anyone in nys with a felony please help

SinfulCNA27 · Nov 21, 2005

i'm not sure if it is even possible for you to even get a license. i live in pa and they did a background check and barred anyone from entering the program if they had any type of felony. i'm orginally from ok and they wont allow it either. i'm not sure how different things are in ny. i do, however, wish you the best of luck and hope that you keep us informed on what happens.

sinn :rolleyes:

clfewtrn · Nov 21, 2005

Wish you the best of luck. I don't believe that you should be kept from turning your life around. I'm from Pa. and in nursing school (RN) and in Pa if you have a felony conviction your unable to get a license. Our school did a criminal background check and if you had a felony conviction they refused you because you would not be able to get a license. Hope everything works out fro you. I would contact someone with the state and see if they can help you in anyway.:wink2:

Jo Dirt · Nov 22, 2005

My step son (who happens to be my age), a former assistant DON at a nursing home, is doing jail time right now for a felony in NYC (grand larceny). He was part owner of a nursing agency with the DON of the facility which bilked the nursing home of almost a half a million dollars.

We still don't know if he will lose his license.

I don't know and have never met the guy, but if he loses his license he can only blame himself.

mismissy69 · Nov 22, 2005

My step son (who happens to be my age), a former assistant DON at a nursing home, is doing jail time right now for a felony in NYC (grand larceny). He was part owner of a nursing agency with the DON of the facility which bilked the nursing home of almost a half a million dollars.
We still don't know if he will lose his license.
I don't know and have never met the guy, but if he loses his license he can only blame himself.

oh wow im so sorry to hear that, I hope everything goes ok with him

mismissy69 · Nov 22, 2005

*update*

I just checked my email and recieved my ATT from the NCLEX people, does this mean im ok? dosen't the BON have to give authorization for me to take the boards?

suzanne4, RN · Nov 22, 2005

If they are allowing you to take the exam, then everything should be okay with them. Good luck to you.

jerseyboy · Nov 22, 2005

Hello,
I am new to the board and I just graduated from my LPN program in October. I have a prior felony conviction which I disclosed on my application and was informed that my paper work has to be submitted for moral character judgement. The crime that I did when I was 19 was printing checks for others to cash. I was placed on 5 years probation which my P.O. wrote me a wondeful letter or reccomendation as well as other professional people I know. I just wanted to know what this process intails and how long it usually takes. I have been reading through some post on this subject but haven't come across any from NY. If you have something negative to say keep it to yourself, I don't need the judgement. For those with advice or experience with this your input would be helpful :)

mismissy,

That is a shame that they would hold something you did when you were 19 years old against you in obtaining a professional licence. I guess I could understand if it were a violent crime, but forging checks? Not that that forging checks is ok, however, you were a kid, you did your time and want to move on and be a productive citizen. For all of the pc talk in this country about everyone being given the opportunity to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", when they do, we just knock them back down.

You said paperwork had to be submitted for "moral character judgement"? Judgement by whom and moral character compared to whom? I wonder if those who would judge your moral character will compare you to their own moral superiority! Does anyone know of an advocate group for nurses who can stop the morally superior from keeping good nurses out of the work force? The nursing shortage is growing everyday. In the next decade it will be at a crisis level. But then again I guess it would be too difficult to differentiate between a felonly from check forging and a felony from child molesting. That would make too much sense, wouldn't it?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 22, 2005

State Boards of Nursing make the decision to grant/abstain licensure only after one takes the NCLEX exam for that is when they have jurisdiction to approve or deny license. At that time, they will review your application, felony convicition, completion of probation, supporting documentation etc and make their decision. If your probation is completed, they most often grant licensure. Other times, I've seen boards place license suspension till all terms of probation completed or deny if no evidence making amends.

