2 misdemeanors granted to take RN license in CA

[rt88]

I'm sharing this story because i know there's others out there that could use a positive success story, just like how I once did, to remain hopeful and inspired. This has always been a resourceful website for nursing information. I have used this website before I signed up for nursing school, during and after graduation to gather information. I have always scrolled through these forums but have never posted. Now it's finally my turn to give back with this first post. My story starts I was 18, young and dumb, I was caught shoplifting not only once, but TWICE and charged with 2 cases of Petty theft in California (didn't learn my lesson the first time.) It was a rough time in my life, I realized the direction I was headed was not road I wanted to take and not the life I have planned for myself. It was a huge wake up call. I requested an expungement for both cases for closure, I began to set goals, and started a new me. I took a leap of faith into Nursing school at the age of 22 with big doubts that I would never be granted into clinicals or take my RN licensure exam. I used this site numerous times to hear others tales of nursing with a criminal history. Some were successful but that wasn't always the case. I was very timid, and endured a lot of stress throughout my education. When the background check came around about a 1/3 way in the program, I had a meeting with the Dean of Nursing and she was totally against me. She was not helpful and was wondering what I was doing at her school or in this profession. It made me feel awful and I decided to call in and drop out. I spoke with some dear friends of mine and they encouraged me to stay. With much thought, I called the school the following day and basically told them "never-mind." Sort of a ridiculous yet hilarious moment now that I look back. I believe with my expungement, my records did not appear in the background check, therefor I was permitted into the hospitals for clinical rotations to continue my education, thus finally receiving my Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the age of 25 in 2013. Although, I graduated, I still did not feel accomplished what so ever. I didn't even go to my own graduation. There's nothing more shameful that have a nursing degree and not being able to practice nursing! I was still doubtful and that the BON would deny me to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. In my mind, I accepted that I could be turned down so there would have been no surprises. I turned in my application with case records, honest and specific disclosures to details pertaining to my arrests, personality letters from friends, and I waited. If I were to be denied, I wouldn't of had a plan B. I invested so much time and money already. I was extremely nervous. 5 months later, I received a vague letter that started off bad discussing the high standards and ethical values in Nursing profession in which I may lack (or once did) which surprisingly turned around and concluded with them giving me a shot to practice Nursing in CA. During the time I waited for my application, I was also fortunate enough to receive a position with my local high school district working as an instructional aide with severely handicapped students. I was upfront in the application and interviews. Did a livescan and then they accepted me. My advice to anybody out there is to accept your mistakes, be honest about it, show that you have grown from it, and how you are striving for a better future for yourself. I have taken many baby steps to get here and I'm truly grateful society is forgiving and has given me a 2nd chance in life. I admit I wasn't the perfect teenager growing up, I was far from it. I grew up, developed strong morals, matured and changed. If you're upfront about yourself, people will sense it and acknowledge it. My RN exam is scheduled 2 months from now (super delayed, better late that never) and I'm scrambling to study! My next big step is finding a nursing career that would accept me for my past, but I remain hopeful after all the experiences I have witnessed. Then I could finally feel accomplished! If you're reading on here, don't underestimate yourself, don't hesitate to try, and remember to just keep your head up. I have made it this far and believe in myself that I could go all the way. I could do it, so could any of you!