Can I be an NP with an expunged minor misdemeanor drug possession

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I am currently a student at the University of Cincinnati and it has been my goal ever since the 8th grade to be a nurse practitioner. When I was 18 during the summer, I was in a car with some friends smoking. The cops saw us and charged us all with possession. I have since had the charge expunged and other than that, I have never even been pulled over. I am an Eagle Scout and have volunteered over 500 hours at a local hospital discharging patients and working the information desk. I have also volunteered over 200 hours at homeless shelters and shadowed many nurse practitioners at different practices. I have studied abroad for a summer in Europe as well. I have been on the deans list twice and raised $5,000 for cancer research to race in the Pelatonia. My point is that I have had numerous accomplishments since and I think that I am very capable of being a nurse practitioner however, I am worried that because of this stupid mistake that I made when I was 18, I won't be able to be granted a license because they will think that I am some drug user and won't be safe around patients. Please let me know what you guys think

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am currently a student at the University of Cincinnati and it has been my goal ever since the 8th grade to be a nurse practitioner. When I was 18 during the summer, I was in a car with some friends smoking. The cops saw us and charged us all with possession. I have since had the charge expunged and other than that, I have never even been pulled over. I am an Eagle Scout and have volunteered over 500 hours at a local hospital discharging patients and working the information desk. I have also volunteered over 200 hours at homeless shelters and shadowed many nurse practitioners at different practices. I have studied abroad for a summer in Europe as well. I have been on the deans list twice and raised $5,000 for cancer research to race in the Pelatonia. My point is that I have had numerous accomplishments since and I think that I am very capable of being a nurse practitioner however, I am worried that because of this stupid mistake that I made when I was 18, I won't be able to be granted a license because they will think that I am some drug user and won't be safe around patients. Please let me know what you guys think

Are you currently a licensed nurse or a professional nursing student? If so did you have issues with your background check for clinical placements?

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I'm in the nursing program at UC. however, I have read that when the board goes to approve you to be licensed, they will see that I have an exponged weed charge from years ago. I had no problems getting into the nursing program but it's the board that I'm worried about. Or grad school. I don't know if they will approve me or not to go there. I know I can get in with my grades but I don't know how they will look at this. Deep background checks will show that there is an expunged charge

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Yes BoN have access to that information as a matter of public safety. See what information you can find on the BoN website. Look at the questions asked on the application. Call the BoN anonymously and inquire. .

A drug charge can be a problem if applying for prescription privileges as an APN but not always.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved for responses from those with similar issues.

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I have a expunged felony and obtained my LPN (2008) and RN (2015) License without question from the OHIO BON..just submitted all my court documents as requested and got my ATT along with the rest of my class mates both times...never had to explain anything to the boards and also never questioned when it came to clinical placement. Good Luck and dont give up.

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