, or interfacing with patients individually or collectively in the community. Agencies where students participate in nursing practice experiences require background checks, including arrests without convictions, verification of employment, and social security verification, aimed at protecting the public. Therefore, legislation and policy requires a full background check for all individuals entering the healthcare field. As a condition of admission, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing requires a two part background check. Please note, a level-two background check is required of all applicants prior to admission to the College of Nursing, and yearly while in the clinical component in the nursing program. 

Undergraduate Program applicants will complete the background check process after notification of conditional acceptance to the program but prior to beginning coursework.

Background check results are maintained confidentially within the College of Nursing on the Boca Raton campus and reviewed during the admission process and throughout the program.

If any applicant’s background check indicates a history that might prevent participation in a nursing practice component of the program, the Advisory Panel of the College that rules on such student issues will consider the applicant’s individual situation and make a decision about admission to the program.

If the background check results in a current student being denied admission to a clinical agency and/or access to patients in the agency, and if a comparable assignment cannot be made to meet course objectives, the academic requirements of the program cannot be met, and the student will be denied progression in the College of Nursing resulting in withdrawal or dismissal from the program.

Components of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing background check include:

  1. CastleBranch provides data management for all aspects of the background check and can be accessed at https://discover.castlebranch.com/  
  2. A Level II Criminal Background Check from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Instructions for both components of the background check can be accessed on the College of Nursing website at http://nursing.fau.edu in the “Current Students” section under Background Checks, Background Check & Health Records. All associated fees and costs are the responsibility of the applicant or student. Applicants to the College of Nursing must have the results of both background checks on file with the College of Nursing prior to consideration for full admission. Contact the affiliated program advisor for specific program requirements.

Upon admission to the College of Nursing, a mandatory drug screening will be required. Additional screenings may be required throughout the program. In addition, clinical agencies may require students to undergo drug screening prior to placement in their agency. Students whose drug screening results are unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies, and if a comparable assignment cannot be made to meet course objectives, the student will be denied progression in the College of Nursing.

It is important to note that admission to the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing does not guarantee eligibility for licensure in nursing in the state of Florida. The Florida State Board of Nursing, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act, will determine a nursing program graduate's eligibility for licensure if there is an arrest/conviction record. Students should contact the Florida State Board of Nursing for information regarding regulations. Information may be found on their website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing. Detailed information can also be found on the Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing website at http://nursing.fau.edu. Completion of the nursing curriculum does not guarantee that the Florida Board of Nursing (or any other licensing body) will allow students with criminal records to take the licensing examination.