So worried....Should i quit RN program due to legal/background issue?

Nurses Criminal

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Im starting my program in the spring but now i feel like giving up because it might be all for nothing.

My wife and i have a BS finding of indicated neglect from ACS all due to my stepdaughter "pretending" to go to school 3 years ago. My stepdaughter was 14 at the time decided to pretend to go to school and cut class.

We obviously didn't discover this right away. The school would leave auto messages on our machine but most of the time they would be unavailable when we return their call.

When confronted about it, our girl denied the accusations. We never had any reason to doubt her before so this left us very confused. We soon discovered the truth during a meeting with the principal. Our daughter said it was due to being bullied by students/teachers.

Our request for transfer didn't work out due to lack of credits. However the school didn't give us any temporary resolution in the meantime. They sent out a letter for a follow up meeting which we didn't receive on time because we don't have our own mailbox and the landlord gets our mail before us.

Because of THAT, some idiot at the school assumed we didn't give a crap and called ACS on us.

A worker visited our home, all went well, and our case was closed in less than a month (which goes to show how stupid it is). However the worker never informed us nor sent us any notice saying it would be closed with "indicated neglect" (educational neglect and inadequate guardianship).

We didnt find that out until 3 years later (this year) when my wife applied to a new job as a CNA. 30 days after working there, her background check that they did triggered the state registry to send a letter saying we have 90 days to respond about the old ACS case which was indicated neglect.

We responded, jumped thru all the hoops and hired a lawyer. He tried to file an amendment with the state but they said we are filing 3 years too late. Thats not our fault tho because we were never INFORMED 3 yrs ago that it was closed with indicated neglect. Now hes going to file an Article 78 which is for filing late appeals.

But what if that doesn't work out?

On one end you have my wife's job threatening to stop her from working until the finding is "cleared".

The other end you got me. A guy about to start RN program this spring. Lawyer said this might effect my ability to obtain RN Licensure/employment. I asked if i should drop out and switch majors and he said no, not to do anything rash like that because theres plenty of time for everything to fall into place.

Should i switch majors though? Im really worried about this messing up my future nursing career. I've been scared to death all day thinking about unemployment and homelessness.

Your experience has done nothing to change my long-held opinion of social workers.

Now you have me curious! :)

With regard to social workers, I kind of think they experience some of the same obstacles to great care that nurses have to work around/overcome. They didn't make the original report, and one other thing is almost for certain - - ACS/CPS/whatever is almost always staffed inadequately and/or inappropriately in my observations.

Specializes in Psych.
I do wish you luck.

I think some of what others have alluded to is that you can't possibly think this ^^ is true. The school has a "set of circumstances" too, such as the fact that they are required to report truancy and they are required to try to notify you about it. Guess what they do when the truancy continues and they have been repeatedly unable to notify you? It's not about "assuming" that you don't care. In your own situation as YOU describe it, for all they knew your stepdaughter could have been missing/held hostage/severely injured/abandoned/dead - no one has absolutely any way of knowing, since it wasn't convenient for you to reply to their messages (or do something crazy like actually going to the school to get to the bottom of said messages...).

Please - there is a lot riding on your perception of all of this; your education, your future job prospects, the well-being of your family, especially your daughter - please take some time for reflection.

Again, I wish you well in processing this and moving forward.

Thank you. Yes, I can understand what they were thinking from their perspective, without knowing what's actually happening. We replied to their auto-robot messages but the people in that office seem to have an issue when it comes to answering phones or being available. But we did go to the school and get to the bottom of the messages, that's what the initial meeting with the principal was for. The straw that broke the camel's back was when they sent us notice in the mail for a follow up meeting. A notice which came to us 2 days after the meeting, because we live in the basement apartment of a private house with no mailbox of our own. Our landlord just gives us our mail whenever its convenient for him.

However, definitely calling these people tomorrow. I'm also taking TEAS tomorrow afternoon. So I'm kind of a nervous wreck. I'm fully prepared, study-wise, it's just that combined with this on my conscience is just... crazy.

Best of luck with the TEAS, and I hope you can get all the other stuff squared away so that you and your family can be on an upward trajectory!

I hope you learned the lesson how to detect when a teenager is lying. It's anytime their lips are moving. Teenagers are not to ever be trusted. Lol.

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

The BON is not going to definitively guarantee that you will be granted authorization to test (ATT) at this time.

ATT is not granted until you have successfully completed your program.

The reason is the BON cannot perform DOJ and FBI level background checks on everyone who requests one. Just for people who meet criteria to test for licensure.

Every case is handled individually.

Hope this helps, best wishes.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I would suggest you get a PO Box and get your own mail.

I can see how all of this came about. I can also see that it probably could have been handled better on all sides.

I hope you do well on the TEAS and you figure out how to move forward. Best of luck.

Specializes in Psych.
I would suggest you get a PO Box and get your own mail.

I can see how all of this came about. I can also see that it probably could have been handled better on all sides.

I hope you do well on the TEAS and you figure out how to move forward. Best of luck.

Thank you :)

By the way, just got off phone with NY BON. They dont do background checks for licensure (in NY), you just have to.check off whether you have misdemeanor or felony on the application. And each application is handled on a moral/individual character basis (i dont think im using the right words here, sorry im operating on lack of sleep right now). Being that my issue is neither misdemeanor or felony, im safe there.

Employment is a separate matter and i would have to speak to each employer (of interest) individually. However, the BON rep informed me that employers would give you a chance to explain your case/situation.

Awesome. So happy for you. All it took was one phone call. I think you should be alright as far as employment. We all have teenagers and understand how difficult they can be. Best of luck to you.

Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
Personally, I wouldn't make a huge life decision like changing my planned career trajectory until I was certain there was a problem.

My advice: Proceed with nursing while working diligently to get your documentation in place.

Replied to your post prior to reading the thread... It looks like you're going forward with a plan.

Great.

first i would check to see if the background check is completed prior to getting in the program. The board isn't really going to do anything until your applying for application in which there is process where you can send paperwork in for them to investigate your issues to see if they would allow you to test prior to starting school or even during school. At least texas does anyway.) if your just getting your basic classes for the RN program then its not something you have to worry about right now and have time to see where the neglect thing goes.

Specializes in NICU.

Why weren't you notified of the indicated neglect? By certified mail for instance. Should you have been but weren't?

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Are you sure that would show up on your background check? You said stepdaughter - did you adopt her? I'm just curious. I don't know how those things work with step-parents...

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