Michigan OWVI prior to nursing school

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2013

I can't answer you questions but I want you to be aware that responses will not show immediately as this is a moderated forum. I will send positive vibes and prayers that this all works out.

I can say...I am sure you aren't the first nor will you be the last...Good Luck!

shesrunning · Jul 16, 2013

I was in pretty much the same situation, I had an OWI (operating while impaired-alcohol) in 2009 when I was 18 in Michigan. I went through probation, alcohol education meetings, community service, ect.. I went through a CNA class shortly after, was accepted into a LPN program then continued to the RN program to completed my associates. I sat for both LPN and RN boards but had to submit a letter of explanation (background of situation, how much I changed, future career plans/dreams) to the Michigan BON with my application. Like you I was scared and always looking for someone else in my situation but you can do it. Good luck.

catman88 · Jul 16, 2013

Esme, thank you for the heads up and your kind words! I have been so down about the situation, the nursing instructor I spoke to at one college made me feel like the scum of the earth when I told her I had a misdemeanor. I do know it was a bad move and I deserved what I got. Praying this will all work out! Thank you again.

catman88 · Jul 19, 2013

I was in pretty much the same situation, I had an OWI (operating while impaired-alcohol) in 2009 when I was 18 in Michigan. I went through probation, alcohol education meetings, community service, ect.. I went through a CNA class shortly after, was accepted into a LPN program then continued to the RN program to completed my associates. I sat for both LPN and RN boards but had to submit a letter of explanation (background of situation, how much I changed, future career plans/dreams) to the Michigan BON with my application. Like you I was scared and always looking for someone else in my situation but you can do it. Good luck.

Wow, thank you! Our situations are almost identical. I'm so glad it went well for you. Have you had any trouble finding employment with having an OWI? I saw a few CNA programs around my area (Detroit) that wouldn't accept me because of the OWVI so I am apprehensive about proceeding in nursing at all, but your post makes me feel better. Thanks again!

shesrunning · Jul 19, 2013

I've always been honest and listed my OWI conviction on applications and own up to my mistakes. I have not had issues finding employment. I worked as an CNA for a state LTC facility, during the interview it did come up but she was understanding that nobody's perfect and sometimes you have to be young and dumb so that you can be old and wise. I've worked at 2 different hospitals, neither brought it up in interviews.

catman88 · Jul 21, 2013

I've always been honest and listed my OWI conviction on applications and own up to my mistakes. I have not had issues finding employment. I worked as an CNA for a state LTC facility, during the interview it did come up but she was understanding that nobody's perfect and sometimes you have to be young and dumb so that you can be old and wise. I've worked at 2 different hospitals, neither brought it up in interviews.

Thank you so much for taking time to respond. I am applying in January and I feel so much better about the whole process :) also hoping to become a cna (again..I was one 7 years ago and have been out of the field since) this fall. Congrats!

mlbluvr · Jul 21, 2013

Unfortunately, not only were you arrested for impairment- but you were also under age. That is an added sentence, in most states. If I were you, I'd seriously look around at the chances of your finding a nursing job in the future, based on your past history. You owe it you yourself to face the reality of graduating, and then getting a license, and then competing with 100's or 1000's of nurses that do not have the baggage of a criminal conviction.

ArtistaLVN · Jul 21, 2013

Catman88,

although I am not in Michigan I did recently graduate an LVN program sat for boards, passed,had to explain my background and RECEIVED my license. I choose LVN because like you I went to an RN program and was looked down upon. After being approved for clinicals at a prominent county hospital and graduating my program at the top of my class I revisited that same RN advisor. Funny how welcoming she has been since. I've received several invitations to overviews of the program. Contrary the post before mine, while looking for employment I found that employers value your honest and are more willing to hire you as long as you have strong character references. So make sure to keep in contact with those that you encounter during school. One mistake in your youth wont hold you from your lifelong goal unless you allow it to, you've learned from it, your are not defined by it but by what you learned from it and what you have done since and who you are now. Don't take no for an answer, if you hear it, move on to the next program/employer the one that accepts you is the one that was meant for you!

P.S. My fellow students didn't have a background they too have been told no and I was hired before them. Personality plays a big part

mlbluvr · Jul 22, 2013

I have an idea for people that are wondering is their BON will give them a license with a record- check the discipilinary action section of your BON web site to get a feel for how they treat your particular conviction. For example, if even every misdemeanor DUI ends up with a license revocation, you'll have an idea that if you have a DUI, you may want to rethink nursing school. Of course they'll tell you they have to review your case individually, but you'll be able to gauge the odds by reading the disciplinary actions. And trust me- there will be either 100's of them listed, or 1000's- you might be in for a shock!BTW- some stats, if you think you're alone with your 'sordid past', you're not:The DOJ claims that almost 1 in 3 Americans is arrested by age 23. Also, about 1 in 4 Americans has a criminal record. With 15- 20 million arrests every year? Soon that might be 1 in 2? Who knows.

catman88 · Jul 22, 2013

Catman88,
although I am not in Michigan I did recently graduate an LVN program sat for boards, passed,had to explain my background and RECEIVED my license. I choose LVN because like you I went to an RN program and was looked down upon. After being approved for clinicals at a prominent county hospital and graduating my program at the top of my class I revisited that same RN advisor. Funny how welcoming she has been since. I've received several invitations to overviews of the program. Contrary the post before mine, while looking for employment I found that employers value your honest and are more willing to hire you as long as you have strong character references. So make sure to keep in contact with those that you encounter during school. One mistake in your youth wont hold you from your lifelong goal unless you allow it to, you've learned from it, your are not defined by it but by what you learned from it and what you have done since and who you are now. Don't take no for an answer, if you hear it, move on to the next program/employer the one that accepts you is the one that was meant for you!
P.S. My fellow students didn't have a background they too have been told no and I was hired before them. Personality plays a big part

Congratulations!! Thank you for your response. I am hoping and praying I have the same outcome. I am very blessed to have a good job now so if I am not able to get a nursing job right away I at least have a career that I enjoy to fall back on, but hopefully I will not have an issue. I am willing to do probation, meetings, drug tests, anything they want me to do, I will do it with no hesitation. I agree personality plays a big role. My husband and I have both had substance abuse issues in our past and I believe it has made us both stronger and essentially helped us to become the people we are now. Thank you again!

catman88 · Jul 22, 2013

I have an idea for people that are wondering is their BON will give them a license with a record- check the discipilinary action section of your BON web site to get a feel for how they treat your particular conviction. For example, if even every misdemeanor DUI ends up with a license revocation, you'll have an idea that if you have a DUI, you may want to rethink nursing school. Of course they'll tell you they have to review your case individually, but you'll be able to gauge the odds by reading the disciplinary actions. And trust me- there will be either 100's of them listed, or 1000's- you might be in for a shock!BTW- some stats, if you think you're alone with your 'sordid past', you're not:The DOJ claims that almost 1 in 3 Americans is arrested by age 23. Also, about 1 in 4 Americans has a criminal record. With 15- 20 million arrests every year? Soon that might be 1 in 2? Who knows.

Thank you for your replies! I wish I could get a more accurate answer from the BON. Those statistics are just sad, but I believe it. I will definitely check into the disciplinary action section of my BON -- I hadn't thought of that. I was hoping that my age at the time of conviction would have been a GOOD thing, I was hoping maybe they would see it was a silly, childish mistake I made when I had no aspirations of nursing, or anything else, really. We shall see!