Nursing with a felony???

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 23, 2013

It's unlikely a nursing school would admit you with a felony conviction.

Mschwab316 · Mar 26, 2013

Dont think so!!!!

BeccaznRN, RN · Apr 3, 2013

You may want to check with the school you are interested in and the Missouri State Board of Nursing to get answers directly from the sources. Here's a link toget you started: http://pr.mo.gov/boards/nursing/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 3, 2013

That's a tough question to answer, even if you did disclose what the felony was. That's because you have three hurdles to get through, and each hurdle is a separate challenge.

First, you need to be accepted into a nursing school. Whether a school will accept a felony conviction depends on both what the conviction is and what the school's guidelines are. It is possible to get accepted...how possible, I can't tell you that, only the school can.

Second, you need to get licensed by a state BON. Keep in mind that the state BON has its own guidelines regarding criminal histories, and the fact that a nursing school accepted your criminal record doesn't mean that the BON has to accept it and license you.

Last, you need to find a job. Again, employers have their own guidelines and the fact that a BON licensed you doesn't mean that the employer has to accept your criminal record and give you a job.

The PP has the best advice: check with your school as well as the MO BON. IMO, it may be more important to check with the BON first, as it won't matter where you go to school if the state won't license you. Unfortunately, the BON may not give you a definite answer as they usually review criminal applicants on a case-by-case basis...but maybe you could at the least find out if your felony conviction is an automatic disqualification for licensure.

In addition, if you have any legal questions--and especially if you have to go in front of the BON regarding your criminal record--get a lawyer involved. The BON is NOT the nurse's friend.

Best of luck.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2013

I also moved this to the Criminal History forum for more targeted responses. Keep in mind that this is a moderated forum, so replies to this thread will not show up right away, as they need to be reviewed and approved by a moderator first.

SuzieVN · Apr 5, 2013

Depends on the crime, the time, your state, etc. Nurses get licensed with felonies. Go to your BON site, they'll list disqualifying events. If your's isn't a disqualifying event, there'd be no reason for a school not to admit you. Murder, rape, and etc. will bar you. Another one that appears to be unusually punitive is bad checks. I don't get this, anybody enlighten me? Sister worked on Ohio, Bank One. Job was to sort the 10,000 NSF checks that came through her office EVERY month?

SuzieVN · Apr 5, 2013

Then again, if your crime is not an automatic barried to the BON, you can ask them if your crime will allow a license. They'll prolly say "Case by case- can't determine that until you apply, can't apply till you have graduated". Then, finally- you graduate, they can deny a license. Just want you to know your facing a risk, one way or the other, with even a misdemeanor. CA denies 100's of wanna be nurses licenses every year after the poor souls have wasted years on a worthless nursing degree.