ACQUITTED

[MelanieLee]

For some reason my last post was "closed", and I was hoping for more input from fellow nursing students/nurses:

Hi - I have a serious question about getting approved for a license:

I was recently accepted into my local nursing program who requires a background check. Nothing is on my record; however, as a teenager (age 15), I was accused and charged with a very serious offense and certified as an adult. I had nothing to do with this offense, but I spent two years and eight months WAITING in the county jail for my TRIAL. My trial lasted two weeks and I was ACQUITTED of all charges and released. By then, I was 18 years old. (I'm 33 now.) It has since been expunged off my record. I have no issue disclosing this information if necessary. I have been a model citizen ever since. Earned my GED. Graduated college. I have two beautiful daughters. I've had two speeding tickets my entire life. Is this something the BON might hold against me? Will I have to disclose it? Legally I'm not required to since I was acquitted and expunged, but I don't want it held against me if I don't disclose it either. I want to do the right thing and I don't mind being transparent about my childhood if I need to be. I don't want this to keep me from becoming a nurse.

I spoke with my trial lawyer (we've been friends for all these years) and he advised that I do NOT have to disclose because I was acquitted and expunged, and he defends cases with the TxBON all the time. But, I'd like advice from others.