Any current nursing student with a petty theft?

[Mattie45]

I am currently looking to start nursing school next year on April. I have a petty theft that I recently got on July 2015. Like everyone, I am very disappointed and didn't think things through at the time. Once nursing school is finished it will be about be about 3 to 4 years. I was hoping someone can direct me to the right places. I would love to volunteer somewhere where I can help other kids not to make the same mistake I did, especially if they are interested in the health care. I did get a lawyer which I paid a pretty penny for. He said he will most likely get me a diversion. Has anyone recently undergone this situation or something similar and still was able to sit for the NCLEX? Will this also affect me if I want to become a fly nurse or be a nurse corps? I've always been such a good girl and this one mistake has ruined my life. At least I feel and I am so embarrassed to share with anyone. I've read that I should tell my school but I'm afraid they too would look at me the wrong way.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

In addition to passing a background check for licensing, you must also pass a background check for school (and possibly for individual clinical sites). I'm no expert, but a theft charge so recent will not look good as you'll be working with vulnerable people. If this happened once when you were a teenager and ten years had passed since then, the outlook would probably be a lot better.

Browse this section if you want more personal experiences:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-licensure-criminal/

You can also search for "petty theft". Lots of posts come up that might be helpful.

Good luck!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to specialized forum

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

Most judges truly hate to see someone's life get permanently affected by a single charge.

If your attorney can get the diversion, I suggest you take it. There are no guarantees.

I would pay very close attention and BE SURE that you understand the terms.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Check the application to see if you need to report charges or only convictions. Most BoN want both for certain charges (petty theft may or may not be on the list). Some states post the list of mandatory reporting charges online

[onehope67]

Well I have good news and bad news. Bad news first-- in many states there is a time limit you must pass after convictions before gaining access to a clinical environment. In MI, 5 years must have passed since the date of conviction for someone to work in a clinical setting (or do clinicals for school). Good news-- Many schools are open to convictions as long as you are past that time frame stated above. It is absolutely imperative you let your school know or at least ask how this charge will effect your chances at getting into the program and going through clinicals. I have two theft convictions and was accepted and able to d clinical, however it has been 9 yrs since my latest. Being that your incident occurred this year, you must talk with your school before you get ahead of yourself. Like the others above have said, you must get through the background check (doesn't necessarily mean you must have no convictions but rather you meet the criteria) before the fun can begin. Good luck and I wish you the best.

[ORDC]

Dude.

Fight the thing till the end! NO diversion or expungement. Just fight it, fight it, fight it. It will cost you, but that will be your punishment for doing something so toxic.

It never crosses my mind to steal anything in my life. Because if I do, even if it is few cents, my life could be literally over.

Fight that. Get a lawyer who can. Keep shopping around till you can. For my part, I will only use a female lawyer. Ideally, an attractive or normal looking gal. . If she is the ugly or fat, it might as well be a man.

[sjalv]

For my part, I will only use a female lawyer. Ideally, an attractive or normal looking gal. . If she is the ugly or fat, it might as well be a man.

Can you explain what you mean by this?

[DrKim]

You actually have to tell your school because it is so recent. Your program's undergraduate coordinator or dean may have dealt with this situation in the past and the sooner he/she knows the better. I'm sure you're not the first student to make a mistake one summer. Nothing is worse than getting ready to send a student to clinical to only learn from the clinical site that the student did not pass the background check. Also, depending on what school you go to, if you're fortunate to have a Law School most law schools offer free consultation clinics so you may be able to get some help there too.

[mvyorga]

Any updates on this case email me please [email protected]