I am located in cali and about to start an lvn program at a tech school. I have put this off for 10 long years because it was that long ago when I got a misdemeanor for petty theft. I was with another person at the time, 17, stupid, foolish and this does not reflect at all the kind of person I am now. I got informal probation for 2 years and some court fines.
As mentioned I FINALLY enrolled in LVN school. This was very hard and for me took a lot of guts as I have spent so long doing research on the ability to sit for the NCLEX and obtaining my license. I feel confident that I can from what the BON and my school has told me. They said I should be able to obtain one so long as my certified court docs are matching with everything, I'm honest, and my letter matches up with everything when they go through my file and its black and white. My worry is....what happens when I get my license and cannot find work??
This is what scares me the most and has me on the edge of dropping nursing school. I know you guys are going to say "get it expunged!" But in Cali, misdemeanors are never really fully expunged. Some places do live scans, some do not. Those who do not, I can see getting hired easier. I'm also afraid to pursue my RN. I have seen so many RN's with criminal records be denied at hospitals even when they are supposed to be an "equal opportunity employer."
I have spent hours, days, years trying to find current articles, watching YouTube videos about this (there's not many) calling around to nursing facilities to see how there hiring process may be and explaining why I am doing it but they never call back or they are always "in a meeting." So I am coming to you, I cannot waist anymore time on this. I live in a small town with only a handful of facilities, there's another town 20 minutes away which is even smaller and only has a couple facilities. If I get denied and run out of options, I cannot just simply move. I need to make it work where I am now.
Please, I need to know who has been in my shoes, who has been a nurse with a record and how they found a job. I'm running out of financial aid. This is my last shot to go to school and have some aid and if I follow through with this and can't get hired then I simply cannot afford to go back for something else (which I want nothing else). Thanks for your help and advice.There is nothing else I can see myself doing. When this happened as a child I had NO IDEA it would follow me for life like this. I really do not want to settle for anything other that what I have my heart set on now and always. Only positive vibes please.
By the way I have other than my misdemeanor a completely clean record, not even a traffic ticket. I have been a complete angel since convicted. I have two kids, shes two and he's four. It is really important for me to set a good example for them to follow and for them to be proud of their mamma. Thanks again for your time reading this and your advice.
