disorderly person charge and continuing in clinical rotations and nursing school

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I was arrested and for shoplifting abt $30 worth of items from a grocery store in 2009. my first offense, I am in NEW JERSEY

It was lowered to township ordinance, disorderly persons

I am in the nursing program and I had a background check in 2008 when i began clinicals so my school was not aware of this charge but I thought they did a check every year so they knew.

my school knows now bc i mentioned it when referring to something else.

Since my school has has affliction with the hospitals they made an an agreement none of the students have a positive background check.

I dont know if my school would wants someone wants a thief in there a nursing program and if they did. They would have to advocate for me because the clinical sites might not want me there because of my charge.

Does anyone know if clinical sites allow student with someone with a positive background in their hospitals...

I am able to apply for expungement next year but i dont know if they would wait until it was expunge to let me continue.

Also I was dismissed from the program in 2009 after the semester bc i fail a class but was readmitted bc i requested re-admittance in 2010( i was back in the program after I was arrested ) so this nursing program has already been gracious to me. I am not sure if this may effect their decision..

i dont intend on ever doing something like this ever again and i am sorry .. i dont know where my head was at when i did this in the first place. If I told anyone I this this the would be in disbelief and completely shocked and it does not reflect who i am but I dont know if the nursing school or clincials sites will see it like this... is anyone familiar with this???

and why does this go on my criminal record if it is not a criminal offense???

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Why? because you are a big girl now. Your list of bad will follow you, and so it should.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

s.i.g.h.

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Specializes in Float.

Jrsygirl

Calm down. Take a deep breath. Okay, did your instructors tell you that they'd advocate for you? What did they say when they found out about your charge? There are a variety of reasons why people do things. Some decisions turn out to be counter-productive to what we want for ourselves. You are in a unique situation because you are already in a program. You have an opportuniy to advocate for yourself. Show them that you do possess the maturity needed to succeed in Nursing. It appears that you're not making excuses for yourself and that's good. It shows that you are being accountable for your actions. Keep a positive attitude, pray and believe in yourself and your destiny.

I wish you well and keep me posted. :)

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Specializes in Case Management.

Make an appointment to speak with the dean or administrator at your school. Be honest, and if you have the paperwork proving the charges were reduced, bring them with you. It's better to take the bull by the horns and put all your cards on the table. Have your grades been good? Have you any nursing instructors who you are especially close to? IF so ask them to be at the meeting as well. She may be able to be a deciding factor if she knows you have commitment and drive.

I too was asked to leave my nursing program in my first semester. I never learned good study habits and I went a little wild with my new found freedom, so I requested to be admitted back the next year,. It only made me more determined to do well and become a nurse. Turn your experience around and make it a positive. Let them know you will do anything to prove you are determined to make it.

You made a big mistake, but it doesn't have to defeat you. Time to put on your big girl pants and do the right thing. Make it all into a positive. Good luck, and remember, you are stronger than you think.

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I found a law site that talks about this.

In english, (I'm translating the legal jargon)

In NEW JERSEY...for a Township Ordinance Violation...

if you can manage to keep out of trouble for 2 years since your conviction,

you can file for the offense to be taken off your record.

You will need a lawyer for this. I'll repeat, You Will Need a Lawyer For this.

So you have about a year to save up.

You should have no problem graduating from the program but I would wait until

your record is clear before sitting for the board exams, because they WILL check again Before they hand over that license.

And I believe you that you're sorry. But also be thankful, you really got cut a break.

Best of luck on this. We all make mistakes....but now that you're trying for a job that involves having a professional license, you have FAR more to lose than when you were a crazy teenager.

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Specializes in Hospice.

You can't just not tell them.... when i was in nursing school it was right in the paperwork that we were required to tell them within 2 days....it wasn't there job to find them in the background check... you have some back-pedaling and responsiblity taking to do. I can hardly follow your post... i assume its from your anxiety from the situation...which is understandable. Take a deep breath and go to them with the problem in a remorseful , respectful , responsible manner. You made a poor choice in the past but hopefully you can turn this around.

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Specializes in CICU, radiology, psych.

I hope this person works with you PhoenixTech. Sorry I was always taught nurses are held in high respect and much is expected of them. Nursing is a job that demands honesty. If you go into this field or think you want to you should have enough sense, good moral values and ethical decision making abilities to not mess up like that. People are entrusting there life with your every decision. I wonder why this person wants to be a nurse. It's a rewarding but hard job. If your just going into it because you think you'll make good money your wasting your time. The money is OK but you have to really love and want to do this or you will burn out quick. This person also needs to be more worried about what the state boards and future employers will think. I'm sure everyone will think this is a mean comment but for all those who do I bet there are twice as many who wouldn't say it just cause they thought it wouldn't be politically correct.

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Not sure about crimes in New Jersey, but I think you committed several crimes against the english language. Did you read/preview your post before you posted it? Seriously... you want to be a nurse and you send that out? Beam me up Scotty.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Hey, many of us have had at least one doozy of a mistake. We have been given the chance of a do-over.

I want you to seriously consider focusing on your communication and 'speaking'. Take some extra classes, what ever will work for you. As a nurse you are needed to educate, speak and act professional and exhude intellegence for patients and their family to gain trust with you and your advice. This is not at all how you have presented yourself here in this post.

I say this nicely with as much support as possible... you will NEED people to place trust in you and go to bat for you. Those people will need to see you as an asset to the nursing profession. Your communication here is lacking that. Please consider this as you will be speaking with many professionals to fight for your nursing goal.

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Thank you all for the feedback, I appreciate all of the responses.

I apologize for making you read through my unorganized and unedited post; it will not happen again.

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i also believe people make some mistakes, but never theft, or the like; as it's not an option. i guess i grew up with a deeper moral compass than some. i do hope you turn your life around because in any job, especially nursing there needs to be complete honesty. what would you do should you give a wrong medication to a patient? would you cover it up and act as if it never happen? this is just one of the many reasons there can be no dishonesty in nursing. a nurse must be "blemish free".

i hope you search deep within yourself and are able to become a better you as second chances don't come around often. i sincerely wish you well in your future endeavors.

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