License reinstated but no one will hire me

Nurses Criminal

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SORRY THIS IS LONG:( Eight years ago I lost my license due t a felony conviction of obtaining controlled substances. I made a terrible decision about how to deal with a life crisis during that time and was addicted to pain medications. In 2009 I finally got up the nerve to attempt to get my license reinstated. I didn't try before then because I felt ashamed and unworthy and didn't think I had a chance, but to my surprise and after a lot of hoop jumping and $2700.00, my license was reinstated. I was elated. I had never had an addiction before 8 years ago and never had a problem nor relapse after and went through rehab. I was also able to get my record expunged. The problem I am having now is that no one will hired me. Although I can legally check "no" on the convictions question, there is still an adverse disciplinary action on my license that spells out the whole incident and therefore I have to begin every interview with....."8 years ago...and explain what happened. The problem I now face is that although my record is expunged and my background check comes back clear, I am still being denied employment at every turn. I have been honest with everyone upfront and have even had 4 facilities offer me employment knowing my history, and then take back the offer due to someone on the corporate level saying no. I have sent out 74 resumes in a little over 30 days most with applications attached and a summary of my disciplinary action included and no one is responding. I've been applying and job hunting for 3 months. If I do get lucky and get to meet someone face to face, they will give me all this positive talk about how everyone makes mistakes and it's ok, and then I never hear from them again. The BON told me that hundreds of nurses have these types of things on their records and still can be employed. I feel like I have wasted my time, energy, hopes and a lot of money that I didn't have to spare for nothing. When I finally got my license back, I was so full of hope and optimism. I knew it would be hard having that mark on my record, but I never dreamed it would be like this. I have been comfort eating, depressed and reliving the shame that I've felt for so many years all over again and it is making me want to give up because I just don't know what to do. I have applied for CNA and caregiver positions just to get my foot back in the door and to build trust. I have applied for receptionists' positions in physicians offices and even offered to volunteer at our local hospital in order to establish trust and let them see my work ethic before they hire, but they have all just blown me off, or said we'll call you and I never hear from them. Does anyone have any suggestions or should I just hang it up?

Thanks in advance and sorry to be so down right now.

There are no restrictions on my license, but when they run my license for verification, it is there, so I feel I have to be honest upfront with prospective employers. I'm afraid if I'm not, and someone hires me and finds out later, they will just fire me and then, I'll be out of my unemployment and out of a job. I'm 47 years old and just not as willing to take a risk when it involves my income. Maybe if I were younger or had more financial support AND times weren't as bad as they are, I would just leave it off my application...but I'm torn. Part of me just wishes they would get to know me first and then find out about the issue, but right on my license at the BON it states "disciplinary action" and if you click there the first words are felony conviction.....so much for having my record expunged..

I do appreciate everyones advice and maybe this is just a momentary lapse in confidence. I think instead of going into the hunt with all the hope I had a few months ago, I am feeling gun shy and unworthy again and now I just dread the thought of the next interview. The other thing is, I live in a small town and the more I have to repeat my story and my history to others, the bigger risk I run of everyone in town knowing my business. And don't get me wrong, it's not about pride because I have humbled myself and swallowed my pride many times over this, it's just all that humbling with no positive results....ok, I'm going to stop. I'm starting to get on my own nerves. Thank you everyone. Tomorrow is another day...right?

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I am not sure where you live but some states are more forgiving than others. In Florida you would not have been able to get a license due to a new law they have banning all applicants with felonies and convictions for drug or fraud in the last 15 years. I just saw expose where FL BON were heard telling applicants to " go to GA" and warning the applicants to withdraw applications before they are forced to deny them and making it reportable to other BONs.

I feel for you though and do understand where you are coming from. I caught hell with a misdemeanor simple battery conviction for years as an LPN; but as soon as I became an RN most (all) of the companies I applied to ignored it. My own is 20 years old this year now, but it was only 5 years old when I began nursing. It is because LTC centers have stricter regulations than other healthcare entities because of the elder abuse legislations. Also new medicare and medicaid laws forbid the hiring of people with felony convictions in a lot of instances. Although you may have gotten a "first offender" type treatment and have no criminal record. Your employers could not play ignorant to the fact that they know you are a convicted felon if they were audited.

