Any luck fighting PA BON?

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I'm a new graduate and recently posted that they want to monitor me because I have a 14 year old drug charge. No troubles since, been clean, have a family, etc, etc. today they said that because my charge is a drug charge and not eligible for expungement, that I'm not eligible for the voluntary program either, but that I would have to be monitored by the disciplinary unit and have a probationary license. All this and I don't even have a license yet! For something that happened 14 years ago. I am so down. I love nursing and feel like it's what I'm supposed to do, but now I'm being punished before even practicing as an RN. I left a message with an attorney familiar with the BON. Just looking for some encouragement and wondering if anyone ever had a situation like this or has had any success working with the BON? I don't really have the $ for an attorney but I think it's the only option I have. If I agree to this I will have a mark on my license forever, before I even receive it. Please help :(

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Can you go to the courts and appeal to have your old conviction expunged? That would make it disappear and the BoN would have no case.

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Unfortunately I can't. It is not eligible by law in my state. My only option is pardon and I did ask them about that and they said its too late and it wouldn't change anything. I just think that having me start with a disciplined license for something 14 years ago is highly punitive. It just doesn't make sense to me. But I don't know anything about the board. Hopefully a lawyer can help?

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Gosh, I hope so! Lawyer up for sure. Monitoring programs should be about ensuring the safety of the public, not pinning people with scarlet letters. Sometimes I feel like these programs are so bloated and self-serving that it just makes me sick. The more clients they have, the more money they're eligible for which will help them take on more clients. Even people who really don't need to be monitored. Good luck, please keep us updated. I will be sending positive vibes your way!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Just asking a question here ... did this really come as a surprise? I went to nursing school with an individual who had a related conviction that was more than a decade old ... but did so with the explicit understanding that no matter what happened with this education, it would still come down to whether or not the BON would grant him a license. It was a risk that he took.

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It's funny that you say that because honestly, when I started this journey I did always know that it was a risk. Then somewhere along the way things were going so swimmingly that I started to think all would be well! I was shocked an appalled that they couldn't see what I've done with my life in 14 years. However, after my righteous indignation and feeling sorry for myself, I suddenly remembered that I did this thinking I may not even get a license! So to answer your question, no, it isn't a surprise. And I have to remember that they don't know me. I did hope that I could start with a clean license, even being monitored.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

Hindsight being 20/20, I think you should've started the pardon process when you started nursing school.

Only thing to do now is lawyer up & try to contest it.

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Specializes in Wound care.

I think it's unfair that you have to keep paying for something you already paid for 14 years ago. Society expects people to pay for their crime and even when that's done it's not enough. I hope

you are able fight this.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I think it's unfair that you have to keep paying for something you already paid for 14 years ago. Society expects people to pay for their crime and even when that's done it's not enough. I hope

you are able fight this.

Unfortunately, PA (in my experience with people who have returned to school after a drug conviction...cohorts in my pre-req/general courses) is notoriously harsh on people with drug convictions in ANY occupancy, and the only way to get drug convictions expunged is by governor pardon.

I know of a few previous cohorts in my PN nursing program that decided not to pursue the program because of OP's situation.

The best thing for the OP to do is lawyer up, and even go through the process of gaining a pardon if possible. Sending positive vibes and hoping for a desirable outcome to the start of your nursing career.

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It's true PA is tough. They don't know me and even though I was young when I made foolish mistakes, I was still an adult. I get very frustrated that I seemingly have to pay for those mistakes forever, but I try to remember there are plenty of other people who did not make the same mistakes I did. And honestly, had I not gone through what I did, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. I graduated first in my class and dream of being a stellar nurse, caring for people and changing lives. I may never have the opportunity to do this in critical care and I have to accept that. God has a plan to use my gifts so I need to get out of the way. Do I wish I didn't have this blemish? Yes. Can I change it? No. Accept the things I cannot change....still, for a community that labels addiction as a disease, they sure treat it like a moral defect. Even after several years of recovery, it seems. But again, they don't 'know' me. I was hopeful they would see the accomplishments for what they mean to me.

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Specializes in Wound care.

Can you get teachers to vouche for you?

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Unfortunately I can't. It is not eligible by law in my state. My only option is pardon and I did ask them about that and they said its too late and it wouldn't change anything. I just think that having me start with a disciplined license for something 14 years ago is highly punitive. It just doesn't make sense to me. But I don't know anything about the board. Hopefully a lawyer can help?

Can I ask who told you it was too late for a pardon? I only ask because I worked in a courthouse for about 6 months specifically working on criminal cases and keeping paperwork updated/distributed accordingly, I handed out a LOT of pardon paperwork that were 20+ years old and these people still received pardon's (I'm in Pennsylvania too). There was one woman who kept going back (her charges were for 15 years straight, prostitution/drugs/etc) and she even got some of her charges off her record (though not all) I hope your attorney is able to offer you some guidance, best of luck to you OP. I hope one mistake doesn't do this to your career.

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