Applying to nursing school with a record

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So I was arrested when I was 18 for an "armed robbery" which was honestly a shoplifting case with a B.B. gun. It's been 5 years since the incident, I was granted a second chance with a withhold-adjudication(I'm not a convicted felon) and I've payed my debt to society. Ive completed all my pre requisites and have a 3.39 gpa. Just wondering before I go forth and apply to nursing school if i have a strong chance of being accepted or denied ? PLEASE help! My dream is to be a nurse, I work at a hospital and I'm honestly ready to take the next step

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Well, you're technically not a felon. But since you had a weapon, even if it wasn't lethal, that can possibly be an issue at the state level for licensing. And if the arrest comes up on your background check, it can possibly affect school and clinicals wanting you. The easiest way to a full honest answer: Ask the school how that's going to factor in.

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Do you think i should just wait till I seal my record to go and apply to a school? So that it won't hinder my chances of being accepted

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Administration, Informatics.

What were you actually convicted of? Here is something really important: do NOT apply to nursing school until you have got your record expunged and then wait a minimum of 3 to 6 months to apply so that all the reports can be cleared wherever they might be. Here's why: Many hospitals will not allow you into their facility for clinicals if ANYTHING shows up on your background check. Once the reporting agency finds that, they are required to reveal it to the hospitals. So if they find it before it gets taken off the police records, your goose is cooked. In fact, I advise you to find out what company most schools and hospitals in your area use for background checks, and pay a different one to do the check on yourself. If they find nothing, it is probably safe for you to apply because neither the school nor the hospitals will discover the expunged conviction.

There is nothing the school can do to help you (even after you get admitted) if no hospital will allow you to do your clinicals. As a nursing school director, I've had to deal with this several times and the hospitals simply will not care about the offense being expunged. They won't let you in.

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On 9/22/2018 at 2:06 PM, Ribbons said:

What were you actually convicted of? Here is something really important: do NOT apply to nursing school until you have got your record expunged and then wait a minimum of 3 to 6 months to apply so that all the reports can be cleared wherever they might be. Here's why: Many hospitals will not allow you into their facility for clinicals if ANYTHING shows up on your background check. Once the reporting agency finds that, they are required to reveal it to the hospitals. So if they find it before it gets taken off the police records, your goose is cooked. In fact, I advise you to find out what company most schools and hospitals in your area use for background checks, and pay a different one to do the check on yourself. If they find nothing, it is probably safe for you to apply because neither the school nor the hospitals will discover the expunged conviction.

There is nothing the school can do to help you (even after you get admitted) if no hospital will allow you to do your clinicals. As a nursing school director, I've had to deal with this several times and the hospitals simply will not care about the offense being expunged. They won't let you in.

I’m in a similar situation with a dropped worthless check charge and have to wait for clinical approval. What’s been your experience with clinicals and dropped charges?

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