Almost 9 years ago I was arguing with my boyfriend and got in my car drunk and crashed it. While I regret making that mistake it actually served to catapult me into my nursing career. I would say that day was an ultimate low for me and I thank God that I did not hurt anyone other than myself. I was pretty drunk, blew a .11, and initially denied that I was driving. So this was not a typical 'got pulled over after leaving a party where I had 2 drinks' episode. I was being pretty nutty. Now that I am a nurse I see how selfish my behavior was and I am ashamed of myself. After that horrible accident and arrest I took a long, hard look at my life and where I was headed and began to pursue my nursing degree. I did a complete 180. First I volunteered at a hospital, then I completed my prerequisites at a community college. When I learned how long the wait list was for the ADN program I moved out of state. I became a CNA, studied hard and became a LPN, worked for 2 years in LTC while studying for my RN. I have worked and volunteered in health care for over 7 years - 2 as a RN. I do not drink and anyone who knows me now would say I have high moral and ethical standards. It is embarrassing to even ask for these letters of recommendation as most people are surprised that I even had a conviction. I am truly a different person.
What are the chances I could get endorsed in California as a RN with an unrestricted license? Should I try to get my record expunged before applying? I realize I am taking a risk by even applying. If they deny me I will have to disclose that when applying in the future to other states. Do you have any advice for me on how I could give myself the best chance of getting a full, unrestricted license? I will have many character letters of recommendation and I have even volunteered with disadvantaged youth as a nurse mentor. I would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and advice. If need be I can be assessed by a psychiatrist or even get an attorney to help.
