Can I become an RN with a misdemeanor?

[BrandyC]

In 2009, I had a man do some very horrible things to me while I was enlisted in the military. I wrote him an email telling him that I would file a complaint if he didn't stop and telling him to leave me and my family alone and I was convicted of a misdemeanor for making "threatening statements". I want to become a nurse very badly but I don't know if this conviction will stop me. I have a bachelors degree in sociology, an associates degree in liberal arts, and an associates degree in communications applications technology. My goal is to either get an associates degree in nursing then work up to a bsn or just get a bsn right away and I desperately would like to one day achieve a masters degree in nursing. I have a lot of good things to offer a company but one bad mark on my record. I graduated cum laude, I'm a member of an honor society, I'm a veteran, I've done tons of volunteer work but I'm afraid that I may not get hired because of the black mark on my record. Does anyone have any advice?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

There's no absolute Yes or No answer to your question because most BONs consider applicants with criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Your best bet is to contact your local BON (you can do it anonymously by e-mail if you'd feel more comfortable) and ask.

[truetransformer]

I am in a similar situation but, a guy in the neighborhood was stalking my 12yr old son and he had been previously told by the police to stay away from my son and the other kids in the area where I lived after giving the kids candy. My son was hit by a car and hospitalized. I don't know how the guy found out but he showed up at the hospital and left a teddy bear in my son's room. When the nurses aide described the person who left the teddy bear and he told them he was a family member, I um kinda snapped and said some unkind things to him once I ran into him. He pressed charges and I am now dealing with the same misdemeanor. This happened 1 month after graduating with my BSN. I have not taken the NCLEX yet but was told by the State BON to submit transcripts, copy of background check and an explanation of what happened. They said I will get a response after taking the nclex. They will not tell you prior to taking the test. I have been praying for guidance about the matter and I am going to get advice from a lawyer, submit my paper work and take the NCLEX. Prior to this I had never had a run in with the law of any kind.