Starting Nursing school with a criminal record!?

Graduation2016 · Apr 3, 2013

I am not speaking from personal experience. I'm going what my school has made clear to everyone who attends the main nursing orientation. I didn't mean to offend anyone.

Graduation2016 · Apr 3, 2013

I do not speak from personal experience since I have no criminal history. I had classmates when I took my CNA program who were not able to get a job after because of background check. Also for clinicals most hospitals require a negative history. The schools determine who gets in depending on the case. Now in NS at our main orientation it was mentioned that with a negative history the NCLEX can't be taken. From what I have read, most BON's require that the background check is satisfactory passed for licensure purposes. I did not mean to offend anyone with my comment. Not all knowledge comes from personal experience but from seeing what happens around us.

Fireman767 · Apr 3, 2013

From what my program director says, it varies on the offense as well as time of the event. For the OP, it sounds like a DUI charge and what may be obstructing justice or something serious along those lines. I don't mean to be a downer, but those would probably be at the top of the list of what may not pass by the BON. I would absolutely recommend the OP call the BON and check to see if that can still get him a license, and I hope it does. However, from the employers side, an obstructing justice or interfering with police is a red flag an may cause them to have issues. Also, if these offenses are within 5 years from now it may make it tougher.

TL;DR: call the board of nursing and check,they can give you insight.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Apr 6, 2013

I can tell you right now what my state will tell you:

They won't give you a decision until you apply for licensure. What the school says doesn't matter, they don't grant your license and will be happy to take your money.

Call the Board of Nursing and ask them...you don't have to give your name.

We had a student in my class that graduated and couldn't get licensure. A few months before graduation she had an assult and battery charge expunged (mainly, because she was in nursing school and they used that as a measure of rehabilitation) and then she was arrested and charged with abuse of one of her children.

The case was pending when she graduated, but because of the nature of the charge, it's been several years and they still won't let give her licensure.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 7, 2013

Call the Board of Nursing and ask them...you don't have to give your name.

I'm a fan of the anonymous e-mail myself.

Honestly, it is indeed a chance you will have to take because many BONs will take the "we can't tell you until you apply" route. But at least maybe they'll tell you if there's anything you can do to help your case.

Best of luck.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 7, 2013

With a criminal record you will not be eligible to sit for the NCLEX anywhere in the US. Probably not even be able to even get accepted into a nursing program as it has been mentioned all school run a background check prior starting. I would speak to a counselor and explain the situation to see what they say before doing anything else.

Not necessarily true on both counts...at least in the U.S.

Yes, there are some felonies that are an automatic bar to a nursing career.

But for the most part, nursing schools and BONs review applicants on a case-by-case basis. The fact that one nurse with a particular criminal record is accepted/rejected by a school or BON doesn't necessarily mean that another nurse with a similar criminal record will automatically meet the same fate.

To complicate matters, nursing schools and BONs each have their own criteria and work independently of each other. The fact that a nursing school is willing to accept a nurse's criminal record doesn't mean that the BON has to accept it and automatically issue that nurse a license. Or that because State A issued the nurse with a criminal record a license, that State B has to automatically accept that record and endorse the nurse in.

Nurses with both felony and misdemeanor records have been able to complete nursing school and sit for the NCLEX. Not every nurse with a criminal history is successful, but there are many who make it.

T-Bird78 · Apr 8, 2013

My nursing school did a criminal background check before I could apply to be accepted, so that may be as far as your goes. If it's misdemeanors it should be okay, it's the felony convictions that usually cause problems.

karnie1o1 · Jul 9, 2013

Hello, I am looking to try the upfront approach and contact a representative. My issue is a DUI and aggravated battery (which is pending expungment). I am afraid this will keep me from sitting for the NCLEX.

I also thought to become a CNA first, do you have any further advice on pursuing this route?

My charges are from Louisiana, and I am applying in Texas.

RayJordan · Aug 3, 2013

When I enrolled in school they did a criminal background check that I paid for, and checked my credit report. Alot of schools will not let you in if you have a criminal background its a waste of your time and there's. I know in Missouri you have to have a criminal background check before you can even go to nursing school. Hope that helps.

I don't mean to bring up an old thread, I just wanted to mention something. In the state of Missouri, this all depends on the school. I know most schools don't do the background until they accept you, and then its all depends on WHAT happened. Its not an automatic "sorry, you messed up good luck flipping burgers" if it was a first time and only offense (such as a DUI) Missouri almost always allows you to sit for your license, and I know plenty of nurses who are working with a first time offense on their records.

A word of advice for everyone: We all screw up, sometimes its way bigger than others and we're left with a lingering reminder of what happened, none of us are perfect and you shouldn't let pass mistakes damage your dreams. Again, I'm using a DUI as an example, but if this is your first offense, and your only offense, don't let it ruin you, and don't let people scare you away from pursuing your dream. Plenty of states will allow you to sit for your license, and plenty of schools will allow you to complete their nursing programs. If you learned your lesson, show rehabilitation, and time has passed (Ex, the DUI happened your freshman year in college and three years letter you're ready to take the exam, with nothing happening at all in that time period) there is a 95% chance that you will be allowed to sit and get a license.

katherine112 · Sep 18, 2013

Hey, I also had a misdemeanor but with the proper documentation and letters of rec, I was able to take the NCLEX and passed with no disciplinary actions. Don't lose hope!!! Just make sure your paperwork is on point when you apply for the boards and when you write your letter, you must explain why and how you've changed since your mishaps in the past. I don't know your exact situation, but I just want you to know that it's possible!!! Stay on track and I wish you the best of luck!

jsmunoz · Sep 30, 2013

Hey. My question is how were you guys/girls with felonies able to get into the clinical rotation? Were your charges expunged? If so, did the hospitals have access to the charges? Or did you have to send them letters about how you've changed and they(like the BON) examined your felony on a case by case basis?

kaydensmom01 · Sep 30, 2013

Hey. My question is how were you guys/girls with felonies able to get into the clinical rotation? Were your charges expunged? If so did the hospitals have access to the charges? Or did you have to send them letters about how you've changed and they(like the BON) examined your felony on a case by case basis?[/quote']
At my school and clinical sites you had a background check at the beginning of school that they sent with your information to each clinical site and the site either accepted you or denied you based on that. If they denied you the school could let you go.