Has ANYONE been hired with priors?

HoustonTXRN · Jul 13, 2010

kayteRN: I'm in the same boat as you. I just got a call from a hospital this afternoon after a great interview and was denied the position because of my record. Keep me updated with your journey. Seems like we're all in this together. what are you doing in the meantime? Are you working anywhere?

McBunny · Aug 29, 2011

Did any of you expunge your record before applying for jobs? I expunged my record and I put no on the conviction part of the application.

KayteRN · Aug 29, 2011

I was hired at a county psych hospital, which is sucky in the area. Worked there for almost a year and JUST got hired at a very great hospital in my area on another psych unit.*

I have these on my record: possession/paraphernalia, marijuana (2001) DUI (2005) and minor retail theft (2008) I was always honest on my application. The hr lady was very nice to me when they offered me the job but do the check after the offer. She said I had already been working and had great letters of recommendation and none was involved in patient cAre. (I.e. She told me they once had to retract an offer for a guy who had battery on his record - he hit his wife...as he would be involved in direct pt care...)*

I graduated in may 2009 but didn't get hired til sept 2010! Hang in there. It tool me a long time to move into a nice place. You can't be very picky. It's been a struggle. I have had probably 12 interviews at different hospitals, many great interviews and not been hired. And finally I was at a fantastic community hospital. I start orientation sept 12. *I did a lot. I applied feverishly. I volunteered at an STD clinic while serving tables looking for a job, I also had a nurse mentor I kept in toch with who provided me with and still supports me. She was my roughest clinical instructor and I ended up passing her class and kept in touch with her. She provided me with a great letter of recommendation when I had no experience. Make connections with other nurses. Accept leadership. And keep your head up. It's just the economy. No other time would this happen to you with a record that still allows you to work. If you can get your license, someone will hire you. It may just take you longer than your peers. I know it did for me.

Sent from my iPhone

lovetolovehim · Nov 14, 2011

Hello,

can someone help me?

I want to becoame a nurse and i'm currently taking classes. I was wondering do I have a chance getting my RN with a prior conviction that happen 10 years ago. I was arrested for assult and battery which was amended to a misdemeanor charge of obstrucing an officer. to make a long story short I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. since then my record has been clean. I'm not a trouble maker and pickup and choose my friends. iIwant to know is there any chance of me becoming a nurse. I would hate to waste my time and get denied.

xoxobebe04 · Jan 11, 2012

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!!!!!!! I am starting my nursing career and am got a DUI in August 2011. I am doing everything I must and am working with a lawyer. I plan to start the CNA program this summer (2012) and end as RN. by (2015) by then IF I am convicted some time would have passed in hopes that helps me. But im staying OPTIMISTIC!!!! Dealing with all obstacles that are thrown at me. Because with time, it will help us move on with our lives. There's something out there for everyone who is looking. Its just a matter of doing your work.

dj76 · Jan 24, 2012

I'll be honest, I had thought about going back to school for nursing, but found out since I already have a master's degree that I would have to pay out of pocket to go back to school for nursing, with no financial aid to help. But I already had an account here and am still having trouble, too.

I have been out of school for five years, and cannot find employment ANYWHERE. Here's the kicker- I was falsely accused over 15 years ago, and it was nolle prossed. I pretty much got in trouble because I pushed two teenagers off of me that trapped me into a corner and were attacking me, punching, kicking, just beating the total crap out of me. I was just over 18 and they were just under. I never hit them...simply pushed them off me and ran away from them and hid. Needless to say, I was completely scared of them. I was always a good kid, good student, and even now don't have as much as a driving violation. But I cannot find employment.

Those two teenagers, they had always been bad apples and one still is. Yet, they have no record, because one straightened out after a juvenile arrest and the other one is very good at getting away with things. I have a lot of education behind me and am now finding that other jobs will not consider me and the ones I am qualified for, practically hire me but then they don't...all because I have a simple assault on my record as nolle prosse (this means slate wiped clean-in legal terms) but it has certainly not been the case for me. It simply is not fair. I just learned how to get it expunged-I was always told by my police officer friends (once upon a time before this happened, I had planned on being one, myself) that it would NOT hinder my chances of employment, since all charges were dropped (the teens kept coming up with more exciting versions of their story and their case fell completely apart), but obviously it is still hindering my employment prospects. So, I am getting it expunged but it's going to cost me about $100 and about 2 months and obviously no employment in the mean time to pay for this. All this because two of my own siblings did not like me. Unbelievable.

