DUI Prior to Licensure

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I received a DUI during my last year of nursing school, and this was the first time I was ever in trouble. Due to the DUI, my license was not issued until 10 months after graduation. Although i have applied for nursing jobs all over the country, I have not received any affirmative responses. On my applications for nursing positions, I obviously have to answer "yes" to the question regarding conviction of a crime. Since I have no RN experience, it seems that this "conviction" answer is automatically eliminating me from any chance of obtaining a job as a nurse. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can overcome this obstacle, or any ideas for non-nursing jobs that would allow me to utilize my nursing school knowledge?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Moved to the Criminal History forum for a better response. Please be aware that this is a moderated forum, and all posts require review and approval...so it may take a short while for them to appear.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Now to answer your question...

The problem is that the job market is saturated with nurses, and new grads have the worst of it. Many employers would rather not waste time training a new nurse when they can easily have an experienced one in the role.

And unfortunately, many employers will pass on the new grad with a criminal history in favor of one without the legal baggage.

Fair? Not really. But it is what it is.

I would talk to a lawyer to see if expungement is an option for you given your state and specific conviction. It may take a year or two (or more), but it would help clean up your record for the job hunt.

Otherwise, just keep applying to everything that you can. Here you may really have to look outside of the box and apply to things that you wouldn't have considered before. Having a statement prepared that you can submit with your application may help...it will allow you to explain your conviction, and how you have learned from this mistake.

Hopefully other posters, particularly those who have had a DUI, will be able to contribute more advice.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Any chance you got your DUI in WI? Just throwing that out there, because if you did, your first DUI is NOT a crime and you shouldn't check that box "yes" in answer to the question. Now, WI is the ONLY state in the nation where your first DUI isn't a criminal offense, so any conviction in the other 49 states/commonwealths means a "yes" checkmark

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