Criminal background concerns in TN

xiaobear007 · Jul 22, 2011

hi, did you call BON and ask them if it will affect your license application ? what did they say ?

I do not think the nursing school will do background check regarding to this ,what do you think ? The school should just want to make money . that is my opionion though.

Does anyone know if Nursing programs (particularly Union University) accepts students with misdemeanor convictions... Most of them are "driving charges" but 2 misdemeanor theft of properties many years ago.
I contacted the BON and they say it's up to the school to decide.... Any guidance or advice....

umartin · Jul 22, 2011

Yea, I talked to the BON in my state (Tennessee) and they gave me VERY vague answers to my questions.. I'm just hoping that I get in and they allow me to get a license when it's all over...

Do you know anyone that's had this problem?? If so, How did it work out for them?

xiaobear007 · Jul 23, 2011

what do you mean by vague? do they say yes or no? i called BON in TN too .

i have 2 arrest record but they are all dismissed and sealed . the BON TN say it won't prevent me from getting my license. so i am having the same issue.

but my arrest is for violation of order of protection . my ex husband set me up and try means to screw me up. I am abused women 2 years ago.

BON TN told me that they review case by case. I think i will be okay if i go to nursing and then apply ,right now i am pre nursing student . i want to figure it out too as you !!!

xiaobear007 · Jul 23, 2011

what is your disposition for the theft ?

Does anyone know if Nursing programs (particularly Union University) accepts students with misdemeanor convictions... Most of them are "driving charges" but 2 misdemeanor theft of properties many years ago.
I contacted the BON and they say it's up to the school to decide.... Any guidance or advice....

Columnist · Jul 30, 2011

Moved to Nursing Licensure with a Criminal History forum. Hope you get some additional helpful advice here.

Good luck.

carrie_c · Aug 1, 2011

As far as nursing school goes, I think they only go back so far. I am in TN and went to Cleveland State. I also have 2 convictions similar to yours that are over 7 years old. I had no problem getting into nursing school. The background check they did only went back 5 years. If anything does show up, I don't know how they handle it at that school, but it usually depends on the clinical sites.

As far as getting your license, as long as the convictions aren't felonies, I think you should be ok. I just graduated in May, took NCLEX in June, and got my license just last month. I had no problem. But you MUST disclose your convictions on your application to the BON. You will also have to get certified copies of the judgements and proof that you have completed all court requirements. You also have to write a letter stating why you were convicted. I did all of this, and I had no problem with the BON giving me a license. I was worried sick, and I called them as well before I started school, and they were also very vague with me. I think they just handle it on a case by case basis. I think the most important thing is not to lie about the convictions. They see lying worse than the actual convictions. Good luck.

carrie_c · Aug 1, 2011

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, TN will not do a declaratory order. They will not tell you in advance if you can be licensed. You just have to apply, take NCLEX, and hope for the best.

xiaobear007 · Aug 1, 2011

hello carrie, thank you so much for your input !!! I also want to apply for nursing school in TN /UTK next year so your information is truly helpful to me. I also called TN bon and they did vague answer but they do say it is dealt with case by case and generally it wont prevent me from getting license. i am worred sick these days too . i am afraid if i finish all my study but cannot get licensing but it seems not bad for me.

I do not know you guys, but i was just arrested twice for violation of order of protection with my ex husband, he is ***whole and abuse me and set me all up, i do not want to explain in details but it all turned out that the judge dismissed me without any fine or community work and it is ACD dismissal so i am all free last year. but still i cannot deny the fact that i was arrested twice .....i am not sure if it is conviction or not . i believe it is not conviction because i was not convicted of anything...dismissal means no conviction , right ?

Also i have not yet told the school i wanted to apply for next year because i am afraid they will be judgemental on me and reject me whatsoever even though i do not think they should do so . so i will just wait...

Congratulation on your getting our license. you are so smart, graduate in may, passed test in June and get licensed in July. !!! THAT is fast !!! did you find a good job now? How is your job hunting going ? do you have any trouble with the employer background check? I do hope that you can achieve your dream and get rid of all this and start your job soon !!! wait for your good news!!! good luck to all of you !!!!

As far as nursing school goes, I think they only go back so far. I am in TN and went to Cleveland State. I also have 2 convictions similar to yours that are over 7 years old. I had no problem getting into nursing school. The background check they did only went back 5 years. If anything does show up, I don't know how they handle it at that school, but it usually depends on the clinical sites.
As far as getting your license, as long as the convictions aren't felonies, I think you should be ok. I just graduated in May, took NCLEX in June, and got my license just last month. I had no problem. But you MUST disclose your convictions on your application to the BON. You will also have to get certified copies of the judgements and proof that you have completed all court requirements. You also have to write a letter stating why you were convicted. I did all of this, and I had no problem with the BON giving me a license. I was worried sick, and I called them as well before I started school, and they were also very vague with me. I think they just handle it on a case by case basis. I think the most important thing is not to lie about the convictions. They see lying worse than the actual convictions. Good luck.

carrie_c · Aug 1, 2011

xiaobear, if your charges were dismissed, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. On the TN BON application, it only asks about convictions. So I don't think they will hold it against you. If I were you, I wouldn't even mention it to the school. I didn't say anything to my school until I applied for my license. Even if something does show up on your background check for the school, I doubt they would hold it against you if the charges were dismissed.

No, I don't have a job yet. I don't think it has anything to do with my convictions, it is just very hard right now to get a new grad position because so many people have graduated recently. I don't think my convictions will be a problem. The hospital I am hoping to work at only asks about felonies on the application. And many other places only go back 7 years, so hopefully no one will hold it against me.

Another word of advise for everyone: do a state background check on yourself before you apply to the BON. The information they have on there could be wrong. I did one on myself and they had one of my convictions listed as a felony, when it was not. I had to go through the courts to get it fixed, but if I hadn't, and the BON saw that, they might not have given me a license. Make sure everything on yours is correct. In TN, you can do one through the TBI for $29. Good luck!

xiaobear007 · Aug 1, 2011

carrie, Thank you very much for your input again!! Thank you for your advices too!!! yes, that is cheap, I have done the two state criminal background check -bureau of identification before and they all show clear and they all take fignerprints. So i thinkg it should be okay. the two states i took fringerprint and do investigation is about 30 dollars to 69 dollars, 29 in TN is cheap and it took about 4 weeks till you get the results. that is weird that you get the wrong results and i am glad that you are smart to fix it !!! that advice might be worthy thousands of dollars to everyone here. Thanks a lot !!!

I think you will get a job soon. Do not worry. I am new to nursing too. I know they said covernant 8 hospitals all hire extern and they say UT has summer program and they said Vandy has good nursing resident program too. They say it is difficult to find hospital jobs for new graduate but nursing home could be much better. But i assume you must want to find a hospital position. Keep on hard working and networking and I think you will find a niche soon.

BTW. i think TN people are really very nice and ready to help. TNA is a good association for your to network ,maybe you can join them and have more information. They have coming convention this Oct in nashville. Hope you can realize your dream soon !!! Best of luck to your future!!!!

carrie_c · Aug 2, 2011

Thank you!