Can I be a nurse?

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Hi everyone!

I found this message board in hopes that I can have some of my fears calmed. I am from Michigan... I am about to be a first-time mom and have been anxiously looking into nursing as a career to provide for my soon-to-be family!

The requirements for entering the program are worrying me. The school performs a criminal background check and states the following:

"A mandatory criminal history check including fingerprints will be conducted on all students selected to the Nursing program prior to the start of the program, at the student's cost. 1) Conviction of a felony or any attempt to commit a felony within the 15 years immediately preceding the date of the criminal history check; or 2) conviction of a misdemeanor within the 10 years immediately preceding the criminal history check, will preclude eligibility for admission. In addition, all selected students must have a drug screen test prior to the start of the program."

I have never commited a felony and I don't use drugs..... however, I did get a misdemeanor driving offense last year..... does anyone know if this means my dream of becoming a nurse is unattainable? Any advice would be wonderful.

Thanks alot everyone!

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usually traffic offenses are excluded unless it was driving under the influence or if bodily harm, property damage

however your BON or the admitting office of the school that youhope to attend would be the one to give you specfic information

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Specializes in LTC.

I doubt a misdemeanor DRIVING offense (precluding DUI's...unless those are felonies??) will preclude you, however, just to be safe, I would contact the Nursing Office at the school and run it by them.

Good Luck,

Michael :D

Hi everyone!

I found this message board in hopes that I can have some of my fears calmed. I am from Michigan... I am about to be a first-time mom and have been anxiously looking into nursing as a career to provide for my soon-to-be family!

The requirements for entering the program are worrying me. The school performs a criminal background check and states the following:

"A mandatory criminal history check including fingerprints will be conducted on all students selected to the Nursing program prior to the start of the program, at the student's cost. 1) Conviction of a felony or any attempt to commit a felony within the 15 years immediately preceding the date of the criminal history check; or 2) conviction of a misdemeanor within the 10 years immediately preceding the criminal history check, will preclude eligibility for admission. In addition, all selected students must have a drug screen test prior to the start of the program."

I have never commited a felony and I don't use drugs..... however, I did get a misdemeanor driving offense last year..... does anyone know if this means my dream of becoming a nurse is unattainable? Any advice would be wonderful.

Thanks alot everyone!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Questions we seem to be frequently encountering are related to the effects of a criminal history on nursing licensure:

Is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a criminal history?

Is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a DUI or other related charges?

What happens if you are charged or convicted of a crime after licensure?

Can I go to nursing school and/or be licensed if my record has been sealed or expunged?

These are questions that the members of http://www.allnurses.com cannot answer. The only reliable source of information is your State Board of Nursing.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Hello browneyed.

Welcome to Allnurses and congratulations on joining the ranks of motherhood in the near future.

I understand your concerns regarding the background check, however

the members here cannot answer your question with certainty. The best source of that information is your BON and/or the admitting office of the school as Chatsdale and unitek1963 have suggested.

Good luck in obtaining that information. We hope you continue to enjoy the site. You will find a wealth of information here.

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Thanks everyone....

I kind of figured that my question couldn't be answered, but it helps to have some encouragement :)

I did do some research and the Michigan BON states that I can appeal my case to them and they keep the nature of the offense, time in which it happened, etc. into account.

Thanks again :)

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