Can I be denied clinical pl acement from an EXPUNGED RECORD

Nurses Criminal

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so I'm 21 years old.back in my senior year of high school I was hanging with the wrong crowd and caught a charge. Class H felony.i just had it expunged and this was my ONLY FIRST TIME OFFENSE..I'm trying to pursue nursing but I'm having to jump threes few hoops.herzing university of Brookfield is telling me I was accepted but they don't know if I can be clinically placed? Has anyone ever had these issues.i thought after expungement only those with court orders can reveal a sealed case? Will I be able to pursue nursing? Again schools will accept me but they don't kno if I'll be able to finish due to clinicals?

I'm not understanding.ive even worked in hospitals with the felony on my record..so are you saying I can work in these hospitals with a felony but I can't learn in them even with my record being expunged?

We're not saying you "can't learn in them" -- we're just saying that none of us, and no school, can guarantee that you can. That will be up to each individual facility. You might be fine, you might run into some trouble. It's up to you whether it's worth the effort and expense to try (start school) and see how things work out. Best wishes!

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
@Been there done that I don't think my problem is licensure I'm trying to figure out is or has there ever been a nurse that had felony records expunged and were still able to pursue

There very likely has been. Does that mean you will have the same outcome? That is not something we can know.

And working in healthcare as a CNA or tech is not the same level of responsibility and access to drugs etc as an RN or LPN has.

I understand your angst over this but we simply cannot answer your question. Here's a thought, the state of Texas pre-approves applicants in nursing school for NCLEX. If they pass that hurdle before clinicals they are golden assuming they keep their record clean. Is relocating something you could do? (TX is the only state that does this to my knowledge)

I'm also very curious how misappropriating and ID could rise to the level of a felony?

so I'm 21 years old.back in my senior year of high school I was hanging with the wrong crowd and caught a charge. Class H felony.i just had it expunged and this was my ONLY FIRST TIME OFFENSE..I'm trying to pursue nursing but I'm having to jump threes few hoops.herzing university of Brookfield is telling me I was accepted but they don't know if I can be clinically placed? Has anyone ever had these issues.i thought after expungement only those with court orders can reveal a sealed case? Will I be able to pursue nursing? Again schools will accept me but they don't kno if I'll be able to finish due to clinicals?

I read your other thread and in both that one and in this one you state that you "caught a charge." I would be careful about using that kind of terminology, as it makes it sound as if you believe this is something that happened to you rather than something you made a choice to DO. You may not have that attitude, but if this subject ever comes up, do be sure and verbalize the fact that you own your behavior and have, as you mentioned, learned from it and intend to continue to live and work in an honest and ethical manner.

But even when I first was sentenced I've worked in the healthcare field..I've obtained my nurse aid certificate and also I became a certified dialysis tech

Nursing is held to a much higher standard. You have access to drugs, your responsibility to a vulnerable population is much greater, and you carry much more liability as a result.

If your record has been expunged, I think your chances of being accepted by a clinical site is pretty high as long as you do not re-offend (and it sounds as if you have truly turned that corner).

Good luck. I wish you lucky, congratulate you on bettering your life, and I hope you update us with what you learn.

@Been there done that I don't think my problem is licensure I'm trying to figure out is or has there ever been a nurse that had felony records expunged and were still able to pursue

There have been people on this forum who have been cleared for clinical placement, finished their education, only to be told by their board of nursing that they will not receive permission to sit for NCLEX. These folks end up with a nursing degree but no way to become licensed, so her comment was relevant.

That is why people are encouraging you to check with your BON, because you have two issues here: permission to participate in clinicals, and permission to take NCLEX. Both of these are critical.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Regarding your question as to whether clinical facilities will allow you to complete nursing school clinicals at their hospital ...

I am involved in that issue at my hospital, where I am the liaison between the hospital and the various schools that use our facility. Will your previous offense show up on a criminal background check? If not, that is to your benefit. But you will need to ask an attorney as to the legal issues involved in answering any questions such as "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"

My hospitals require that all students submit a criminal background check. If it comes back clean, no further questions are asked. If there is something on the record, the student is required to submit a detailed explanation of the crime and copies of relevant court documents. That information is reviewed and a decision is made as to whether or not that student poses any risk to our facility. If not, the student is allowed to come. If there is a risk, then the student will not be allowed to come. On rare occasions, the student has been allowed to come if (and only if) the faculty promised to provide extra supervision of the student.

Some students in situations similar to yours submit their legal records to us before they enter a local school so that they will know up front whether or not we will allow them to come as students. They don't want to waste their time and/or money on going to school if they will not be allowed to go to clinicals. We think they are wise to do that and cooperate -- giving them our decision so that they can use that information in their decision as to whether or not to go to nursing school. You might want to consider that option -- especially if your previous conviction will not be hidden from them when the time comes for you to do your clinicals.

Specializes in Dialysis.

In Indiana, I knew of a lady who had a felony (not sure for what or what class/level), and had all of the incident expunged, no other charges. She finished nursing school and sent her info to take her boards; upon criminal check she was denied ability to sit for boards. She said that they told her expunged or not, they see everything. She spent all the time and money and had a degree, but no ability to work as a nurse. Check with your BoN, they can give the best answer

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Here's a helpful post on How to Write a Letter to the BON when you have a criminal record.

Expungement is not a protection when it comes to nursing. The BON performs FBI level background checks, unlike most employers. Everything shows up, including expungements.

Every case is considered on an individual basis when you have a criminal record. They look at several factors, including remorse and rehabilitation.

Best wishes

Specializes in med surg.

I guess it depends on what state you are in. Here in Cali, a expunged conviction can't be used against you on a background check unless you are applying for a state license, law enforcement or a government held office. So here, your expunged record would not come up on your check and you would still be able to do your clinical. Now when you go to get your license you will still have to disclose everything but having the charges expunged helps with their decision. Best of luck to you

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