Did I just waste a TON of time?!

[maestrotee]

Please forgive me if this gets a little lengthy but I will try and keep it as brief as possible. I am 38 and happily married for 7 years with a 3 year old boy with a newly diagnosed autism. I just graduated from a local school with my practical nurse certificate degree and will be pursuing the RN transition program in the fall with very little left to finish. I am an addict in successful recovery for the past ten years. Prior to that, I collected two possession of marijuana charges and two DUI's. I successfully completed a recovery program and and truly on the other side. Since my recovery, I have worked in residential treatment programs with adolescents in a psychiatric hospital setting dealing with addictions as well as a variety of other issues and have enjoyed most every moment of it. I worked side by side with the unit nurses and, after beginning a pursuit toward a Psych degree, changed two years ago and went into nursing. Now I am looking toward taking the NCLEX and find a job, however, maybe I should feel a little stupid here, but the positions that I have applied for have shut down rather abruptly when the issue comes up about substance abuse. I realize it is a legitimate concern for an employer but I have worked in a hospital or residential treatment center for the past 9 years, both with random drug screens and have never been relieved from a job or relapsed since my recovery. Is there maybe some suggestions or stories of people that have been able to go into this field with a tainted background that might be encouraging to me or should I look in another area, possibly the health department or something that does not deal directly with meds to get some experience? Please give me some pointers here. I need a job pretty soon here and feel a little foolish that I had not even considered this.

[maestrotee]

Yes, I applied and was given clearance after I included a notarized affidavit regarding charges that they keep in your file. I have an appointment to test next month.

[RNGrammie]

good to hear!!!!

good luck on your exam!!

[mamaprince1]

Depending on the state that you live in, and its laws, you may be eligble to apply for your past criminal record to be expunged. It varies, but certain crimes cannot be, and usually there is a minimum length of time that has to pass since the conviction. I would check with a state police agency where you live to see what your options are. Also, it might be worth finding out if when filling out a job application the question about the past crimes has a time constraint along with it. It may be that you would legally only have to answer yes if the event had happened within a certain number of years.

Just a few things to look into

[Wenckebach RN]

I knew a young man who was busted for pot while working on his masters degree in music. He had 4 young children, some of whom where in the car when he was arrested. He ended up being able to finish his Masters and then was a stay at home Dad for a couple of years while his wife finished her social work Masters. He then was able to get a position at a High School as a music teacher, after negotiations and promises to submit to random drug tests. He is doing well, I keep in touch with him and his wife. My daughter used to baby sit his children who were quite young.

[maestrotee]

Having the charges expunged is something that I plan on looking into. I have heard, however, that even with the record expunged, it will always show up as an arrest with the fingerprint FBI check. Does the SBON do that for the testing? Just asking because I wasn't sure and I had considered it. I don't want to be dishonest, also. I just don't want to be continually tried for indiscretions that were made in my youth. I received the help that I needed and therefore will not die of this sickness and for that I'm grateful. But now, I need to feed my family.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

questions we seem to be encountering more and more often have to do with the effects of a criminal history on nursing licensure and getting jobs once licensed as a nurse:

• is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a criminal history and if so, can i get a job?
  
• is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a mip, 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/be employed if my record has been sealed or expunged?
  
• will i be able to go to nursing school with a criminal record?
  
• what can happen if i receive a mip/dui/dwi or other charge while still in school?

these are questions that the members of allnurses.com cannot answer. the only reliable source of information is your state board of nursing.

we truly wish you the best in all of this. you've received some great support, but we must close the thread now for we cannot address your concerns as to licensure.

good luck.