You will need to somehow see if you can plead to the BON. Call your local legal aid or volunteer lawyer service and see if you can get some assistance filing for an administrative hearing with the BON. Plead your case and explain how this is affecting your life. You can even consider moving to a state that has actual rehabilitation statues like Washington and Minnesota. They are good for second chances, MN especially. Definitely seek to get your RN somehow if you can. That definitely changed the rules for me. Good Luck, and don't give up.

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

Does your state nurses association have a support group for nurses in Recovery?

Call your state nurses association to find out. If so, attend the group..you can link up with nurses who have been where you are.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

It is sad, but unfortunately this situation is probably going to haunt you for a long time. And with the job market being what it is, it is going to be tough. I hope things get better. Just keep looking and put your best foot forward. That's all you can do.

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Buy fax machine and send out resumes ANYWAY. You have a huge fight that you have come through. Try to talk to others that are trying to be employed after being in similar situations. I hate the idea of you going through this. Your post needs to be a warning to us all that this can happen very easily. I personally know an RN in a similar type of situation, she was reinstated, then relapsed into drug seeking behavior. When you do get employed and prove to yourself that you can move forward, tell us about it.

Your post was a picture of pain, yet there is hope. Keep looking and consider all options, maybe even relocating to another state.

I am beginning my first LPN job very soon, your hard won knowledge reinforces the idea that all of us must watch out for these kinds of things. It can happen to anyone, very easily.

You really are stronger than you think you are. Hoping for your success.:up:

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Specializes in critical care, home health.

I have a friend who went through a similar ordeal. It was more difficult for her to find a job, but she did get one and was able to prove her worth. However, this was before the employment crunch. So a great deal of your problem is probably due to the lack of jobs overall, not just because of your past issues.

The economy will turn around soon and you'll be employable again. In the meantime, keep trying. Several people have made excellent suggestions here. Basically I just want you to know you have my support and I admire you for overcoming your issues and being strong enough to press on.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

For the record having your record expunged does not remove your crimes from a background check - it enters a plea of not-guilty where a plea of guilty was before. Essentially exonerating your crimes - but the fact that the charges were filed are still there, they just show up differently.

You need to have your record sealed in order for background checks not to show up - and even then anything related to the medical field, government, school jobs, military, etc. are still entitled to that information.

The job market is tough right now, period. Just keep plugging away with those applications and you'll find something. Do not equate past mistakes with why you are not getting job offers now - there are A LOT of people not getting any job offers right now.

It is very important that you understand how expunged records work, though. Which is not common knowledge among everyone - if I were you I would get in touch with the Department Of Justice and pay the $50 for a background check through them.

Whatever shows up on that background check, is what you should list on your applications.

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Specializes in Med-surg.

Sorry to hear your story. But that may be the problem of the economy. It took one of my classmates 6 months to get a job. She was unemployed and looking for a job full-time, and she was a new graduate with no criminal records. I'm still looking for a job, very difficult. I graduated last year and never been arrested nor any even minor records, still cannot find a job till today.

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Have you thought about applying for jobs in facilities that focus on substance abuse recovery? First hand experience may be beneficial...

This was my thought exactly! Not only will those places be more understanding, it will actually be beneficial. I am doing a rotation at one right now, and I love working on the dual diagnosis floor.

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Specializes in Home Care, Peds, Public Health, DD Health.

My first thought was working in recovery field yourself, I had a friend that did the same thing and she herself had experience with substance abuse also. can't say whether or not there were criminal charges or not but I would think that they especially would be appreciative of the experience and as you said you have turned your life around. if you cannot get anything in that field, how about searching for some other fields that would also not include giving narcotic meds, such working in clinical trials or working in a doctors office - as long as it isnt pain management you dont often see narcotic medication being given here. Or how about working for a corporation helping the medical director in occupational health. I am just throwing that out there of course I dont know for sure what you have or havent applied for. Another thing is to possibly try smaller offices where you might not get someone else double guessing the hiring decision. In this case at least you it might not be your dream job but if you worked for a while, you would have that on your resume to prove yourself for the next job.

good luck!

angels mommy

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you must be persistent and try and try and try again

,when you have send 1,000 resumees and applications and the answer to all of them is NO then you have done all there is to do

Dont loose faith in God

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Specializes in MedSurg, Clinic, ER.

:spam:

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