ICU Nurse Manager: Question please

[hopefullICUnurse77]

Hi there,

I am graduating from school in may. In my area, the hospitals are quite saturated with quite a few nursing schools in my area.

Of course everyone wants to work in the ICU.

I have a criminal history i was on felony deferred adjudication (no conviction).

Here is my pickle. My cohort will begin in june, meaning applications are due about now. I am in the process of getting my criminal history sealed, so that I can legally deny my criminal history.

Beyond questions about whether or not i should be allowed to do this, can you answer this question:

Should i wait to apply for a job in the ICU until after I complete the sealing of my court record, or should i apply immediately and hope that nursing managers will grant me a second chance?

I am an EMT-B with ACLS and PALS certifications, I also have a 3.4 gpa in nursing school and a bachelor's in psychology. There may be the random student from this cohort who has taken ACLS, I don't think that any of my classmates have gone quite as far as i have to get extra certifications during nursing school.

Sorry if this query is disorganized and I have no problems posting more information.

As a nursing manager would you automatically push my application to the bottom for a criminal history dating back 13 years ago, when i was 18?

eagerly awaiting discussion on this topic.

thanks

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

in most hospitals today, hr screens all applicants and might not even forward to a manager those that have positive criminal hx checked off due to perceived organizational risk. sometimes leaving question unanswered is better choice to at least make it to manager, then needs to be discussed when manager brings up.

checking off no (as you are aware) will land you ineligible for hire as submitted fraudulent application when background query check comes back positive.

getting records sealed takes time for databases to be updated, cross referenced so background check might come up positive for a few months afterward. one should start this process prior to entering nursing program as many facilities doing background checks on my area and refusing students clinical placement. in philadelphia area.

please be aware that even if you get sealed records for employment, bon application needs to be answered yes to criminal conviction. get all your documentation records together, character refrences, personal statement how improved your life, etc. to submit.

see: legal effect of an expungement

good luck in moving forward.

[cpillow]

Oh my, you should definitely wait! It would definitely prejudice me, whether you were convicted or not, to hear that you had been accused of a felony. Sorry.

[Tessaprn]

I think your first problem is the nursing board letting you take the NCLEX. If you response on the application where you request to take the boards that you have criminal problems they can deny you to take boards. If you can get through that part then on the application for employment you are asked about criminal history so Nurse Manager will already know your history. Good luck.