Criminal Record

HM2VikingRN, RN · Apr 28, 2006

I have a criminal record. I was arrested for DUI 2 times, retail theft, and disorderly conduct. I was 19 that last time I was arrested. My question is how long do I have to pay for this? The rest of my natural life is the only answer I can see. I am a good nurse and of all the reasons I would consider leaving the profession this is the biggest one. So because I was a stupid kid I will make less money, be passed over for jobs, possibly not accepted to schools...the list goes on. I am traveling right now and it is just hard. I feel like I should totally change jobs. My only purpose in this post is to vent and possibly get some encouragement. I am currently applying for CA license and if I have problems with this am looking into law school and totally giving up nursing.

I think that this will eventually fade into the past. If you have been squeaky clean for the past 5 years it might be worth a letter to the prosecuting attorney and the sentencing judge.

Dear blank,

I made the following mistakes when I was still a teenager. (List them out.) I learned from my mistakes and I have become a contributing law abiding citizen. (tell them how you are now a positive force in society). Then come out and ask them if they would consider either sealing your record or expunging the convictions.

Sincerely,

Wait a week and call the prosecutors office. Be prepared to take a grilling. Keep your cool! Then ask him/her to take the next steps. You may have to go to court but it would be well worth your time.

I will call my Attorney friend and ask for some ideas.

Sis123 · Apr 28, 2006

You call yourself a "good nurse" but you aren't a nurse? Which is it? Are you finished with nursing school, but now trying to apply for your RN license?

You *might* be able to get a bar license with this past, but you might not, also. You have to go through the same background type check to get a license to practice law, because you are considered to be in a situation to be able to take unfair advantage of your clients (if you were inclined to do so). The logic here is so that the unknowing public deserves to be protected from you.

Perhaps you could get either license if it were expunged from your record, but it's no guarantee.

girtster1979 · Apr 28, 2006

I have a license but have to continually deal with this issue everytime I move jobs or get new state license. And I guarantee that the time spent protecting the unknowing public from is time that could be better spent on something else. I guess I just feel there are professions that offer me the opportunity to have more power over my options. Little power and lots of responsibility seem to come with the territory in nursing.

girtster1979 · Apr 28, 2006

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Viking.

TeriyakiRN · Apr 28, 2006

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Viking.

Gosh!! I wished I could have seen this thread earlier. I am the perfect person for you to talk to. I have been a RN going on seven years and I am currently working on my BSN so I can go on and complete the anesthesia program. I currently work in SICU and before that I was the charge nurse on a cerebral vascular, endocrinology, med-surg floor. Why am I telling you this!?!?! Because I have had a criminal record since I was 18 years old (I am 34 now). I have two counts of receiving and concealing which are felonies and 2 DUIswhich I got in the same month after I turned 18. With that information I was still able to go to school and succeed in my career!!! I tried to get it expunged a long time ago, but I was unsucessful. I did not let it get me down. People know when you are trying and when they truly see it they will not keep you down!! If anything they will help you. Dont give up and try your best. Do not pretend to be anything you are not. You can get your license, but you have to do what the nursing board tells you to do. Its not that hard, if you really want it. Good luck!!

Nervous00 · Apr 28, 2006

Gosh!! I wished I could have seen this thread earlier. I am the perfect person for you to talk to. I have been a RN going on seven years and I am currently working on my BSN so I can go on and complete the anesthesia program. I currently work in SICU and before that I was the charge nurse on a cerebral vascular, endocrinology, med-surg floor. Why am I telling you this!?!?! Because I have had a criminal record since I was 18 years old (I am 34 now). I have two counts of receiving and concealing which are felonies and 2 DUIswhich I got in the same month after I turned 18. With that information I was still able to go to school and succeed in my career!!! I tried to get it expunged a long time ago, but I was unsucessful. I did not let it get me down. People know when you are trying and when they truly see it they will not keep you down!! If anything they will help you. Dont give up and try your best. Do not pretend to be anything you are not. You can get your license, but you have to do what the nursing board tells you to do. Its not that hard, if you really want it. Good luck!!

