Is it worthwhile?

Nurses Career Support

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I have seen similar posts but I am hoping for more advice.

My current situation is this: I was recently convicted of a felony for a 3rd DUI offense. I was a special eduation teacher and was fired from my job. I really don't know what else I would enjoy doing except nursing. I have looked into different programs in my area and would like to try.

I have made huge life changes. Since my arrest, I went to a pyschiatrist who was able to more accurately diagnose my depression and treat it more effectively. I have been treated for 10 years (since I was 19) and have had significant family trauma -- things no family should have to go through. I have been attending AA and have been sober for almost 9 months now.

I would like to know that there is a possibility for me to change my life and turn this horrible event into something very positive. I'm told that this will lead me to a better way and that I will overcome if I continue on my current path.

Does anyone have any insight or advice? I am so full of guilt and pain that I need hope to get me through. I love going to school and I have a Masters degree in Counseling and I think that nursing school would be a great opportunity for me to regain self-worth and contribute again.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

hello, and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses. good luck to you. :icon_hug:

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Congratulations on your recovery thus far, and best wishes for your continued success!

The bottom line is, would you be eligible for licensure when you finished nursing school, and (as all the other similar threads here note) the only answer to that question that really matters is the answer from your state Board of Nursing. You may want to, before getting any farther down the road into nursing, contact them, discuss your situation, and get an answer from them about whether they would be willing to license you.

It's important to be very open and honest with the Board, because, however bad you might think your situation sounds, it can only be worse for you if the Board finds out later (when they do the extensive background checks prior to actually issuing a license) that you were not honest with them in the first place (that alone can be grounds for losing or being denied a license).

The Boards all consider each situation like this on an individual basis, and review all the information available in order to make a decision about whether or not it is likely that an individual would represent a threat to the public's safety if licensed and allowed to practice.

You won't really know, either way, unless you talk to your state BON -- best wishes, and welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

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