Already an RN. Will I ever be able to become a FNP with misdemeanors?

[veronique.mendez]

I am currently in an ADN to BSN program and finish Spring 13. My GPA is pretty good, I'm in the top 15% of my University, have the highest grade of 140 people in Pharm, and I have a feeling the department chair also likes me because I put effort into what I do.

When I applied to nursing school I got the okay from the Texas BON right away no trouble, then to be extra sure I would not have trouble come time for my NCLEX I submitted the Declaratory Order just in case. They basically sent me a paper saying just pay the fees everyone else does and you'll get your license, you're fine. In the state of TX you are considered an adult at 17. A month after turning 17 I was arrested in high school and got charged with public intoxication, failure to ID (I gave a cop a false name when he dropped me off at my class), and minor in possession of tobacco (this was deferred). I went to see a lawyer about getting this expunged but since my parent's paid the fine I am unable of getting this ever taken off my record. I would have had to do community hours or go to probation to have had the option of expunging this. So only felonies and misdemeanors higher than a class C can be expunged in TX. Weird, right? These things don't come up on background checks because they stayed in the city and the lawyer said they are similar to driving tickets.

For APN school they only check your background for the last 7 years. So I would have to wait till next year to apply for a clean check to come out because they do a big one. But I was looking at the company they use to do their backgrounds and it says:

"This search begins with a Residency History Search which compiles a list of names and addresses associated with an applicant's Social Security Number. Once all counties of residence over the past seven years have been identified, a direct search of each county's courthouse is conducted." So I really don't know if city misdemeanors go to county.

So my big question other than how badly do you think this will effect my chances of being admitted- is can I even become a FNP with this on my record? Or would I have to do it in an other state where misdemeanors don't count after 7 years? Can I even prescribe meds with this horrible thing looming over me?

[BeeGeeRN]

So-- when we graduated with our BSN (2004) in Texas (Midwestern state) , I had 4 classmates with an MIP charge on their record. They had to declare it to the board, submit essays on the issue, send a lot of paperwork in to the BON and pay some fees for the extra work. It took 2 months to get answers- all were allowed to test...eventually....for nclex. Graduating wasn't an issue (bc it's school level). My hint to you is start very early on getting this issue resolved. If you can get it dealt with as an RN, I think u night have luck with the FNP part (1 of those college kids with the MIP has become an APRN)... But you have to follow their reaalllly specific instructions, allow time, pay their fees.

I hope this was of help... Sorry if I didn't answer your question

thanks! ~b. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[BritFNP]

Once you have the ok from the BON you never have to mention these again. For individual NP programs it depends how they word their application questions. Some just want info regarding felonies or drug abuse. Other ask for anything other than driving misdemeanors in which case, if your items aren't expunged, you would need to list. Also if you were never CONVICTED (which is what is sometimes asked), you could say no.