A nurse with a past

Big Blondie, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Apr 22, 2017

First of all. Sending blessings your way. Now. What state? Find Cadeuces meeting. Network. There are recovering managers and administrators everywhere. Just gotta find them.

Persephone68 · Apr 22, 2017

Thanks Big Blonde. I'm in Florida. I've been doing some thinking since I wrote this, last night. Most of the RN remedial/refresher courses are offered pretty far away from where I live, which means I know no one. You are not the first person I've heard who has mentioned the importance of networking, but I'd never really thought I would need it until it came time to look for a job. Never dreamed I'd experience road block after road block, just trying to take a class! I have found a few institutions that offer the classroom portion online, then I have to find a hospital locally to complete clinicals. Locally, I have connections. I'm still a little nervous about the background check having to go through human resources first. That is where I'm getting shot down from. They get the application before anyone else and get a preliminary result ( the arrest shows up ), but from what I've read, a more comprehensive read out comes about 30 days later. That's the one that explains all charges were dismissed. Unfortunately the applicant is usually already gone, rejected for the job, etc...

So, I'm going to look for a Cadeuces group here in N. Florida. And once I find out if our little, local hospital is satisfactory to provide the clinical, I'm going to start the application/back ground check long before I need to show up.

Thanks for your response. Sometimes, just having a plan is comforting and feeling like I'm taking some action is slow progress.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Apr 23, 2017

I personally found LTC, facility most open to working my required clinical hours off...... Basically I told them.....I need to do. Xyz # hrs as refresher..... Basically you get , RN hours free...... For me they were getting ready for yearly survey........ That post clinical hours evolved into be becoming ADON/ MDS coordinator, which was a " cake walk"........ To the #years I needed to work off stipulations......it was not such a bad journey...... Bless you, with your health diagnosis, related treatment......and trying to facilitate reinstatement, my heart and best wish go to you

Persephone68 · Apr 23, 2017

Thank you Sally. I've spent my morning investigating different options for this class. You're support is truly appreciated.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

If this was your first offence and you ended up with a dismissal, see if you qualify to get the case expunged in your state. A lot of states are starting to get on board with that for first time non-violent offenders. But if you have it expunged and then follow up to make sure the background places have updated the databases, it won't show on your record. I read research it and read up on it for your state. Could be an option. I know someone that just had this done.

Persephone68 · Apr 24, 2017

I am almost finished with the expungement process. What got me so upset was what the woman said at the Clerk Of Courts office. As I paid the last fee and submitted the final petition ( at the local level, the State level was already approved ), she informs me that if I want to work in Law Enforcement, Healthcare or Childcare, my record NEVER goes away. I asked why anyone would go through this then? She said, "to get an apartment." I couldn't believe I'd spent almost 8 months waiting for something that will not help this particular situation. It was NON violent, I was arrested but NEVER convicted and the charges were dropped. Apparently getting arrested ONLY, will haunt me for the rest of my life. It's very upsetting. I told my husband my new motto is, "sin in haste, repent at leisure." Thanks for your input... ^^

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

I am almost finished with the expungement process. What got me so upset was what the woman said at the Clerk Of Courts office. As I paid the last fee and submitted the final petition ( at the local level, the State level was already approved ), she informs me that if I want to work in Law Enforcement, Healthcare or Childcare, my record NEVER goes away. I asked why anyone would go through this then? She said, "to get an apartment." I couldn't believe I'd spent almost 8 months waiting for something that will not help this particular situation. It was NON violent, I was arrested but NEVER convicted and the charges were dropped. Apparently getting arrested ONLY, will haunt me for the rest of my life. It's very upsetting. I told my husband my new motto is, "sin in haste, repent at leisure." Thanks for your input... ^^

So did you not finish it?

I would speak to a lawyer about this. There is a difference between getting records sealed and getting them expunged. There is a differences between charges getting dropped or charges getting dismissed from an agreement of some sort. Dismissed is usually the result of a deferred prosecution where you make a deal and at the end everything is dismissed but still a record of it.

But there is so much misinformation out there and even after let's say getting things expunged it would still be beneficial to pay a couple hundred dollars for a service that goes and updates all the databases for you and has any mug shots removed and stuff. That's what my friend ended up doing. It was a process, she had a lawyer handle the expunging process and another firm handle the stuff after but she is in a position now that NOTHING shows on a background check for any jobs she applies for. The records were destroyed even the fingerprinting. *that all varies on states*

But at the minimum this is what I found for Florida, the very bottom part is if you had your stuff expunged, the other stuff is if it was sealed.

Entities That Get Sealed And Expunged Records

The subject of a criminal history record sealed under this section or under other provisions of law, including former s.893.14, former s.901.33, and former s.943.058, may lawfully deny or fail to acknowledge the arrests covered by the sealed record, except when the subject of the record:

Is a candidate for employment with a criminal justice agency;

Is a defendant in a criminal prosecution;

Concurrently or subsequently petitions for relief under s.943.0585 or s.943.059;

Is a candidate for admission to The Florida Bar;

Is seeking to be employed or licensed by or to contract with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within the Department of Education, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Health, the Department of Elderly Affairs, or the Department of Juvenile Justice or to be employed or used by such contractor or licensee in a sensitive position having direct contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly;

Is seeking to be employed or licensed by the Department of Education, any district school board, any university laboratory school, any charter school, any private or parochial school, or any local governmental entity that licenses child care facilities; or

Is attempting to purchase a firearm from a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer and is the subject to a criminal history background check under state or federal law.

*****When the record is expunged the agency will only receive the subject's demographic information and a caveat statement stating that criminal history information has been expunged, but will be unable to receive the details.

K9lover, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

Congratulations! That's all I can help with given I was a young waitress when I got clean & sober, best of luck to you and don't ever mention this at work, the medical community is incredibly judgmental.

Guest849204 · Apr 24, 2017

That's quite the situation. Legally, without a felony conviction or the board permanently barring you from practice, it is possible for you to be reinstated. Your best bet would be to talk to the organization and explain your situation. I'm surprised they even did a background check for a refresher class so you could simply try applying to the next closest place and see what happens. Explain that you were not convicted if its a problem. The most drastic measure would be to petition the court to have your record expunged. This can be complicated so you best speak to a lawyer about the specifics and if your case would qualify. After that, the next challenge would be getting past the nursing board. They will most likely give you a restricted license (no narcotic administration) and require you to self-identify as an addict in recovery which would involve mandatory AA/NA meetings, regular urine screening, etc...

Good luck!