Can I Become A Nurse With A Dismissed Arrest Record?

1. Anyone out there been able to obtain a license with a dismissed record?? I have an arrest that is 12 years ago. It is a DUI with a felony drug charge (cocaine). It was ultimately dismissed with no conviction. I have never been in any type of trouble since. I am so embarrassed. I was young and so naive. I had a boy in my car that had drugs on him. I would like opinions on whether I should continue in my pursuit of a nursing degree. I hate to spend years and money on a degree I will never use. Is there anyone in a similar situation? Would love to hear opinions. Also, I am in Georgia.
2. 

   About Anne929

   Joined: Dec '17; Posts: 2

   12 Comments

   Comment
3. 
   Dec 12, '17

   Without a conviction I'd be surprised if you were to be denied a nursing license. Since no one here can give you legal advice your best bet is to check with an attorney, your state BON, and the nursing school(s) you intend to apply to.
4. 
   Dec 12, '17

   I have. BON says it is a case by case basis. School says call BON. I have been accepted to school & start next month.
5. 
   Dec 12, '17

   Quote from Anne929

   I have. BON says it is a case by case basis. School says call BON. I have been accepted to school & start next month.

   You have your answer. Most Boards will state that they judge on a case by case basis. However, there are schools that refuse to take a student's money without a clear record first. The student must be able to pass the criteria to be given access to clinical sites in order to participate in the program.
6. 
   Dec 12, '17

   Yes you can. Likely will not be on a background check since it's been so long and dismissed.
7. 
   Dec 12, '17

   12 years is not long ago, it will show up, don't omit it in your application. Contract an attorney that specialize in BON issue and start building a case for righteous living.
8. 
   Dec 12, '17

   Moved to Nursing Licensure with Criminal History
9. 
   Dec 18, '17

   You will not be penalized for charges that were dismissed. You can only be penalized for crimes in which you were found or pled guilty. It may or may not still show up on a fingerprint check, which could be embarrassing and even annoying. But it won't stop you from reaching your goals.
10. 
    Dec 18, '17

    Merged two threads.
11. 
    Dec 18, '17

    Yesss you can still be a nurse you need to have ur record expunge do to you was not convicted of the crime Google how to expunge your record and it will give you the rules Georgia have for expunging your record best of luck to you you can still be a nurse
12. 
    Jan 9

    Anne929 did you ever get a response or an outcome? I am in the same position you are. Arrest for cocaine but the charges were dismissed and expunged from my record. If you could please let me know that would be great. Good luck.
13. 
    Jan 13

    Hello, Forgive me but I didn't recall reading what state you're in. I am in the state of Texas and graduated with a BSN. I disclosed all my legal incidents before I even went to school. At the time I was going to school I had an eight-year-old misdemeanor assault conviction from a silly fight in a parking lot. I also had nine-year-old DUI which I was convicted of. Lastly I had a 12-year-old charge for possession of Adderall which was dismissed. Even though it was dismissed, I disclosed it because they would have found it anyway. After all this the board of nursing ordered me to complete TPAPN. Obviously a new graduate trying to find a job with while in TPAPN, is devastating. So I hired an attorney who specializes in cases against the nursing board. It took a lot of time and about $3000 in lawyer fees but they dismissed the order and lowered it to two years of random drug and alcohol testing and some classes on substance abuse. It required me to call in every morning of every day to an automated phone line which would tell me if I had to go take a drug test or not. From what I researched I would have to go at least once a week. Obviously no Alcohol consumption was part of the agreement but also no alcohol related products not even hand sanitizer or deodorant with alcohol in it. They don't do the run-of-the-mill urinary analysis, they do a Different sort of testing that actually tests for liver enzymes. This test has been denounced buy some professionals because it often comes up with false positives. So the answer is yes even though you have charges that have been dismissed they will still Take those into consideration.
14. 
    Apr 16

    What nursing school did you go to? i am trying to get accepted into nursing school with some convictions I have. Please let me know i would really appreiciate it!

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