BSN Student - how to become good applicant?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 8, 2014

What have you done to remediate your DUI? This will be an issue when you apply for your RN license and later employment. Have you gone to AA meetings? Taken a driving course? Consulted with an addiction professional to document whether or not you have a substance abuse issue and how to move forward? I know many states will not permit you to expunge or seal DUI convictions (guilty plea ='conviction) in addition to volunteer & CNA work, working to show that you made an effort to remediate your conviction for a DUI is just as important as everything else.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2014

I agree with Beachy. A BON is going to look at what you've done to learn and grow from the mistake, as well as ensure that it doesn't happen again. If you're not being proactive and hoping that everything else you do will overshadow your mistakes for you, you'll be in for a rude awakening. Search around the forum because there's more than a few threads from members who were denied licensure because they had very old DUIs on their record. Time doesn't necessarily heal all wounds as far as BONs go.

Best of luck.

Tieramg · Jun 8, 2014

I'm very aware of my DUI circumstance. I have an attorney. That aspect of it is handled and if I become jobless for a year after graduation before I can get it expunged then I will. The conviction will be four years old by the time I take my NCLEX.

Beyond my state boards I'm trying to be an appealing applicant overall. I want to make connections and build my leadership skills because I plan on getting my masters degree. Please don't take this thread as a one in which I'm seeking advice on my conviction. This is a career related question.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

I'm very aware of my DUI circumstance. I have an attorney. That aspect of it is handled and if I become jobless for a year after graduation before I can get it expunged then I will. The conviction will be four years old by the time I take my NCLEX.
Beyond my state boards I'm trying to be an appealing applicant overall. I want to make connections and build my leadership skills because I plan on getting my masters degree. Please don't take this thread as a one in which I'm seeking advice on my conviction. This is a career related question.

You did post in the Criminal History forum, so you can't be surprised if you get advice.

Beachy and I have a valid point in that your criminal history is--like it or not--a BIG part of your career. It will color how licensing boards and employers view you as a nurse.

Unfortunately, even if you get the conviction expunged, you will still have to tell the BON about it. Most if not all BONs require the disclosure of expunged charges. But expungement will go a long way in helping your job hunt, though, so it's worth pursuing.

I agree with your plan of becoming a CNA because working as one will give you valuable healthcare experience and networking opportunities. But guess what: the BON/government agency is going to consider your conviction when deciding if you should get that CNA certificate. Which goes back to "what have you done to remediate your DUI?" People do get denied CNA certification--it's by no means guaranteed. Though should that happen to you, you could seek employment as a healthcare tech or other assistant position that doesn't require that you are a CNA.

Though whatever CNA/tech job you apply for, the employer is going to say (if you're lucky), "I see you checked that you have a criminal conviction. Can you tell us about it?"

I say, "if you're lucky" because in this job market, the odds are pretty good that they will see the conviction and pass on you in favor of the applicant with a clean record. After all, with the applicant without the DUI, they won't have to worry about whether the applicant might have a raging alcohol problem or may show up to work lit. See where I'm going?

And let's be honest: unless you can get yourself licensed as a nurse by a BON, the rest of your plans are just not going to happen. You can get that Masters in nursing, but without a nursing license, that Masters is going to be a expensive-yet-worthless piece of parchment.

So like it as not, even with all the extracurriculars in this world, you will have to address your criminal history. A lot of BONs don't have a kind view of DUIs--and remember, your DUI will never be a secret from them. They do license them, but it's not always easy to get licensed.

Also, until you get that conviction expunged, employers are going to know about your record, and given that you're competing against a lot of applicants without criminal records...

Hope this helps clarify where Beachy and I are coming from.

