DUI in 1988 and 2003

Nurses Recovery

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Hi all,

I hope I'm putting this in the right place. I am due to graduate from an nursing program in 2021. I have worked in healthcare for years, and had a fingerprinted background check for my current job. We transport residents as well as provide direct care. It probably sounds stupid but I never thought my past arrests would affect my ability to get a license because I passed all my background checks before and my arrests were so long ago. One DUI, 1988, was in a different state. The other was in my current state. I was a very reckless young adult and got arrested for minor in possession of alcohol and driving with a suspended license as well, all before 1990. I wasn't even 21 yet. Then I had kids and calmed down. The 2003 DUI was the only arrest from 1990 until now. None of my arrests resulted in convictions and my state only asks about convictions. However, on the Good Moral Character statement, it says one must reveal all motor vehicle offenses involving alcohol/drugs. I'm wondering if I should get a lawyer or what. 

Btw, I do not drink at all or use recreational drugs. It's apparently not worth it for me! Thanks for any advice or experiences with this.

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Specializes in icu.

I would speak to an attorney to guide you on how to answer.  Once you spill the beans you can’t unspill them.   Good luck and keep us posted, congrats on your upcoming graduation!

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Hi Forever humble, thanks for your congratulations and advice. That's what I think I'll do. I don't want to be dishonest but I also don't want to reveal something that wouldn't have come up on the background check. If it was anything recent or an ongoing problem, I would be obligated to report. However, I don't feel incidents that happened 18 and 31 years ago reflect on my character now. My concern is that they will think it's a pattern. I'll post again once I contact an attorney.

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Specializes in general.

Precisely what Forever said! Get your attorney and keep your head up! ((Hugs))

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Thanks, ThatLady! Logically, I can't imagine them denying me a license on nonviolent, dismissed demeanors that happened so long ago, but I really don't want to take any chances. Just wish I had realised this could be a problem before I got into nursing school. 

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Get an FBI Personal History check. It’s basically your rap sheet. If the incidents don’t come up there, the BON will have no knowledge of it. I paid an attorney a pretty penny to advise me and she didn’t recommend the above - had to figured that crap out on my own. You could PM me too. 

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