Right now I am currently enrolled in a 4-year UC (University of California). I am just about to start my 3rd year. However, at the beginning of this year (2013), I was arrested and convicted for a sex crime against a minor [P.C. 288a(b)(1)]. I realize that even if your record is expunged, you must still disclose everything to the BON when applying to take the state license test.
By the time I graduate from my UC, it will have been about 2.5 years since my conviction, and since I have NEVER had any criminal record before, my lawyer says an expungement will be easy.
I realize that the MAIN concern for Nursing Practices is the safety of CHILDREN and the elderly, so I am aware that it will be tough to obtain a state license if and when that time comes. However, my main question is, will Nursing SCHOOLS/COLLEGES accept students with an EXPUNGED crime? I am aware they can deny you based on criminal charges, but an expunged crime is different right? This question is for people of CALIFORNIA. (P.C. 1203.4)
The reason I'm asking is because I'm still an undergraduate, and I do not want to remain as a Pre-Nursing major, and then later find out I will not be able to get into Nursing school.
A little bit of background about my crime:
When I was 18 year old, I had a 14 year old girlfriend. We dated for 1.5 years. Her mother knew we were seeing each other, it was not a secret. During the relationship, we were kind of wild and doing things because we were young. At the time, I just turned 20 and she was 15, we were caught by Law Enforcement in my car while doing, the stated above, sexual act.
I am not some "weird child molester" looking to prey on children or anything like that. I just really liked the girl and made a bad choice of not waiting engage in those sexual acts.
Thank you in advanced for any advice. If there is any other information I can offer to help you better answer my question, please don't hesitate to ask.
PS: Are there any Nursing School in California that will accept students even with a criminal record (Not expunged)?
@Meriwhen: Okay, thank you for all of your information.
@GMG RN: I will take that into account.
@Db2xs: I see I see. Yes I will definitely consult with an attorney. I also agree that because by the time I apply for Nursing School, since the crime will only be 2 years old by then, it may be a problem.
@Carebearsunshine: The same crime as me, as in a P.C. 288a(b)(1), or just in general, a sex crime with a minor when they were dating? And thank you for sharing this story, it has given me a little more hope. If you don't mind me asking, what Nursing School was this? (The one that accepted said student with the sex crime)
@SusanRN82: Yes, I have read all of that before and understand everything as to what exactly I have to submit to the BON. When you say "and the ability to overrule decisions made in other courts", do you mean they have the ability to get rid of criminal records? If so, I've never heard that before. Yes, I agree that I will need to get an attorney who specializes in this type of issue. Thank you for your advice.
TO ALL:
Again, thank you all for your advice and stories. The next step I need to take is to actually contact the BON and see where I stand. For those of you who have shared stories with me about people with criminal background and have still succeed in some way, thank you. You have given my confidence a boost little by little. Please let me know if you know of any Nursing Schools who have been known to accept students with criminal backgrounds or any other advice or stories for me. Thank you all for your time.
I just posted this question in another thread but i feel that this thread would be more relevant to my question. Does anybody know if the company called Certified Background Check will find dismissed felonies? I just got mine dismissed for 2 ounces of pot and will be applying to a southern California nursing school that relies on the aforementioned company for their background checks. I know all about the boards. I'm wondering if I should disclose this with the nursing school or not since it is dismissed. It just seems like if my felony will show, then how would I even attend the school and clinicals in the first place?
I just posted this question in another thread but i feel that this thread would be more relevant to my question. Does anybody know if the company called Certified Background Check will find dismissed felonies? I just got mine dismissed for 2 ounces of pot and will be applying to a southern California nursing school that relies on the aforementioned company for their background checks. I know all about the boards. I'm wondering if I should disclose this with the nursing school or not since it is dismissed. It just seems like if my felony will show then how would I even attend the school and clinicals in the first place?[/quote']
If it still shows up then you may not be able to attend the school or clinical.
Does anybody on here know if it will? I mean, there have apparently been some RN's who have had their felony dismissed in CA and attended a nursing school with no problem. Was it because it didn't show up on the background check? Or was it because the school and clinical sites let them practice anyway?
Does anybody on here know if it will? I mean, there have apparently been some RN's who have had their felony dismissed in CA and attended a nursing school with no problem. Was it because it didn't show up on the background check? Or was it because the school and clinical sites let them practice anyway?
Only the school (and clinical sites) involved could answer that question.
If you have questions about how to answer application questions, then you should consult a lawyer as we can't offer legal advice at AN.
The general rule of thumb is that it's better to be honest with schools, etc. about criminal records than to try to hide something. There are people with criminal records that have been able to go to nursing school and eventually have careers in nursing. Keep in mind that if you fail to disclose requested information to your school and the school finds out about it, you may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Hello! Did the students with DUIs in your program, did they have a diffcult time getting placed in their clinical rotations? did the DON work with them?
I would speak to an attorney who can draft a comprehensive argument to the BON. You can only give it your best shot, and the BON will assess it on a case-by-case basis. I'm sure nothing is impossible, but there are no guarantees either.
Santos916
7 Posts
@Meriwhen: Okay, thank you for all of your information.
@GMG RN: I will take that into account.
@Db2xs: I see I see. Yes I will definitely consult with an attorney. I also agree that because by the time I apply for Nursing School, since the crime will only be 2 years old by then, it may be a problem.
@Carebearsunshine: The same crime as me, as in a P.C. 288a(b)(1), or just in general, a sex crime with a minor when they were dating? And thank you for sharing this story, it has given me a little more hope. If you don't mind me asking, what Nursing School was this? (The one that accepted said student with the sex crime)
@SusanRN82: Yes, I have read all of that before and understand everything as to what exactly I have to submit to the BON. When you say "and the ability to overrule decisions made in other courts", do you mean they have the ability to get rid of criminal records? If so, I've never heard that before. Yes, I agree that I will need to get an attorney who specializes in this type of issue. Thank you for your advice.
TO ALL:
Again, thank you all for your advice and stories. The next step I need to take is to actually contact the BON and see where I stand. For those of you who have shared stories with me about people with criminal background and have still succeed in some way, thank you. You have given my confidence a boost little by little. Please let me know if you know of any Nursing Schools who have been known to accept students with criminal backgrounds or any other advice or stories for me. Thank you all for your time.