Background Check problem & worried

thinkertdm · May 21, 2009

It seems that if they didn't want you, they wouldn't bother to have you come in and talk to them.

Good move on the court documents. Also be prepared with any details about the anger management classes and community service. If you practice with someone it might help with the interview- they might ask difficult questions, and both your responses and how you answer them will tell alot.

For example, be prepared to -calmly- explain what happened; but no need to go into excessive details or get too emotional.

2BSure · May 21, 2009

I am not trying to be difficult but if you were "cleared" how did they oblige you to do anger management and community service? Were the charges reduced?

Also, you need to carefully look into this in terms of future employment. It will continue to come up again and again everytime a background check is done (for new jobs etc.). Even if the school lets you in you may continue to be affected by this. I bet that almost every potential employer will, in this competitive market, will not even bother to ask you about it.

You may wish to try a litmus test by applying to a hospital for a volunteer position. They will conduct a background check (at least I hope so). If you are refused the position you will get much more information.

Alternatively, you could approach a couple of the larger employers of LPNs in your area to ask them about this -- but I would go with the volunteer option.

Seriously, you need to investigate this past your nursing college. It would be awful to do the training and then find you have difficulty getting a job because of this flag on your record. The school will give you a good idea about where you may stand but don't rely on them only.

In the interests of plain speaking if I was hiring and I got back a report on someone that was less than perfect I would go onto the next candidate without a second thought. I know some of you may feel like flaming me for this but I can only give my opinion.

annasmomlisa · May 21, 2009

Thanks you two... both of the responses so far are good info. Yeah I feel like this is going to be a hinderance to me, should I not even bother? ive already got all my books and physical and ready to go and this is really a bummer. I am in no way the type of person to ever hurt any one like this and this is showing that I am!

well over the phone, its hard to get info but the information i got was i pleaded "no contelero" (No contest) and i wasnt found guilty or non guilty but I still had to do whatever the judge told me to in order to be cleared of the charges. But since I was arrested and fingerprinted this is on my record.

MoLee228 · May 21, 2009

I am not trying to be difficult but if you were "cleared" how did they oblige you to do anger management and community service? Were the charges reduced?
Also, you need to carefully look into this in terms of future employment. It will continue to come up again and again everytime a background check is done (for new jobs etc.). Even if the school lets you in you may continue to be affected by this. I bet that almost every potential employer will, in this competitive market, will not even bother to ask you about it.
You may wish to try a litmus test by applying to a hospital for a volunteer position. They will conduct a background check (at least I hope so). If you are refused the position you will get much more information.
Alternatively, you could approach a couple of the larger employers of LPNs in your area to ask them about this -- but I would go with the volunteer option.
Seriously, you need to investigate this past your nursing college. It would be awful to do the training and then find you have difficulty getting a job because of this flag on your record. The school will give you a good idea about where you may stand but don't rely on them only.
In the interests of plain speaking if I was hiring and I got back a report on someone that was less than perfect I would go onto the next candidate without a second thought. I know some of you may feel like flaming me for this but I can only give my opinion.

I agree with you. I would do the same. If I had the choice between someone with a criminal record and someone with none, I would choose the person with the clean record.

BUT, I think there are laws against this. I think ***depending on the charges*** an employer is not allowed to hold certain things on a person's record against them. I think. I'm not a lawyer, so I may not have my stuff straight, but I thought I had heard that before. I think the laws are supposed to protect people who had a rough past but are completely reformed and obey the laws now...?

thinkertdm · May 21, 2009

You might also want to check to see that it is listed/filed correctly, and that what you understand of the charges is correct. Someone I knew went for years thinking she had a felony on her record (that's what somebody told her) and she looked into it, and it turned out that it was a misdemeanor that had fallen off her record a long time ago.

It might be useful to have a lawyer look into it.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · May 21, 2009

The other thing to look in to is to contact the lawyer that handled the issue previously. Make sure that all the loose ends got tied up so to speak. Most likely what happened is there was a deferred judgement i.e. you do this and the charges go away. Have them make sure all the proper paper work got filed with the proper people. As others have said its going to appear each and every time a background check is ran.

Rj

2BSure · May 21, 2009

I am in no way the type of person to ever hurt any one like this and this is showing that I am!

Again I feel like I am peeing on your Cheerios but that is a bit of a contradictory statement. No contest essentially allows you to discuss mitigating circumstances with a judge and negotiate a kind of "sentence". If you had plead not guilty and been found not guilty that would truck with your statement.

Just do the legwork to find out the realistic situation. As for the books and such that you bought those can easily be unloaded (or even returned if you have a receipt).

annasmomlisa · May 21, 2009

yea that sounds like what it was, a deferred judgement because i remember having to go back to court after, and thats when the judge threw the charges out. So each and every time this is going to show up? because the director said a expungement wont take it off my record either, even if its spose to be cleared. Also she said that this shows i could potentially hurt people and i dunno, i dont want people getting the wrong idea about me, its very embarrassing and I just wish it would go away...

annasmomlisa · May 21, 2009

Originally Posted by annasmomlisa

I am in no way the type of person to ever hurt any one like this and this is showing that I am!

Again I feel like I am peeing on your Cheerios but that is a bit of a contradictory statement

yea that was a contradictory statement now that i re read it. thank you, I think what i meant was it was a bad situation a while ago and I wouldnt let myself get into one of those types of situations anymore now that im a bit matured and have respect for myself, and I wont hurt people in my career. I want to do it because I want to care for people.

gigi919 · May 21, 2009

Heya friends,
I have been accepted into a lpn program starting in June at a local community college and I got a call from the secretary saying i needed to come in and speak w/ the director about my background chk. I didnt realize this was coming up but it was a arrest from 1997 domestic violence battery. I wasnt convicted , I was cleared of the charges but i had to take anger mgmt and do comm svc at the salvation army but why is it showing up on my record if the charges were cleared? Now she wants a explanation and I cant continue until. I called the clerk of court and got a certified copy of the final disposition to be mailed to me to show her, and it was so long ago I cant remember it, and didnt remember it... It was a bad relationship and that was so long ago. what do i do? im really worried now and gonna be because I really wanted to become a lpn and eventually a RN with future goals. Am i doomed now?

This should not prevent you from getting your education, license, and subsequent job. I have heard of a nursing student who was involved in a fatal hit and run, who finally turned herself in a couple of days later. She was able to get her license, and a job.

However, it is vital that you are completely honest and forthcoming. Nurses, I have found, usually want to help people. There seems to be an understanding that believe it or not, people aren't perfect. We make mistakes. We should own up to them. We improve. We move on.

I wouldn't worry much about. Get the paperwork, and let them know what happened. A little tip: people tend to forgive more easily when faced with someone who is honest, forthcoming, and repentant.

Good luck to you. To quote MEET THE ROBINSONS, "Keep moving forward"

2BSure · May 21, 2009

I agree with you. I would do the same. If I had the choice between someone with a criminal record and someone with none, I would choose the person with the clean record.
BUT, I think there are laws against this. I think ***depending on the charges*** an employer is not allowed to hold certain things on a person's record against them. I think. I'm not a lawyer, so I may not have my stuff straight, but I thought I had heard that before. I think the laws are supposed to protect people who had a rough past but are completely reformed and obey the laws now...?

I know what you mean about the laws and employers not being able to hold certain things against people. However, I do know from the UK, that when it comes to healthcare workers (or even clerical workers) this is not the case and they absolutely will hold it against the candidate because the state requires that they do so.

The other possibility is you can check with your state's dept of health.