Nurses Please Advise

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Hello,

I am a 36 year old who was recently charged with felony welfare fraud. I want to become a nurse, but I cannot seem to get answers from the BON in my state or the Dean of the nursing school I was trying to attend. She told me I can take the classes, but I may havea problem with clinicals. She could not tell me for certain if I will or will not be able to participate. I spoke to nurse recuiters at different hospitals and they stated they will hire nurses with felonies on their record if it did not have anything to do with patient care or drugs. What I want to know from you all are should I pursue my BS in Science then do the second degree option for nursing when I can the felony expunged or try to take nurses now? Thank you.

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

This post is probably going to get moved to a Nurse with Criminal History forum.

You need to try to contact your BON. Someone has to be able to give you that answer.

Curious about something though...how are you getting your felony expunged?

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Specializes in Oncology/Chemo.

At the start of the nursing program at the university I went to, they had everyone do a background check to see whether or not you would be able to sit for state boards. This prevented people from going through the program and after the time was put in finding out that they couldn't take state boards.

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I think it is wise to make sure you will be able to take the boards before wasting time going through a nursing porgram and cannot get a license.

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This post is probably going to get moved to a Nurse with Criminal History forum.

You need to try to contact your BON. Someone has to be able to give you that answer.

Curious about something though...how are you getting your felony expunged?

I only have one charge and after 4 more years I can have it expunged according to the judge who sentenced me.

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Thank you for feedback. I will continue pursuing my BS in Science and by the time I am finished I will be cleard for pursing my nursing career. I don't care how long it takes as long as I get there.

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.
I only have one charge and after 4 more years I can have it expunged according to the judge who sentenced me.

Really??? Man. I wish I had YOUR judge :D My charge is sticking with me like a bad tattoo!

Good luck in your pursuit! Kick butt! :)

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Here in NY, licensees are researched and flagged through the state Dept. of Health. Per them, they are mainly concerned with what they call "crimes of moral turpitude". Included are Endangering the Welfare of Child (any taking advantage of elderly or incapacitated persons), Theft charges (such as Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny, etc). Call the state department of health in your state and check with them.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Be careful with that promise of "expunged." I know a nurse who was almost denied due to an expunged record that the BoN managed to get ahold of.

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

Someone with the BON has to have the anwser, you may just have to dig, sometimes they are just vague, like any other person(s) 'in charge'. lol. YOU HAVE to find out, or why waste you time and money on something that you would have to give up and count as a waste anyhow. not that nursing is ever a waste, but it would be a huge waste of assets in the economy like this.

-H-RN

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You say you were " charged " with felony welfare fraud. Well, what was the final disposition of your case? How did you plea to the charge? You need to know thses things and obtain all court records, as well as a detailed explanation and proof that the arrest and or conviction has been resolved. Good luck to you.

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