background check do I or not?

Nurses General Nursing

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bout to apply for nclex and I am worried about criminal background check. I had dui over 17 yrs ago and dont want to go thru explaing however don't know if this will effect ability to test? I know its sounds bad but it was a bad judgment call many yrs ago? Any suggestions?

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I do not know how far back they go in the background check but they do several, one with the Department of Justice and the other with the FBI. But I don't see why it should be a problem if you give a statement and the measures you took to correct it. Back in 2005 one of my classmates took the NCLEX and was given her license and within a few weeks of that she lost it because they discovered something in her backgound check, criminal charges from a long time ago. Her mistake was she lied on her application at least thats what they told her that aggravated the situation. I think perhaps one of the moderators here might know better. Good Luck

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I think there is a good chance the Board will consider that for the last 17 years you have been out of trouble. Patterns of bad judgment would be another story.

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Maybe I should just call the State Board of Nursing to insure that I am morally and legally correct. I don't want any question of my intergridy at this point.

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Can't really offer legal advice. The mods have a stock response to this type of question that essentially says that legal issues need to be addressed to the state BON. Your state BON can best answer this kind of question.

I think your desire to be honest and upfront about your past with the BON is the best approach.

Honesty is the best policy as it reflects a core nursing value of integrity.

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Yes, you need to call the BON. You will have to write a letter about the incident etc. It does not matter if was 17 years ago. A DUI is very serious in the eyes of the BON, but it will not prevent you from obtaining a nursing license. Whenever a person is arrested and finger-printed it goes on file with the FBI. So even if you get an expungement (if an expungement is possible in the county you were arrested, it does not vary state to state but by county) you will still have to disclose this every time you apply at a hospital etc. that does background checks. NEVER lie. Call the county this happened in to see if it is an offense that is eligible foe expungement and call the BON. I had to help a friend with the same situation a few months ago and learned more than I ever thought possible about the legal profession from this. Good luck and get busy with those important phone calls. Don't wait until the last minute:wink2:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As HM2Viking stated, we do have a stock answer that we can't provide legal advice. Contact your BON and good luck.

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