Teriyaki,

Thank you for sharing your story, it is an inspiration to me because I am in almost the same situation as you were (difference is my felony was much more serious) Good luck to you and the OP :)

girtster1979 · Apr 30, 2006

Thanks you guys. This is great. It is nice to have a way to hear from people in similar situations. Tames the discouragement cause by the challenges in life.

ms.brown · May 9, 2006

I am 29 yars old, single with 5 children and all my life, my goal is to become a nurse or any affiliate pertaining to nursing and I messed my whole life up with TWO felonies, larceny and forgery. I get upset because I have been in the health care field for more then 10 year and have never had any patient abuse or mis treatment to anyone in the health care field. I really want to become a nurse! I love all patients and that's what I enjoy doing is helping others in need. I don't know where to turn to because all of my education is a nursing background. I CAN'T GET A JOB! I feel like person who have committed a crime should be giving a second chance depending on the nature. What most don't realize is young people comming from all backgrounds, have to do certin things to provide for families and love one's because of the lcak of employment. So I think if more jobs were avalibal, you would't get persons like myself with criminal records. Iwas young and all I wanted to do was provide for my family. I have payed my dedt! :crying2: please don't let this hinder me. I plan on moving to North Carolina and I want to start my life clean, continue my education and become a proud nures. Please if any one can help or have ideas. Is there any chances for me?

girtster1979 · May 10, 2006

I am 29 yars old, single with 5 children and all my life, my goal is to become a nurse or any affiliate pertaining to nursing and I messed my whole life up with TWO felonies, larceny and forgery. I get upset because I have been in the health care field for more then 10 year and have never had any patient abuse or mis treatment to anyone in the health care field. I really want to become a nurse! I love all patients and that's what I enjoy doing is helping others in need. I don't know where to turn to because all of my education is a nursing background. I CAN'T GET A JOB! I feel like person who have committed a crime should be giving a second chance depending on the nature. What most don't realize is young people comming from all backgrounds, have to do certin things to provide for families and love one's because of the lcak of employment. So I think if more jobs were avalibal, you would't get persons like myself with criminal records. Iwas young and all I wanted to do was provide for my family. I have payed my dedt! please don't let this hinder me. I plan on moving to North Carolina and I want to start my life clean, continue my education and become a proud nures. Please if any one can help or have ideas. Is there any chances for me?

can i tell u that as the original post i got my ca license and was probably stressed for nothing. mrs. Brown u can do anything u put ur mind to. It will be harder and people will tell u can't but if u really believe u can u will. write letters, get refs, show remorse and think about applying for pardon (different from expungement) goes through the governor, u can look online and should get a lawyer. and don't think nursing is the end all be all for your career. it has issues of its own and u could be better doing something else unless ur willing to work really hard, extra hard in your case. i know it makes me feel like a bad person sometimes, that i have this issue. but we are not bad just human and no matter what anyone syas you pay ur debt long after the punishment ends. simply a fact of life. good luck.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 10, 2006

This post has started me thinking. How forgiving do you think society should be if someone has a felony in their past? Do you think that once they paid their dues, served their sentence, they should be free to start afresh with no stain on their record? Should a crime committed in their youth dog them forever? Or does society need to be protected from people who may have committed a crime in the past? Will being too forgiving on crime make it easier for people to commit them? Is it good to make former felons jump through hoops to prove they've been rehabilitated?

Personally I would be willing to take a chance on someone with a criminal past if it was only one time and they've done their best to make amends. Thoughts?

Melina · May 14, 2006

As a pre-nursing student with a criminal record of my own, I am not the most objective opinion, but I like to think that my current character will overshine any past mistakes. The associate programs in my state (Colorado) have a zero tolerance policy for crimes against person, but the university programs take things case-by-case. My crime was felony assault when I was just turning 18, almost exactly 15 years ago. I worry sometimes, but I keep going to school because I can't imagine doing anything else. I think the age of the offense, as well as my honesty about it, will bode well. I wish everyone who struggles with the same challenges the best of luck in overcoming your past.