Tieramg · Jun 9, 2014

My thread was moved to criminal conviction by the moderator. It was not my intention for it to end up here. And I see where you all are coming from but I've heard, read and contemplated the very statements and suggestions you guys have made. Although very useful, I'm trying to be proactive and not put too much energy into the "could haves" and the negative aspect of my situation and focus on what I can do for the future. If that's at all possible, which I believe it is or I wouldn't have made it this far.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 9, 2014

The issue that everyone is pointing out is that unless you address the DUI, you are not going to get into school in all probability.

the board of nursing in many states will be concerned about such a recent DUI as it leads them to think of potential inability to provide safe practice.

a lawyer is all well and good, but the lawyer is on,y about handling a criminal case not the board of nursing.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

The OP is currently in school--they did accept him/her. They're trying to improve their marketability and their career.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2014

As the OP doesn't fully get the impact that their conviction is going to have on her career, I guess I will leave it for her to figure out on her own.

So I'll see what else I can come up with.

You need to get your grades up. A 2.74 GPA and a DUI conviction on paper suggests "party animal." It doesn't matter if that is the furthest thing from the truth and you're really a teetotaler who is in bed at 2130 every night, and that your GPA fell because you struggled in one non-nursing class. But f I were looking to hire someone, when I see a low GPA plus that conviction, I wonder if your priorities are in the right order. Are you really working as hard as you can in the nursing program, or are you just floating by as you enjoy collegiate social life?

Remember, you have to get past HR to explain to your interviewer that despite your one mistake that you are not a screw-up but instead are capable of being an excellent nurse. But a 2.74 GPA and criminal record on your application may push you to the very bottom of the list, and you may not get that chance.

Plus, many nurse residencies use GPA as criteria for acceptance. Many jobs use GPAs to screen out applicants, and not just new grads: for the last job I applied for, I had to give my GPA, and I'm a experienced, certified nurse.

Want that masters? Graduate schools are going to look at your undergraduate GPA. Of course, you could always go to a for-profit school, as they are generally are more forgiving when it comes to grades. But they have a steep price tag, and not all of them have the best reputation.

And you said it yourself: you got turned down for all the scholarships you applied for. They don't give academic scholarships out for B-minuses.

So work on improving that GPA. Study harder for your classes, consider taking an easy class or two this summer to help boost it, even consider retaking a class that you got a C or D in.

Getting a job as a CNA would be good. However, since you have a criminal history, I would apply for your CNA certification now. Your application is going to take longer being processed by the BON as it is because of your record...and if you wait until the last minute to apply, you may not become a CNA in time for working over the summer.

If you are unable to work (whether through being unable to become a CNA or in finding someone to hire you with a record), then volunteer somewhere. Go to a hospital, clinic, whatever healthcare facility and see what you can do for them. It's a good networking opportunity and it looks better on the resume than nothing.

Consider learning a foreign language. Being bilingual can be a big boost to your resume, especially if you live in an area where other language(s) are spoken.

You aren't eligible for any specialty certifications until you have actual nursing experience. You could get BLS and ACLS (and if peds is your interest, PALS) while not a nurse. And there's a few other basic ones such as NRP and EKG that you can get. They won't secure you a job by themselves, but they will help show that you are motivated.

Your plan of being jobless for a year after graduation while waiting for expungement is a very bad idea. First of all, you may end up becoming ineligible for a lot of new grad residencies, since many of them only take applicants who graduated within the last 12 months. Second, it leaves a very big gap on your resume that you're going to have a hard time explaining. Third, you run the risk of becoming an "old new grad." If you think new grads have a hard time finding work, old new grads have it worse. Because after a few months, employers will see the gap and start wondering why you haven't been able to be hired.

You'd be better off applying right after you get licensed (oh yeah, tack on an additional 3-6 months to the licensing process too because of the conviction). Apply even with an unexpunged record--at least then you'd have a chance to get any job.

Hope this helps.

Tieramg · Jun 9, 2014

It does help. My GPA just dropped this past spring semester. I was accepted into the program with a 3.0. I am already in the program. The reason my GPA dropped is because I am a biology minor and I was struggling with chemistry. I have to retake chemistry to even be eligible to petition for graduation so my GPA will rise.

I am going into my junior year of the nursing program. I am not looking for acceptance, the school already accepted me.

I am am aware of the severity of my circumstance so I don't want to take to much energy focusing on the this mistake but focus on my rehabilitation so to speak. To say I haven't focused on the DUI is invalid. I paid a lot of money, sacrificed my pride and became extremely humble given my mistake. But I'm trying to take control of the situation.