Becoming a nurse with priors.

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Hi.I'm a 31 year old male intrested in pursuing a nursing career but I have a couple prior misdemeanors on my record and wanted to know if I'm wasting my time by going to school and pursuing a job in the medical feild?

My priors are poss of marajuana and a open container.I have been very stupid in the descions that I have made but there is nothing I can do about it now.I have been in the constuction industry in the past and I'm looking for a big change.I tried to pusue being a Firefighter about a year ago but I did not go through with it because I was told even though I might get in with a priors,there are hundreds of guys on a waiting list that have scored very high on there tests and do not have any priors.So I decided that my past probably would not allow me to get that job under the present cicumstances.I want to help people now.I know there are going to be alot of nasty and crazy tings that I will see,but it makes me feel good to think that I might be able to help the people that need it.

So I was thinking about getting a CNA certificate and becoming a CNA.And after working for a year or two as a CNA I wanted to go to shool for an LPN and work my way up the ladder.So my question is am I wasting my time even thinking about it?I would defenitly want to end up as atleast an LPN later on,so be honest and tell me what you think my chances are?

Thanks

Matt

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I would contact the BON (Board of Nursing) for your state to be sure, but I work with several certified/lisenced people who have misdemeanors similar to yours on their records. (and have no problem talking about it)

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What matters most is how long ago the offenses were, and what you've done with your life since then. That goes for firefighting as well (I was a firefighter before becoming a nurse).

It all comes down to what you can tell interviewers and background investigators about the experience and what place it has in your life. Example: "I got a DUI last year," is a a lot different from, "I got a DUI in college five years ago. I was young, and stupid, and it was a huge wake up call that made me turn my life around. Since then I've done positive things A, B, and C."

As a firefighter I worked with some guys who did really dumb s*%# when they were younger (myself... probably included in that statement). What matters is what you've done since then.

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If you put your mind to something,don't ever give up because of what other people have told you.It will definitely hold you back in life.Don't just assume, make sure that you have exhausted every resource possible.There are a lot of negative people out there,people whose first answer to everything is "no" just like a child. There are people out there who look beyond your mistakes and see the potential in you. Now, from what I've learned, felonies prohibit you from entering the medical field. I have a friend actually who has 2 misdemeanor's(check fraud,and stealing) on her record and became a Cna, just got done with LPN school and is now pursuing her associate's in nursing(i'm so proud of her).Just because you've made stupid decisions in the past doesn't make you a bad person.You are just like anyone else on here and only the grace of gods shields us from the things of this world. If nursing is what you want to do, go for it head on. Don't abdicate your dreams just because certain people say you can't.God Bless!

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If you put your mind to something,don't ever give up because of what other people have told you.It will definitely hold you back in life.Don't just assume, make sure that you have exhausted every resource possible.There are a lot of negative people out there,people whose first answer to everything is "no" just like a child. There are people out there who look beyond your mistakes and see the potential in you. Now, from what I've learned, felonies prohibit you from entering the medical field. I have a friend actually who has 2 misdemeanor's(check fraud,and stealing) on her record and became a Cna, just got done with LPN school and is now pursuing her associate's in nursing(i'm so proud of her).Just because you've made stupid decisions in the past doesn't make you a bad person.You are just like anyone else on here and only the grace of gods shields us from the things of this world. If nursing is what you want to do, go for it head on. Don't abdicate your dreams just because certain people say you can't.God Bless!

Thank you very much for your post.Ya know,your the first person to ever tell me something like that so thanks.I'm defenitly going to pursue it now.Hopefully getting my certificate and a couple of years as a CNA,maybe somebody will give me a chance. Thanks

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Your very welcome,keep me posted!

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There are many fine nurses who have turned their lives around from what they used to do way back when. I think you've got a great shot at nursing. Though I'm not very knowledgeable on this topic, I've heard a couple of things that might be helpful:

1) I've heard that the governor of your state may be able to pardon you from your previous infractions and have them eradicated from your record. I think you have to write to your governor and ask for this. (Sorry I don't know details, but might be worth looking into).

2) Definitely approach the nursing school you are thinking of applying to and speaking with the Dean about your history and how to approach the state board of nursing ahead of beginning coursework for nursing school to see if you would be a viable candidate for licensure. The last thing you want to do is spend time, money, and brain power getting a nursing degree and then not being able to get a license.

I wish you well. It sounds like you'd make a great nurse.

Adonai

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Specializes in Coronary Rehab Unit.

Agreeing with other posts so far ..... the past is in the past (the farther back, the better,obviously), and fully disclose every transgression, both to school, and to the BON when it's test time - my state is way more tolerant of full disclosure than it is if you "neglect" to mention a prior arrest. I had a few prior arrests, along the lines of yours, and I just made sure I contacted the court systems that processed the cases, got all the info needed to prove that I indeed "paid my debt to society," and that they were stupid, immature decisions that I wouldn't dream of making now that I'm married with children (in every case, that "debt" was merely $$$, never looking at jail time), and I had no problem getting into school or getting authorization to test from BON. The biggest thorn in my side was a speeding ticket from several years ago (the least of my offenses, in my eyes ;) .... but, apparently, because I was traveling - according to the officer - 93 in a 65 zone, it was considered reckless driving, so I had to contact the out-of-state court and get the info sent to me to fwd to the BON) .... I considered it a minor ticketable offense, didn't immediately supply info to the BON, and they made me retrieve said info .... luckily, it was straightened out before my scheduled test date came, so it worked out just fine. I guess I'm lucky in that the worst of my counter-cultural activities occurred before computerized records (the '70's), and that record was expunged anyway, so all is well. wish you great success.....the past is the past - live for the future !!!

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What matters most is how long ago the offenses were, and what you've done with your life since then. That goes for firefighting as well (I was a firefighter before becoming a nurse).

It all comes down to what you can tell interviewers and background investigators about the experience and what place it has in your life. Example: "I got a DUI last year," is a a lot different from, "I got a DUI in college five years ago. I was young, and stupid, and it was a huge wake up call that made me turn my life around. Since then I've done positive things A, B, and C."

As a firefighter I worked with some guys who did really dumb s*%# when they were younger (myself... probably included in that statement). What matters is what you've done since then.

I completely agree... My bf is a firefighter/paramedic and he has a prior for possession of marijuana from when he was 17 and stupid.. since then he completely changed his life around. It took a lot of trial and error, and many interviews to finally land a position at his dream department. It can be done.

I dont know to much about the BON regarding these matters.. however Im thinking the firefigthing community would be more understanding/lenient. (it varies per department/chief policies)..

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Specializes in Coronary Rehab Unit.
The last thing you want to do is spend time, money, and brain power getting a nursing degree and then not being able to get a license.

This is so true - it happened to someone from my class ..... dunno what prior history they had, school didn't find it when they applied, but the BON denied them the opportunity to ever test for their license, so..... must've been bad...REALLY, really bad.
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you should contact a lawyer, who should be able to tell you if and how to get these things expunged from your record.

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thanks for all the replies,there greatly appreciated.so i contacted the fl don and they basically said that they cannot tell me before hand wheter or not my past will affect me.i basically have to take a course and when it goes to the don it will then be reviewed.well this exactly what i didn't want to hear but what can you do?

each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. the board of

nursing considers the nature, severity, and age of offenses, as well as

rehabilitation and other factors. the board cannot make a determination

for approval or denial of licensure without evaluating the entire

application and supporting documentation.

here is the link to the page.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_prospective.html

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