Am I hireable?

FLmomof5 · Dec 20, 2009

I wouldn't bemoan the past. Yes, it hurts that it may be affecting your opportunities right now. When they have 1 GN slot available and 2 candidates and 1 has your history and the other has not criminal history, they will choose the other. It really does not say that the other one is a better nurse.....but, it is what it is.

The economy is poor right now and there are far more GN looking for jobs than there are jobs to be had. It may not be the criminal history that is affecting you. The other interviewee may have just appeared to have a better interview. You will never know.

Don't give up. Just keep applying. You may even want to consider moving out of state where jobs are more plentiful (like Texas).

I wish you the best in your search. Keep your chin up!

baldee · Dec 21, 2009

Kate,

You are worried about the wrong thing. You got your RN, and now you may need to do more than fill out applications. Research, be positive, and NEVER bring up something bad about your past. If asked, be short, to the point, and move on about how you can help whoever you are applying for. If someone drags it out, then it is a stress interview and those are usually the cheesiest companies from my past experience. If you got the interview, you were chosen and they want you. Oh yeah, don't blow a doobie before the interview :-o Its a two way street. If you don't get hired, be glad you did not get hired since some organizations' chemistry are not for everyone, and can be a living hell if you don't fit.

Now when you get hired, you can support me since I'll start my ADN this Fall :-)

KayteRN · Dec 21, 2009

Thank you. And you're right. I have actually been applying in TX, and AZ, and anywhere really. I won't overlook ANY opportunity at this point. I just want to get my foot in the door somewhere. Although, with TX in particular, I was under the impression that TX is more strict than is WI (i.e. DUI is still a misdemeanor and I belive it is a felony in many other states as of now...)

WI is a compact state, so my license is good in other states, so I have been looking at those because I don't have to jump through hoops to have my license approved. But being that I didn't have any issues getting one in WI, I feel very hopeful that I'd be able to in any state. Or most at least, I would think.... who knows though I guess. I haven't tried.

One thing that I feel bad about is what to tell my parents. It's only been less than a week of applying, but if months go by, they are going to wonder what the deal is. They know about the marijuana and DUI, but not the theft. And I don't want to have to tell them. I'm just trying to keep putting my name out there, and hope that someone will give me an opportunity to prove myself.

elkpark · Dec 21, 2009

Please note that your WI license is "good in other states" only as long as you maintain your permanent residence (live) in WI -- if you move to another state, even another compact state, you'll have to apply for a new license there (I only mention this because there's a lot of confusion about how the NLC and "compact licenses" work).

You might want to practice, out loud, in front of a mirror in private, and then "live" with family/friends, talking about your legal history and answering the questions you know you're going to get asked in interviews, until you can feel completely comfortable and relaxed talking about these issues. Be (well) prepared -- don't wait until you're in an interview and asked a (the) question to see what pops into your head! I know that sounds dumb, but the vast majority of what we communicate to others (>90%) is our nonverbal communication -- if you look and sound uncomfortable and anxious answering questions in interviews, even if you're saying the right things, people will react/respond to that.

You'll also want to be able to talk about what you've learned from your experiences, and what changes you've made and steps you've taken to avoid similar situations in the future.

Best wishes!:balloons:

KayteRN · Dec 22, 2009

Are you sure about the compact state info you mentioned? How would that make sense or benefit anyone? Why have a license good for other states if you can't live there? I don't understand. Is it only intended for travel nurses, and that's it?

elkpark · Dec 22, 2009

Are you sure about the compact state info you mentioned? How would that make sense or benefit anyone? Why have a license good for other states if you can't live there? I don't understand. Is it only intended for travel nurses, and that's it?

I'm very sure. As I said, there's a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact). It's not anything like a "national," or even regional, license, as many people think. The easiest way to understand it is to realize that it works the same as our driver's licenses.

The only reason we're able to drive cross-country without stopping at each state line to apply for a new driver's license is because all the US states, long ago, in the dawn of the Automobile Age, got together and signed a compact (an actual legal document like a treaty) agreeing to recognize each other's licenses (on a temporary basis). The NLC is exactly the same thing, except that not all the states have chosen to join the compact.

You understand perfectly (everyone does, and nobody thinks it's odd or unreasonable), I'm sure, that you're able to use your current driver's license to drive in any other US state, for as long and as much as you like, as long as you still live in you current state -- but if you move to another state, you have 30 days, or whatever their law says, to apply for a new driver's license in that state. You can't just drive forever on your "old" license. The NLC works exactly the same way. You can use your current "compact license" to work in other compact states for as long as you want, as long as you maintain your permanent residence in your current state. When you move to another state, one of two things happens -- if the new state is another "compact state," your current license becomes void (no good any more), because you can only hold one "compact license" at a time. If you move to a non-compact state, you retain your current license, but it loses its "compact priviliges" and becomes just an ordinary license, only good in that state but not recognized in others.

