Legal Dilemma! Scared! LONG

Hi...first let me say that I am in my early 40's, married for 20plus years, with 2 kids. When I was 18, I was arrested on a shoplifting charge, went to court, and given community service. Truthfully it was so long ago that I don't remember a lot of the details...I don't even know if I ever finished the community service. I do know that my record was supposed to be expunged upon completion though. My problem is that I AM NOT that person...it was a stupid prank while hanging out with some kids who I got away from real fast and it scared the living heck out of me! Now, I have to apply for my application to test for the NCLEX (I graduate in May). Going to nursing school has been a dream of mine for years and I have been an excellent student and won all kinds of community scholarships and awards. Now I have to send in for a state and federal background check. The forms I am sending out asks me if I have ever had a felony or a misdemeanor...I don't know what to do. I feel like my whole future is draining away. What do you think I should do? I feel like I am setting a great example for my kids and it would kill me to dissapoint them and myself because nursing means so much to me. Do you think it will show up in the federal background check? (we have to send in fingerprints). I don't even think I was fingerprinted when this happened...just sent a summons I think. Please give me some advice...I can't think of anything else but this and it is literally making me sick. Thanks in advance.

I was caught shoplifting when I was 12. I applied to volunteer at a hospital and they said as long as you disclose what they will find and it has been a while it is ok.

We are not allowed to give legal advice per TOS. You can find a nurse attorney at http://www.taana.org, who could most likely give you good advice about what to do.

Not giving legal advice but check your schools policy, ours lays them out pretty well with time frames and what doesn't have a time frame and so on, what will expel you etc. etc. It might be covered in that. I hope it all works out.

Thanks Calliotter...I guess I am not looking for legal advice...I just don't know what to do.

I can see your dilemma. The people at your school should help you with this. After all, they are supposed to be interested in seeing you become licensed.

Actually, I have a lot of respect from the Instructors at my school. I don't want to ruin this. I feel horrible, but that time in my life is over. It was ONE time. I don't want to lose the respect of my instructors. There has to be someone who has had a similar situation? Anyone? How did you handle it and what did you do? How did things turn out?

I highly doubt you would loose the respect of your instructors for something you did 20+ years ago when you were a teen. I am willing to bet they were teens once and made stupid mistakes. I would need a couple of pages to share all the stupid things I did in my younger years. Thankfully I didn't get caught legally, but dumb none the less and I sometimes sit in amazement that I came out alive. It's a part of being human, you haven't been in trouble since. You didn't kill someone or handicap someone, you didn't assault someone, or kidnap someone, weren't slinging dope and getting kids high. Sure maybe not everyone has shoplifted, but I would be willing to bet that 98% of the population have made some not so smart choices before in their life. I would say 100% but than you will always have those few that will say "Not me, I have never made a bad choice."

Me personally, I would go to them, be honest and upfront, don't try to make a lot of excuses, just say I did this stupid thing when I was a teen, I don't even know the effects of it, if it is on my record or not, how should I handle this and how will it effect me?

Each case is determined on an individual basis by the state board of nursing and I would say do not withhold anything as it may come back in the future and cause bigger problems. Be truthful and the BON will be fair back.

Don't put your instructors on such high pedestals. They are human too! :) I agree with talking to your instructors about this and asking what they suggest you do.

Good luck!

Sorry - but we can't answer your questions. Each state handles things differently. You need to discuss with your instructors and your local board of nursing.