Advice For My Mother, Please!

Nurses Criminal

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My mom has been depressed for a few years, because in 2012 she was arrested at her assistant nurse job of 13 years for prescription fraud, and had to go to probation, however she DID NOT do jail time. it's shown on her record as a felony in Florida. She has applied for many medical nurse jobs, etc. She would get an interview, and they would love her. However, after the background check...no call back. Is there a way she could get this felony expunged or sealed? Or work in the medical field again??? She has been working to become a RN, but has yet to complete her associates degree, in addition, she trying to get back into school for this January.

Any advice is welcome, I just would like to help her out. I don't want to see her depressed. Also, do you think she could be able to volunteer as a "nurse" at a hospital?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I would seriously doubt she will be able to become a nurse with a felony conviction for prescription fraud. You cannot provide nursing care on a volunteer basis and she isn't a nurse so that's a moot point. Even volunteers have to pass a background check. I think she should look for something outside of healthcare.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

We cannot provide legal advice, nor should you depend on any advice given on an Internet forum as being true. Your mom should consult an attorney who specializes in Board of Nursing issues.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

OP,

Your mother committed a felony while working in the healthcare field. She violated a trust while in that position. This is vastly different than a DUI for example. I think there are no jobs in healthcare for here ever again. I would be shocked if she even got admitted to a nursing school- as most clinical sites would turn her down immediately with a healthcare-related felony.

She needs to look elsewhere.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
We cannot provide legal advice, nor should you depend on any advice given on an Internet forum as being true. Your mom should consult an attorney who specializes in Board of Nursing issues.

And a great resource for finding those attorneys is TAANA Executive Office - Home

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Welcome to Allnurses.com! We have moved your thread to our Nursing Licensure With a Criminal History forum. Good luck to your mother and happy new year.

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Thank you everyone for your replies, I will let her know. Thank you, again.

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Specializes in ICU.

I guess I am reading wrong, she is applying to medical Nursing Jobs but is not a nurse yet and was fired as a CNA for prescription fraud but has been going to school to try and become a RN?

This is us a red flag for me. She can't apply for nursing jobs if she is not a licensed nurse. Was her CNA license revoked? I think your mom may be telling you some stories and honestly if her firing had to do with prescription fraud could this be a drug issue? Maybe she needs treatment right now and not need to focus on a career. That would coincide with her depression.

Work on getting her some help. If for nothing else than for the depression.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Sorry your Mom went through this. As she is finding out now the consequences are severe. To answer your questions the only recourse I can think of is for her to hire a lawyer ASAP. Especially as she is trying to get back into school for her nursing degree. Her record is causing the issues with her "trying to get back into school" as reputable programs run criminal background checks and will not accept her.

Sorry for more bad news but there is probably no way to volunteer as a nurse in any setting as she is not a nurse. She may not be able to volunteer in any capacity as most facilities run background checks on volunteers as well, I know we do.

Even with a good lawyer there are no guarantees that she will ever be able to practice as a nurse, but hiring one is a good first step to finding out if this is even a possibility for her.

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