Each US state retains the right to regulate and control the practice of nursing within its borders, including the licensure of nurses. Some of them have agreed, under these limited conditions, to recognize each other's nursing licenses for work purposes, some have chosen not to join the compact;, but it's definitely not intended to be anything like a national, or even regional, license. The NLC is mostly useful for people who work as travel nurses (as you note), and for people who live near the border(s) of compact states (for instance, I currently live in my "home" compact state, near the state border, and work in the next state over, which is also a compact state). For lots of nurses, it makes no difference at all (if you live in the center of your state, or don't live near another compact state).

slaneme1 · Dec 22, 2009

did you have any problems obtaining your license? just wondering because I have a somewhat similar situation, and I just finished my first semester. I am worried that after going through all of this, they can deny my license. I am in PA and I understand every state and case will be different.

KayteRN · Dec 23, 2009

Sleneme1, I thinik you're asking that of me. And the answer it no. Not at all. I mean it was a pain in the rear, to dig up all the needed information to send it in to the board. But beyond that, it was fine. I wrote a letter expalining my situtation, how I have learned from it, changed. And I receieved approval.

On another note. I just got called in for an interview at a hospital. I am terrified. Because on SOME apps online, the way the ???'s are worded, I say "yes", and divulge what's on my record (those I usually get the defaul email: "we're looking at other candidates"). But this one was worded way different than the others. They asked about felonies (I dont have any), and "pending misdemeanor charges (I have NOTHING pending, it's already on my record). So I answered no. In parentheses after the qustion, it went on to say that if nothing has been found guilty or not yet, etc etc. Which is not my case...

So they DON'T know about my past yet. So I have to tell them. Which I will. If I post up what I am planning on saying, can I get some friendly feedbacK? It's on MONDAY! I am cautiously optimistic. But maybe a little more cautious, than optimistic.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 24, 2009

answering no to criminal history questions when it should have been yes on application, will usually get applicant rejected at interview time.

better to leave blank rather than anwer if issue one needs to discuss in person.

re compact:

one can live in state a "home state" but work in adjacent state b under compact license issued by state a bon when both states are part of the compact.

if you then move to state d, your primary home is no longer in state a therfore can not use that license to work in ajoining state b.

one must live in issuing home state in order for compact license to be used in different state.

see: compact model rules

HumptyDumpty · Dec 24, 2009

Sleneme1, I thinik you're asking that of me. And the answer it no. Not at all. I mean it was a pain in the rear, to dig up all the needed information to send it in to the board. But beyond that, it was fine. I wrote a letter expalining my situtation, how I have learned from it, changed. And I receieved approval.
On another note. I just got called in for an interview at a hospital. I am terrified. Because on SOME apps online, the way the ???'s are worded, I say "yes", and divulge what's on my record (those I usually get the defaul email: "we're looking at other candidates"). But this one was worded way different than the others. They asked about felonies (I dont have any), and "pending misdemeanor charges (I have NOTHING pending, it's already on my record). So I answered no. In parentheses after the qustion, it went on to say that if nothing has been found guilty or not yet, etc etc. Which is not my case...
So they DON'T know about my past yet. So I have to tell them. Which I will. If I post up what I am planning on saying, can I get some friendly feedbacK? It's on MONDAY! I am cautiously optimistic. But maybe a little more cautious, than optimistic.

If it asked for felonies, and you have none, mark no. If it asked for a pending misdemeanor charge, and you have none, mark no. Do not divulge any info that is not asked, simple as that! You are not liable because you did not lie, you simply answered the question asked. I have a conviction from 7 years and 4 months ago. The application I filled out asked of any convictions within the last 7 years. I marked no, even though it was just a little bit over. Regardless, if it was 7 years and 1 day, I would have marked no. I got the job, and nothing was ever said about it. People do dumb and foolish things when they are younger, most employers understand this and are reasonable. Best of luck :up:

KayteRN · Dec 25, 2009

the way it was worded however, answering "no" was TRUE. I wasn't misleading anyone by answering no. The wording was very odd. THe only application I have seen that asked that. So it WAS true. I didn't lie at all. It asked about felonies (i have none, and said "no"), and it asked about pending misdemeanors (i do have a misdemeanor, although it's not pending. It's already finalized. There is nothing in the works, it's not as if i'm waiting for my court date. So i answered "no" to that was well, which is 100% true)