Ca. Board of Registered Nursing Enforcement Program

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I made a promise to myself that once I was able to register myself to take my NCLEX I will post up some advice Regarding the Ca. Board of Registered Nursing Enforcement Program :cheeky:.

My stress did not start until I received a letter from the BRN on April 2, 2013 indicating they need further clarification regarding a Dismissed charged of a Misdemeanor that involved petty theft. Keep in mind that my application was completed and sent to the BRN In February 2013 (7 weeks before my nursing exit exam). When i submitted my application I did everything what my testing coordinator asked me to do

1. get 3 letters of recommendation from professors

2. Get a court document indicating that the charge was dismissed

3. Write a letter indicating the incident (what happen, and what you learned from it).

Once i completed my application I was sure I was going to test. Since the charged was dismissed and I was never convicted. However, I was WRONG :arghh:!! The enforcement program needed more from me. They needed "certified documents from the Court indicating the charge was dropped, they needed "certified" arrest/ incident report from the police station. They needed current letters of reference letters from professors and current employer. They also needed current performance reports if i was employed if not letters from professors were okay to use. Finally, they also wanted another letter regarding the incident, the rehabilitation that I have done since the incident.

I'm fortunate enough that I keep good relationships with my professor as well as my employer. I got 4 letters from professors, a letter from my current employer, a letter from a co- worker, I also got four years worth of performance evaluation all which were perfect. In addition, I send my transcripts just in case.

Finally, I wrote a 4 page explanation letter. The letter pretty much indicated that I was young and dumb I surrounded myself with negative people and once I found out that my bad actions had consequences that could ruined my future I changed my life around. i enrolled myself in school carried a full load of units and worked full time up until 3 months from graduation from nursing school. I changed my life around. In which i have I looked back 8 years ago when I was caught shoplifting a 40 dollar necklace I was young and dumb.

Anyways, pretty much this is breakdown

1. Act fast: get all your paperwork fast, get all the certified documents you need; they may be expensive but it takes a price to be successful

2. Apply for the NCLEX 9-7 weeks prior to graduation send in all the documents with the application

3. Apply to pearson vue

4. Get your ATT

5. Register for the NCLEX

6. Pass the NCLEX

This is what happen to me

1. I applied for the NCLEX on Feb 2013 :yes:

2. Applied for Pearson -Vue on April 2013:yes:

3. Received a Letter from the Enforcement April 2 :cry:

4. Sent all documents needed on April 15 :poop:

5. Called the BRN on April 22

6. Received a letter from BRN getting a approved on April 23

7. Registered for the NCLEX on April 25

8. Taking the NCLEX May 29 :nailbiting:

good luck.... to you all just remember it is a case to case get approve i hope this helps :sarcastic:

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Since the charged was dismissed and I was never convicted. However, I was WRONG :arghh:!!

That's the CA BRN for you. Even if it never results in a conviction, they--and a lot of other BONs--want to hear about dismissals, arrests, dropped charges, etc. What you may think is a "minor" unreportable issue may matter a lot to the BON you're dealing with.

Your experience is a good reminder to everyone to review the requirements regarding criminal records before applying, because you never know what a specific BON wants to know about.

Best of luck with the NCLEX and getting licensed!

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Thanks izzibella. I just mailed out my application to the California BON last Friday, which should be arriving to them on Monday. It took me three months (February until now) to get all my paperwork together--certified court docs, certified arrest records, letters of reference from three different places I've volunteered at, personal references from two professors and three friends who have known me a long time, my client with whom I've been working for the past seven years, my resume, a two-page letter explaining my "rehabilitation", and my acceptance letters to all my nursing programs, as well as a dog training certification I received eight years ago.

I just want to vent, however, about something: I am from California but going to school out of state. I list my residency as my parents' address, who live in San Diego, but I just realized that they are going away on vacation for 1.5 months and are holding their mail! This is a bit upsetting to me, but there's not much I can do about this. I am going to call and see if they can't temporarily forward correspondence to my sister's house instead. Wish me luck!

And congrats on all your hard work! I understand the frustration you've been through--believe me!

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Thanks izzibella. I just mailed out my application to the California BON last Friday, which should be arriving to them on Monday. It took me three months (February until now) to get all my paperwork together--certified court docs, certified arrest records, letters of reference from three different places I've volunteered at, personal references from two professors and three friends who have known me a long time, my client with whom I've been working for the past seven years, my resume, a two-page letter explaining my "rehabilitation", and my acceptance letters to all my nursing programs, as well as a dog training certification I received eight years ago.

I just want to vent, however, about something: I am from California but going to school out of state. I list my residency as my parents' address, who live in San Diego, but I just realized that they are going away on vacation for 1.5 months and are holding their mail! This is a bit upsetting to me, but there's not much I can do about this. I am going to call and see if they can't temporarily forward correspondence to my sister's house instead. Wish me luck!

And congrats on all your hard work! I understand the frustration you've been through--believe me!

You're already taking another huge risk- in CA, you 'have' to inform the BON of your name, current physical address, mailing address (if different), and phone number- you can't 'use your parents' address. If you are found out, you will have lost your chance at a license. What are you thinking? You do not have to live in the state of CA to apply for a license, or to apply for a renewal. You DO have to provide them your real address, however. You've spent three months collecting accurate documents for the CA BON, and yet...you are playing with fire?

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Could you shed some light on "Dismissed charged of a Misdemeanor that involved petty theft"?

As in... age at incident date; was there an arrest; what do you mean exactly when you say dismissal?

I've read tons of threads of "dismissed charges" that were actually convictions that were later dismissed, so I wanted some clarification.

I'm getting ready to send in my BRN app in a few weeks and have 3 traffic infractions to report. Gathering certified docs has been a huge burden, but guess we gotta do what we gotta do :/

Btw, good luck on NCLEX!!!

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Hey I was wondering if the decision letter you received from the board was certified? I am waiting on a decision and I missed a certified letter today from them. It has me really worried.

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Hey I was wondering if the decision letter you received from the board was certified? I am waiting on a decision and I missed a certified letter today from them. It has me really worried.

Im sorry I just looked at your comment.. All my paper work was certified.I sent everything by certified mail. I hope this help. Good Luck

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Hi izzibella! Thank you for these Thread. I have almost same situation as with you! I got arrested and fingerprinted for petty theft 484a last 2012 but i my attorney got a alternative prosecution program from the district attorney that if i take the course they will not gonna file a charge against me and they will drop the case. I completed the program and no conviction and no court disposition. But i run my criminal history record and the arrest was there. My question is do i need to check the box where it says have you ever been convicted? Because I'm kinda confused in that part.. Thank you.:)

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So I am kind of in a similar situation and would like your help izzibella.

1. So you said your case was discharged, so the prosecutor never filed any charges upon you?

2. Do you have an "arrest" on your record or a "detention only" on your record?

3. Did you ever go to court?

4. Did you have to do a pretrial diversion or diversion program?

Thank you. You can PM me if you'd like.

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Any updates on anyone in this thread or similar?

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