can you get into nurse practioner school if you have a reprimand on your nursing license

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Our "thoughts and ideas" aren't likely to mean much. You need to go to the source to receive legitimate answers. In your case, the source would be the graduate school(s) of your choice.

Any speculation by anyone here would be just that: speculation.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2016

I'm having trouble understanding why you would want to invest money in NP school- even if you do find one that will accept you. If you're having so much trouble finding work as a nurse at your current level, maybe you should focus getting your head above water first.

Good luck to you.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 18, 2016

Something to bear in mind....should you manage to get into an NP program, at some point, and likely closer to the end, you'll be required to attend clinicals. In order to be eligible for those you have to jump through several hoops so that the facility can verify you are legit. This means a background check, a drug screen and immunizations. If you can't pass a background check then you won't be allowed into the facility and you would have wasted all the time you spent in your didactic classes. I would sort out the obvious first and try to get a job as an RN and spend a couple years putting a buffer between you and what happened. Good luck.

westieluv · Apr 18, 2016

I agree with the others, you need to right the ship where you are before you try to sail into new waters, so to speak. If you can't get hired as an RN now, that has to be addressed before you attempt to pursue something beyond that. I am not judging you, we all make mistakes, and you deserve credit for doing everything you could to fix the reprimand, but a NP program is likely not going to look favorably on someone who cannot get a job as an RN, and I imagine that even if you are allowed to apply, they will want to know what you are doing career wise now.

I used to work with a guy at one of the Big Two dialysis companies. He had a serious black mark on his license from the past, in his case it was drug use. He did everything he could to fix the issue with his license but could not find a job anywhere because no one would overlook this past infraction. Finally, he was able to find an RN job with the dialysis company who was willing to take a chance on him regardless. Today, he is one of the absolute best dialysis RNs I have never known and a model employee for this company. He trains new staff and has the best attitude I have ever seen. He is now back to the point where he could probably move on and do whatever he wants to do, but he had to prove himself. It isn't easy, but it is necessary.

Best of everything to you, I hope all goes well and you can find an RN job soon and work on getting back to where you were before the reprimand.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Thread has been moved to the Student Nurse Practitioner forum.

NurseNHowell · Apr 19, 2016

I had a reprimand on my license, (happened in Oklahoma), paid the fine and took the courses. Prior to all of this happening I was interested in going to nurse practioner PhD school, the issue happened in 2014, and was resolved in 2015 of march, I am curious as to how this will this affect my chances to get into NP school? individuals that have had board issues it has become a black mark irrespective of corrections they have made on it to make amends for it. I feel that this board issues will haunt me forever and all the work that I put in to become a nurse and eventually go to NP school will become all for naught.

Just to be clear I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO EXPERIENCE with this area but my ADN program required us to go to a BSN hearing.

3 nurses had previous reprimand/restrictions and are NPs or are doing their NP. Don't know what you did but heres the 3 I observed.

1) at 18 got busted in college with marijuana in his dorm then about a month later had a DUI/hit&run he then finished his pre-reqs and nursing school to then go on and get his BSN which was immediately restricted. His hearing was requesting to have the restrictions lifted since it had been over like 10 years but he had never worked long enough while continuing school and getting his NP. He's now a pillar in his community and adhered to all of his requirements except the work supervision bc he didn't work that much while in school.

2) older female like 8-9 years before was using cocaine then stealing meds working in the ER. Think she also robbed a pharmacy with a note saying she had a gun(she didn't actually though) and she was requesting to have restrictions changed bc she wanted to teach now that she finished her NP. I could be mixing her up with another addict bc there were about 12 people for the hearing.

3) ETOH abuse and episodes of it in the hospital about 15 years ago. While on restrictions she continued in school but was noncompliant with her BRN requirements/program, she kind of picked and chose what she wanted to do. She ended up surrendering her license before she completed her NP. Now wants it back so she can get her NP finished.

So clearly others with restrictions and reprimands have gotten into NP school so its possible. I do agree with the other posters that you need to get your head above water before you attempt to continue on this road. No use going on in your nursing education if you can't get a job now. Have you tried to get a position in the float pool or as on-call? My work we had a coworker that got hired that she had previous issues and our boss hired her but only on-call and she wasn't allowed a pyxis login which I honestly think was stupid since everything controlled needs a cosigner but it did help remind other nurses that we had to be aware of her meds we were pulling. All of our floor meds are on med cards except controlled or new orders the pharmacy hasn't delivered yet. She actually was eventually moved to a part-time then full-time position and is an amazing nurse lol who now has a pyxis login. I think she just had to prove herself to someone who was willing to take that chance. My job also sucks and doesn't pay as well as others around so you may need to bite that bullet.

Good luck!

JaneBSN · Apr 27, 2016

I think the terminology of the NP application is Unencumbered license, or unrestricted license. Maybe you should ask somebody at the BON that question? Good luck!