Already employed...but recent criminal offense

[britmansf18]

Hi, I am writing to say that as if my situation wasnt aready bad enough when I was put on unpaid leave for anxiet and inability to cope with job responsibilties; Now I am dealing with a criminal offense that was totally uintentional that ill never be able to prove otherwise. I was sent home from the ER diagnosed with the flu and possibly sinusitis= HELL.. The next morning i woke up desperate for some relief so I headed off to the grocery store on a quest for some dayquil. Well, when I found the dayquil I subconsciously stuck it in my pocket while I walked to the back of the store to grab some pizza and some ice pops for my throat. Needless to say I long forgot about the dayquil between the conversation i was having on the phone as well as my anxiety to get the heck out of the store as quick as i could to go home and sleep. It was noon ..mid-day. I checked out at the self-check out and proceeded to walk to my car but i didnt get far before I was detained. I am totally pleading not guilty. I refuse to be convicted of theft because I recently received an offer from my employer to obtain a different position in the same network I was on a leave for. This was the best day of my life and now it seems like its all over. My question is do I tell them what happened now? I dont know if I will be found guilty or not. Theyve already dealt with enough crap from me so I doubt they are going to take this with a grain of salt. I feel like giving up honestly....I went to school for so long and dreamt of this so long only for it to slap me in my face!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

1. Check with your BON to see if you need to report this offense right now. Some BONs don't care about a crinimal charge unless you were convicted. Others want to know about an arrest regardless of how you plan to plead in court. So see what your specific BON wants to know.

Keep in mind that if you are supposed to tell them and don't, the BON will not look kindly upon you.

1b. Check with your employer to see if you need to report this offense to them as well.

2. If you haven't gotten a lawyer for your criminal case, lawyer up to help you get the best possible outcome for your case.

3. Should you have to deal with the BON about this--especially if you have to appear before them in order to address this charge--have a lawyer for that too.

Lawyers can be pricey, but many will work with you on the cost. And what you'd pay for legal help is far less expensive than what you'd lose having a disciplined or even revoked nursing license.

Best of luck.