Advice needed!

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Hi. I'm a 24 y o who has been considering a change of profession and entering the world of nursing. However I was (foolishly) convicted of drink driving 2 1/2 years ago. Therefore by the time I would become qualified the charge would be effectively 'spent' my understanding is that I would till be obliged to declare it in the nursing profession.

Does this mean that nursing is basically a 'no-no' as a career for me? I certainly hope not as I'd love to spend my working life helping other people and would be gutted to miss out on this opportunity due to the folly of my youth.

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

McCrack

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Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.

dont think it would be a problem as its a drink driving offence, not a crime of theft or against a person such as assault etc...i think convictions are unspent anyway with regards to applying for nursing training/ employment, meaning you need a higher level of crb checking to allow you to work with vulenerable people, which would include checking spent convictions too

when a conviction becomes spent it usually remains on your police record, the rehab of offenders act just means you dont usually have to declare it however nursing is excluded from the rehab of offenders legislation.

i may be wrong but this is my understanding of it check out thought whether this conviction excludes you from nursing, im sure it doesnt.

also there is information about disclosure/crb checking on their website, sorry i dont have the address anymore but do a google im sure it will be on there somewhere...

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Thankyou, I had the same understanding about nursing being exempt from 'spent' convictions.

Hopefully this career pathway may still be a viable one then, I shall have to do a little more checking around to be sure so if anyone has any other ideas feel free to chip in.

Take care,

McCrack

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

I have to be honest I think that it needs to be declared even though it is a spent conviction. Because it was drink driving, even though it is a motoring offence as far as I understand it would have required a court appearance to make a conviction therefore needs to be declared.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I too agree better to declare than it come back and bite you in the backside. The only ones who can really answer this is the NMC and will be decided on an individual basis. Unfortunately can't give any legal advice here on the forums

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I see....

I never intended to not declare the conviction as it will show up in a crb check anyhow, I was more curious as to wether anybody knew

of any previous similar incidents through personal experience/colleagues etc. regarding the likelihood of me having a chance in hell of pursuing this career or not.

Thanks for the repplies people.... It's very handy to be able to converse with people in the know ;)

McCrack

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

closing thread

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