License with a Background

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Hi all! Like many of you, I constantly stalked this site just looking for any success stories that gave me any hope for my situation, so I thought I would share my story to maybe someone else that might be suffering with anxiety thru the licensure process!

I graduated nursing school a couple of months ago. I have a DUI with an accident that happened about 6 years ago. I’m in NJ, so the DUI itself is a traffic offense (still serious, still required to report, and can still hinder licensure) and the accident, because I hit another vehicle and the other driver had a minor laceration, was charged as assault by auto which is a felony. I completed PTI and the felony was dismissed but still shows up on my record. The DUI, I had a 7 month license suspension and paid fines and surcharges and was mandated to a two day IDRC class.

I want to start of by saying, I regret my poor choice every single day, but nurses, like everyone else, are human and make mistakes. I submit all my documents in reference to the incident with my application. My application was reviewed by the board. One month after I passed the NCLEX, my unrestricted license was posted! Don’t give up hope and keep pushing! If you’ve made mistakes in the past, learn from them ! 
 

I hope this helps someone because I was an anxious wreck for 30 days and other people’s success stories are really what helped me!

best wishes to everyone!

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So happy for you! I'm glad my story helped you and I am glad your story can give people hope and help others as well. Best of luck in your new career and welcome to the wonderful world of nursing!

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Hi! I'm in the waiting game for my license. My job let me start work as a nurse resident. So I can't do much yet. My manager asks me every day. I took my NCLEX Jan 5th. im a nervous wreck. Was your case heard at on of their meetings or was it random. I'm not getting much information. I was told to wait 15days from when I escalated my case 

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I was not brought to board review they just gave me my license took my NCLEX in July got my license in August 

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OK. I haven't heard if I was being bought to the board. All they told me was I was in legal review. I don't get why it takes so long. I had everything in for months now but hopefully I get it soon 

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Hi! So if you're in NJ, the board holds disciplinary meetings once per month, usually the first Friday of the month to go over any apps that have been sent to legal review as well as new sanctions against current nurses. From my own personal experience and from other nurses that I know and talked to when I was under legal review, as long as you submit all the docs and a good explanation letter they will post your license that same day if they have no objections to granting it. If they have other requirements you'll more than likely receive it in writing. I would give it until the first week of February (probably the first Friday) and just check the website to see if your license was posted ! Mine was posted that morning around 10AM! Good luck and blessings to you!

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Same as Jules the entire process for me was about a month. I took my NCLEX 2/4 my license posted 3/4!

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Thank you. I tried to get a police report but because I wasn't the victim they wouldn't give it to me. Is there anything else I should give? I have them the document I received when I was arrested but because everything was virtual during COVID I didn't receive any other papers from them. I did submit a paper saying it was disposed of which came from the court and a statement. That's really all I have. And then anytime the hearings were moved I sent them that info. 

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I think as long as you submit all the documents you had from the courts and then your own explanation letter explaining the situation and how you learned from it etc I think that would suffice

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OK thank you 

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I recently applied for my nursing license and now received a letter prohibiting me from practicing from a misdemeanor that was dismissed 16 years ago. I was told I would never have to worry since this was dropped. Well here I am with a job lined up to start in a few weeks and the state of IL told me I need to send court documents and a letter in my words of what happened to have my application reprocessed. They told me it will take 12 weeks! Anyone have this happen and it take less time? I am so afraid I will lose my dream job over something that was dismissed! 

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nursewannab8 said:

I think as long as you submit all the documents you had from the courts and then your own explanation letter explaining the situation and how you learned from it etc I think that would suffice

Did the section on criminal background review update the same day? I'm still waiting ☹️ haven't seen anything change as of yet. And I just called the call center. No updates

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