Will I ever become a nurse ??

Nurses Criminal

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Hi All

I would really appreciate some feedback and honest opinions. Its my dream to become a nurse/midwife , but there is a HUGE obstacle standing in my way. I committed a white collar crime 8 years ago and am still to be convicted , case is in the courts. Where I come from the nursing degree takes 4 years. Just wondering if you or someone you know has ever been in a similar situation and went on to fulfill their dream , Im so so so sad that I will prob never be able to follow my dream , because of a mistake I made suring a desperate time in my life. So guys , any feedback would really be great:)

In Indiana, a conviction = probationary license.

BON= No Problem

NCLEX= No Problem

Job= Probationary License x 10 = Impossible.

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In all honesty, after reflecting on this for the better part of a year, why would you want to be a nurse?

It is not anything but a glorified C.N.A. position, and why should someone beg anyone to clean incontinence?

Any criminal record at all, in Indiana, means a probationary license, which is basically toilet paper.

I spent $10,000 to clean my own incontinence.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

4 years, what- $50,000? And taking a chance on not surviving the process of graduation (we don't see much talk in here about the high fail rate of nursing schools), being allowed to test, than being granted a license, then getting nursing employment? I wish you luck- that is way too much for me to take on and stress about for 4 years. This site is full of sob stories...

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.
In Indiana, a conviction = probationary license.

BON= No Problem

NCLEX= No Problem

Job= Probationary License x 10 = Impossible.

Tiger,

Why do you suppose it is impossible finding a job? Is it the fact the license is probationary or of the criminal history check. I recently went in front of the board in Indiana and received a probationary license for three years with restrictions (No hospice, homehealth, or peds). I was arrested three times...A misdemeanors...received pre-trial diversion (my father was my lawyer) for all of them.

Nothing shows up on my background checks because there was never a conviction or guilty plea entered. After compelting the terms, the charges were dropped. After my last run-in, my father applied to have my arrest records expunged.

So, I am wondering if I will have problems securing employment because of my license status. If so, I think I will duck into graduate school until I can petition to have the restriction lifted.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

Let me put things into perspective: This sucks, but it could not have happened at a better time- the economy is tanking, nurse jobs are evaporating while pay plummets- it could have happened at the peak of things, then you'd be way more unhappy. So look at it in this light, even those here with no marks, who are the direct offspring of the Virgin Mary, even- even THEY are not finding Nursing Jobs. Feel better? If yes, click my 'kudos'!

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Hi ParkerBeanCurd,

Okay.....here is the problem:

The very fact you have a probationary license is a giant red flag to potential employers.

Believe it or not, I was actually hired at a famous Indiana-based nursing home, employee-owned; however, when I went in to get my TB test and schedule, the D.O.N., almost crying, told me she could not hire me because it was policy that they not fool around with probationary licenses. It was policy.

Okay, no problem, I thought. I'll keep plugging away. In your case, the "probationary license" forces you to disclose your past even though it is not on your record because the obvious question is: "Why a 3-year probationary license?" Added to this the fact that you have restrictions, and whammo!

Now... were you already working, a probationary license might be a doable thing. Not so for a recent grad. IMHO.

The Indiana State Board of Nursing simply has to know this--- they just have to. So, why do they even take people's money? Furthermore, why do they let people sit for the NCLEX at, what, $250.00? Even here we see that this whole thing is a money-maker.

There is one nursing home here in my town that is absolutely comical. Get this: they cannot keep a nurse anymore than I can get a job. They simply cannot do it. They are hiring virtually every day of the week, literally.

Giant "Now Hiring L.P.N.'s" banners strung up along their 150 foot frontage like one of those places selling fireworks with banners announcing it. But I have talked to them several times (under different D.O.N.'s, which evidently they cannot keep either) and they still won't hire me. But I am good enough to be a substitute teacher at all the high schools (I have a bachelor of Arts Degree also). I mean, go figure.

Didn't you say you are restricted in passing meds? Right there the BON sank your entire ship.

I would say that the job market is good here in Indiana for nurses, and House Bill 1211, which allows the sealing of misdemeanors older than 8 years is a godsend; but, the probationary license status forces you to disclose everything to potential employers anyway. So the genie is out of the bottle.

I wish the BON would do away with probationary licenses. They can always have you sign a contract with them promising to meet their demands, or else they pull your license. That is perfectly fine.

But to issue a person a probationary license is to tattoo their forehead with "Dangerous, drug-and-alcohol-addicted, theiving, low-life, violent criminal". It is just such a blasted scarlet letter. In today's employment market, there is no one who can afford such a branding.

I do wish you luck. Probably not everything you wanted to hear; but, I feel like I helped a fellow Hoosier out.

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Wow everyone here has been really critical. I say go for it, you won't know unless you try.

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In the OP's case, "just going for it" can mean the investment of thousands of dollars and years of his/her life, for an uncertain outcome. I want to nurture as many possible nurses as I can, but this poster is in a really difficult situation. He/she needs realistic advice.

OP, have you contacted the BON in your state for any additional information?

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in all honesty, after reflecting on this for the better part of a year,

why would you want to be a nurse?

it is not anything but a glorified c.n.a. position, and why should someone beg anyone to clean incontinence?

any criminal record at all, in indiana, means a probationary license, which is basically toilet paper.

i spent $10,000 to clean my own incontinence.

unprofessional reply to somone seeking our assistance on allnurses. :mad:

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From my understanding, she hasn't been convicted yet. I don't know all the details, but it could be dismissed. Even if it's not, she could still get her license. I have 2 convictions, and I was just granted my license, so it is possible. I went through school and spent thousands of dollars not even knowing if I would be able to get my license or not. But it was something I had to do. I knew the risk. But I never would have known if I hadn't tried.

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I can vouch for what tiger is saying. I have a probationary license from Indiana and I cant buy a job. He's not lying when he's telling you that a probationary license In Indy is a set-up. I graduated 12-10 and I have put over 200 apps in with one job interview. Bump that I'm done and broke.. Maybe I'll have better luck in a different state. I'm a female with a felony probationary license so I know I need to find a new profession or move to another state. It's all about who u know these days anyway. Illinois started a new law that anyone with a forcibly felony was banned from nursing period. The saddest part of that new law was that I had two jobs waiting on me, got approved for licensure, and then a horrible phone call two months later, saying withdraw your application or else. I'll try one more state and that's it. However, I'm so tired of all of it.

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