Best wishes in moving forward with your life.

mismissy69 · Nov 22, 2005

mismissy,
That is a shame that they would hold something you did when you were 19 years old against you in obtaining a professional licence. I guess I could understand if it were a violent crime, but forging checks? Not that that forging checks is ok, however, you were a kid, you did your time and want to move on and be a productive citizen. For all of the pc talk in this country about everyone being given the opportunity to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", when they do, we just knock them back down.
You said paperwork had to be submitted for "moral character judgement"? Judgement by whom and moral character compared to whom? I wonder if those who would judge your moral character will compare you to their own moral superiority! Does anyone know of an advocate group for nurses who can stop the morally superior from keeping good nurses out of the work force? The nursing shortage is growing everyday. In the next decade it will be at a crisis level. But then again I guess it would be too difficult to differentiate between a felonly from check forging and a felony from child molesting. That would make too much sense, wouldn't it?

yes I couldn't agree with you more. My question is when do you stop paying for your mistakes? I have been so ashamed of the things I have done for a long time. This is the first time I have ever disclosed my wrong doings and I feel agony about it everyday. I was so paranoid when I had to get finger printed. I just felt like saying screw this, But I have to keep telling myself that god sent me in this direction for a reason. I have a story to share sorry to be long winded but I'll keep it brief. Last year I had the "perfect" job to me I was working in the ER of a popular hospital here in Buffalo and I had always wanted to work there so I was happy and thought I could be there forever. I was the only minority in my position and was subject to alot of ignorance but I tolerated because this was what I always wanted to do. I wasn't even thinking about going back to school it was the last thing on my mind. Well one of those ignorant co workers and I got into it because she felt she could talk to me any kind of way and guess who got the boot. Yeah I was bitter about it for a while but then I realized the good that came out of it. I went back to school and got a career under my belt that I could take anywhere. I could find a secure job which was definately not guaranteed as a patient registrar. So everyday I tell myself that god let that happen for a reason to better my life. It just gets so hard sometimes because people are so judgemental. I was stunned by some of the responses others have gotten on this board about the very same topic. I was taught in Nursing school to always have a non judmental attitude. It's clearly that some people here havent been taught or must have forgotten. Thank you all for your great responses and opinions. I really feel welcomed

Larry77, RN · Nov 22, 2005

Doesn't seem exactly right to me but my state (Wash) has a blanket rule that any felon is unable to carry a license and would even be prevented from getting some non-licensed jobs (ie. CNA, daycare worker).

If I were you I would look into getting your record sealed...would have to get a lawyer and go in front of a judge but it's possible since you were only 19...if it was when you were 17 it would automatically be sealed.

Also the DON does an initial check to make sure you are who you say you are and all the paperwork is in order before they approve you for taking the NCLEX but they look much deaper when you apply for licensure...GOOD LUCK!

MrsStraty · Nov 22, 2005

I live in NY. I was convicted of Grand Larceny when I was 21 years old, my father had died at the age of 42, and I became owner of the business he had owned and when I signed everything over to the public administrator was informed that I could no longer spend money the way I was, and I kept doing it because I was addicted to the fast, easy money, not having a clue that it might be wrong.

Anyhows, long story short I am now 35, married with 3 wonderful boys, been married to a minister for 13 years now. I have always disclosed my conviction on all job apps and I have NEVER been turned down for a job, furthermore I most definitely disclosed it on my RN app., I just graduated in May, sat for my NCLEX-RN in June and was granted my license Sept. 21. I called the BON BEFORE I entered school an was assured that I would be able to get a license that it would just take longer because they had to do a moral character investigation.

The whole process didn't even START until AFTER I passed my NCLEX-RN exam. They are not going to investigate you until after they know that you passed the exam. Once you pass the exam, they send your paper work to the office of professional discipline for a moral character review, which takes, they told me this,anywheres from 1 month to a year, but usually is MUCVH sooner. Mine was 3 months.

I was offered the job I am at now and have been since the day after licensure, before I was granted a licnse, because the job knew I would be able to get a license. And I just got hired for per-diem RN home care cases for peds.

Good luck to you, you will be fine. Just be patient with the BON. They are doing what they need to do to protect the patients, they are there for them NOT for us!

MrsStraty RN

I am in NY and the charges were a Felony. I never served jail time and was sentenced to 5 yrs. probation, which I was released form in only 2 years from good behavior.