California is Just Goofy?

[Carl Winslow]

I know I probably won't get the answer I'm looking for, seeing as it is very unlikely that someone who has had smooth sailing in regards to the BON would be trolling these criminal background threads, but is it just me, or does it just seem like California is just nuts?

Nearly 100% of these worried nursing students are from California. And every thread I have read that says someone has been denied their license due to some petty misdemeanor they had 10+ years ago is ALWAYS from California. It would appear that the California BON is the problem. I have not seen any posts saying they have been denied licensure in any other state. And if they are denied, it is usually due to something very recent or because it was a felony, and even then, it seems that they are given unrestricted licenses without much hassle.

I have read dozens of other state's BON requirements and they seem waaaaaaaaaaaay less strict. Texas for example, states that if you have had your record expunged you do NOT have to disclose this on your application. They also do not consider a single DUI as a problem and will not investigate it. And other states specifically say that the background check is to weed out sex offenders, murderers, felonies, or abuse cases; not some silly shop lifting offense someone committed when they were 17 years old or a DUI. Some even consider crimes committed under the age of 22 as an "act of youthful indiscretion". I mean just Google "Rn license denied dui", it is page after page of California this California that; the law office webpages are even from California. It just seems that California is just an awful place to start a career if you are one of the MILLIONS of people with some petty criminal background.

So, I guess my question is: if we are unlucky enough to be living in Ca and have some B.S. misdemeanor charge from when we were 20 years old, should we just skip California altogether and start our careers in another state? It would be a much easier transition for me, since my family, my girlfriend, and everyone I care about lives in Ca, but I will gladly move to start my career hassle free some place else. Having a hard time making the decision to appeal, file paper work, file more paper work, wait 6 months, spend money on an attorney, wait a few more months, or just say screw it and apply to Texas or Nevada or something. Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated!

[milzer2012]

Here is my experience with Ca:

Applied for RN license and to take NCLEX thru my college April 2013

With all paperwork listed for "those who answered YES to any of the above" on the app.

Graduated June 2013

Denied shortly there after, but with option to appeal.

Interviewed several attys, finally chose one, who urged me to appeal, and take NCLEX as soon as possible

NCLEX Aug 2013, passed

Retain Atty.

More time passes.

Finally in FEB 2014, get the "statement of Issues" basically their reasons to deny me liscensure.

MY PAPERWORK-LOST/ sat buried under a pile on BRN Desk for 1st time, for 2 months.

Thank god for my atty, he got it moving..

April,2014 my case transferred another person at BRN, who after multiple calls and emails from my atty, got agreement for

" unrestricted liscensure with a public repremand, stating I am not a threat to public safety. Which is basically a license with a letter attached to it. Will be on the internet BRN Breeze For 10 years.

July 2014, completed agreement of wording for letter of reprimand, walked by my atty to BRN the next morning......

It was supposed. To be mailed out by the BRN To members for "voting" on final approval of wording of repremand.

More waiting.

AUGUST 2014- applied to New grad residency program and was given an offer, contingent upon me having a valid LISC number on the internet, told BRN of this.

Sept 30 2014 - had to decline offer of new grad program, NO LISC YET!

BRN refuses interim permit or to expedite to allow me to stay in new grad program. Atty spends better part of

Last days of Sept on phone with BRN TO GET SOMETHING GOING.

NOTHING .

Today, still waiting.............

Yes, the CA BRN is Difficult, I have heard of other similar situations that haven taken as long, for old, old offenses that would be of no consequence in other states. It seems like I am being punished for my "crimes" by stretching out the length of time to obtain my license. They state that they are overwhelmed with applicants/paperwork, ..........

In the meantime, I see others from my class get RN jobs, and here I am, where I was almost a year and a half ago.

[Carl Winslow]

Well, congrats on getting your unrestricted license. That is really unfortunate about the new grad program though; I would be very upset, I hope it ends up working out for you. I plan on going the same route after I graduate and will hopefully get into a good icu residency program somewhere.

I'm so sick of California. I think I might just do the smart thing and apply to a normal, functioning state. California is completely backwards in every aspect; it is no wonder that these cases take over a year to resolve. Luckily, I am still in my 20's and have no kids or anything like that, so if I have to, making a cross country trek will be cumbersome but not impossible. I just have pressure from my girlfriend (soon to be fiance, shhhh don't say anything lol) about staying in Ca because her family is here. My family is here too, but I can't risk my license and spend 2 years with my thumb up my a** waiting for the dysfunctional BRN machine to turn its gears. I mean, I suppose I can always apply for an endorsement to Ca later on once I already get my career rolling in another state.

California is a crime ridden dump populated by mouth breathers anyway; after I got settled I would more than likely leave this hell hole regardless. So, I'll probably just tell California to kick rocks and move to a state with lower crime rates, lower taxes, and a better economy. I think this will be my best move and I will be able to start my career sooner with less problems.