Iowa nursing license with dismissed petty theft charge

[Breenursingstudent]

I am embarrassed to even share this but I got a petty theft charge when I was 18, (7 years ago). I am now in nursing school. My case was deferred in Colorado and eventually dismissed after I took a class. I later went and sealed the case to where it doesn’t even show up as dismissed on a normal back ground check.

I know that BON will see sealed records but my question is will a dismissed charge matter at all on their background check. And if it does will it stop me from being licensed or make finding a job hard? 
I have some friends who are nurses who got their licenses with drug histories or two duis and they assure me I’ll be fine but I’m still really nervous. Does anyone have some insight on this??

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moved to licensure with criminal history forum for best responses

[socal212, CNA]

A petty theft charge from seven years ago isn't as embarrassing as the one I got only two years ago.  I'm going through the same thing to have mine dismissed, which it should be by June.  I am a CNA and I broke the code of conduct by not reporting the original citation to the BON.  I had to disclose when I applied for my license renewal last year.  So far all I've gotten is a letter of investigation and haven't heard a word since.  I'm definitely expecting some kind of discipline on my license but I don't know how that will effect my RN license in the future.  I don't really have any solid advice for you other than I understand how you feel.  What I do think will happen is you'll disclose to the BON and they'll do their dumb investigation, but I really don't think it will effect you getting licensed.  It just might take more time. IMO drug charges and DUIs are worse but theft is a "crime of moral turpitude" which sucks.  But at least you didn't get charged while you have a license like I stupidly did.