For those that have posted earlier and actually were convicted, how have things been recently for you? I can't believe I am STILL haunted by this when I truly never did anything wrong.

FLmomof5 · Jan 25, 2012

How do you know it is the background check that is the issue? "nolle prosse" is a latin phrase for NOT PROSECUTED. You were "arrested" and the case was dropped. You do NOT have a conviction.

Soooo, I am thinking it is something else. In most states, the BON might see the arrest and ask about it....most wouldn't care. Employers ask about convictions. They don't see one arrest for simple battery that went no where.

All, IMHO.

dj76 · Jan 25, 2012

How do you know it is the background check that is the issue? "nolle prosse" is a latin phrase for NOT PROSECUTED. You were "arrested" and the case was dropped. You do NOT have a conviction.
Soooo, I am thinking it is something else. In most states, the BON might see the arrest and ask about it....most wouldn't care. Employers ask about convictions. They don't see one arrest for simple battery that went no where.
All, IMHO.

I understand that, and I was under the assumption they all would, too. However, I've been told that I still have a record. A potential employer told me that as long as anything pops up under a name, it's still a criminal record. Their explanation was, that even though I was not convicted, I must have been doing something to get into trouble, and that would count as criminal behavior. Also, and I just recently found this out, after researching it, apparently the FBI does not always follow through on the outcomes, so while the docket clearly states "nolle prosse", an FBI background check will show the charges, and therefore an employer can assume whatever they want.

No, it should not be happening, but I am finding out, that it is in fact happening.

Recently, I was told I should expunge it, afterall, so that is what I am doing-the process for that state takes 2 months, plus a few more weeks for them to update the FBI. However, while expunged, it will never be completely removed for some background clearances, but will be for all standard checks.

So, at this point, I'm going through the process of expungement, just to make sure it's off the background checks all together.

Thank you for your response, though. Trust me, I thought the same way about it, until recently.

Lizzie Clayre · Aug 15, 2012

Many years ago, my partner and I were arrested for several marijuana charges. My case was nolled the following year. I applied to and recently graduated from nursing school. I have done background checks on myself which yield ABSOLUTELY nothing...(sigh) but if someone were to follow thru and look at my partner's record, his convictions are listed. No questions came up when I applied to school, took a job at a hospital, applied to take the boards and my nursing license. While I cannot locate an arrest record for myself, could it still be out there, and might an employer pass me over if they see my partner's record? My lawyer advised me that I do not have to ever mention the incident, and there was no conviction. I have had trouble finding work, and am so scared that this information has already prevented me from being hired. Any thoughts?

8PM%W · Aug 21, 2012

I understand that, and I was under the assumption they all would, too. However, I've been told that I still have a record. A potential employer told me that as long as anything pops up under a name, it's still a criminal record. Their explanation was, that even though I was not convicted, I must have been doing something to get into trouble, and that would count as criminal behavior. Also, and I just recently found this out, after researching it, apparently the FBI does not always follow through on the outcomes, so while the docket clearly states "nolle prosse", an FBI background check will show the charges, and therefore an employer can assume whatever they want.
No, it should not be happening, but I am finding out, that it is in fact happening.
Recently, I was told I should expunge it, afterall, so that is what I am doing-the process for that state takes 2 months, plus a few more weeks for them to update the FBI. However, while expunged, it will never be completely removed for some background clearances, but will be for all standard checks.
So, at this point, I'm going through the process of expungement, just to make sure it's off the background checks all together.
Thank you for your response, though. Trust me, I thought the same way about it, until recently.

Something is wrong with what you're saying. Hospitals dont use the same background check service the FBI uses. And I would never accept the answer of "I must have been doing something wrong". That's like saying I was at the bank in my grey mustang and another man in a grey mustang robbed it and escaped so when I get falsely accused It will be on my record forever even if I'm never prosecuted?

You can't have an arrest expunged. Either you're leaving something out or you're misinformed about what's on your record or BOTH. If you weren't convicted of anything there is nothing to have expunged.

Thumpernovember · Aug 22, 2012

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how long the hospital background checks go?

I currently volunteer at one and they do Background checks for us. I passed that, but that might be a whole different ball game since I am simply a volunteer.