CHBC for Bergen Community College Nursing Program

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Hello everyone,

I am in need of some advise as my time has run out to resolve some issues with my future career choice and figured I would reach out before I proceed and risk denial of my application. I am a 3rd year student at BCC (have been taking 2 courses/semester because I work construction 6 days/60 hours per week and have to take care of my son) and have taken all pre-requisite requirement courses as well as all future Gen. ED. classes (to ease the work load hopefully so I can keep my current job while in school) in order to apply for the Nursing Evening Program at BCC. I had a rough go at life as an adolescent/young adult and fear I'm going to have a problem being accepted into Bergen's (or anyone else's) Nursing program. 

I was arrest while living in Florida for a couple of years for felony drug possession approx. 6+ years ago in which I completed a pre-trial program and upon completion, the charges were dropped and the disposition was deemed "Nolle Prosequi" (no conviction, still record of arrest). Now, even though as it stood, I did qualify for expungement, as hard as I tried, I could not have my record expunged because Florida has a very fun law that if you have had a prior expungement anywhere in the world in your life, you cannot have your record expunged again, in Florida; only in Florida (does this apply). I had expunged a misdemeanor from my record from just graduating high school (in MD)...

I guess what I want to ask you all is should I even apply? would applying hurt my chances else where? Is there any exception to Bergen's allegedly strict CHBC policy for a forgiven drug offense with no conviction? Am I in denial that I could even work in the Healthcare Industry? I have done all I could for the past 3 years to find a way around this/resolve this and unfortunately no answers I have found are based in any certainty. Please if you have any information at all, I would greatly appreciate it. my goal one day is to be a PMHNP (ya, I know, set the bar high, why don't I...). Even any suggestions on possible alternative paths I could take or related fields would be extremely helpful. 

Thank you all for your time and service; I can only hope to join your ranks one day.

All the best,

Kevan

Side Note: my plan B is to just finish my current program at Bergen which would be an Associates Degree in Applied Sciences (AAS). Anyone know what I could actually do with that? I know, "just Google it" LOL Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Moved to Licensure Criminal History for best responses.

Most likely what you will hear is that everything is considered on an individual basis, and the BON is the only place that can answer for sure- sometimes even not until after you've completed a program.

Browse through the threads here, and you'll see that there is a variety of experiences.

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Specializes in Emergency, critical care.

Hi Kevan, You have worked hard to get where you are. You have one more 

"class" to take, in my opinion. One or 2 nights soon, when you have some energy and won't fall asleep, sit with your computer and a notepad and look up Hark and Hark blog and start reading their blog entries. You will learn a lot about what you don't know of your legal situation. The phrase "Forwarned is forarmed" is very applicable to you. The schools will usually take your $ for classes. Hurdles are clinicals and the Board. You can't graduate without clinicals, and you can't get licensed till the Board accepts your criminal hx. Since you have a ready source of income in constr., you may choose to fight and go on, cause it will take $. I can foresee the possibility if you have a good nurse-lawyer fighting with you. The board in the past, has been more forgiving with situations that are more than 10 years old, so take your time, move deliberately and with intention. And keep very clean for the forseeable future> nothing: steer clear of fights, drugs, DUI, etc. Includes fights w/ girlfriends--walk away.

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Specializes in Emergency, critical care.

An alternative pathway to consider: choose a field to complete a BS.

Something like molecular biology

or computer systems and info mgmt. or something else

relevant to a skill set...school guidance can help you choose.

Work w/ lawyer on game plan meanwhile.

With a BS, then in year(3), you can get program that is "BS to RN" takes (!12-?)18 months...several programs around country...mostly online w/ a few weeks on campus. That pathway might just segway you right into an NP Program.

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Specializes in Emergency, critical care.

Very Alternative:  but Fla. perfect for this

A pathway to the health industry if you do not go for RN, whatever the reason:

Continue ED. for business, thru MBA. Think of starting your own with you sending out a posse of nurses and NP's to fill needs: either home care, or staffing of facilities near and/or far.

Learn from your constr. contracters as you go: ppl to hire, billing, contracts supply mgmt.,,etc. as a way to prepare you for your own business.

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