Nursing Schools that accept felony history

Sour Lemon · Nov 2, 2016

Does anyone have any knowledge of nursing schools that accept a student with a past felony history because they have clinical sites that will allow that student access?

That's a broad question. Some things to consider:

The world is a big place. Even the USA is huge. What area(s) are you interested in living/going to school?

What IS the actual felony?

How long ago did it occur?

If you are accepted to school and graduate, will you actually be able to get licensed?

If you're able to get licensed, will employers be willing to hire you?

Don't focus on school, alone. It's the first step in a way ...but there are people who spend the time and money on school only to find out that they can't actually work as nurses- ever.

PattersonS · Nov 2, 2016

Georgia and it was 25 years ago

lavenderskies, BSN · Nov 2, 2016

I would contact your state Board of Nursing and ask them if it would prevent you from qualifying for licensure. If so there's no point. You will have to pass background checks for clinicals and for hire so if it shows up on a BG check the BON will find out about it eventually.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 2, 2016

Moved to licensure with criminal history forum.

Much will depend on the crime. Some crimes are a "no go" but in IL recently they passed a law where a convicted felon can obtain a nursing license.

Best wishes - check with the board of nursing prior to trying to get into school.

elkpark · Nov 2, 2016

I would contact your state Board of Nursing and ask them if it would prevent you from qualifying for licensure. If so there's no point. You will have to pass background checks for clinicals and for hire so if it shows up on a BG check the BON will find out about it eventually.

I agree with the recommendation to check with the Board before pursuing school. I taught in the past at a school that required background checks for all applicants (because the clinical sites required it), but would happily accept students with a criminal background and take their tuition money for four years knowing there was something in the student's background that made it unlikely s/he would be able to get licensed. When I asked didn't we have a responsibility to discuss that with the student before allowing them to go all the way through school, wouldn't it be at least fair to make the student aware this would likely be an issue, I was told that was a private matter between the student and the BON, the school's responsibility was education, not licensure.

PattersonS · Nov 2, 2016

I've checked with the bon and yes it can be granted after review of all requested documentation. I just need some information on schools that have clinical sites that will grant me to access to train in their facility in Georgia. If there aren't any ...then it's pointless.I've read the other thread and I didn't notice where anyone actually mentioned the name of a school. That is the info I need at this point. Thanks for all your replies.

PattersonS · Nov 2, 2016

Thank your for your response. Thats good to know.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 8, 2016

I would contact your state Board of Nursing and ask them if it would prevent you from qualifying for licensure. If so there's no point. You will have to pass background checks for clinicals and for hire so if it shows up on a BG check the BON will find out about it eventually.

This. It's entirely pointless to go to nursing school and waste time/money/your sanity, just for the BON to say, "sorry, but no license for you." BONs do handle applicants with criminal history on a case-by-case basis, but there may be some felonies that are strict "no go" as far as they are concerned.

I don't know if expungement or a pardon is an option for you. It may be worth checking into.

ETA: just saw that you already did that. Good.

Also consider the fact that in addition to finding schools that will be OK with your record, you will have to find clinical sites that will accept you and your history. Clinical sites have the right to accept/reject you independently of what the nursing school thinks.

Josie, RN/LCSW · Nov 9, 2016

Many boards won't provide you with information but will make an ambiguous statement about "each case being judged on its own merit" or some such nonsense. California is notorious for that sort of thing.

elkpark · Nov 9, 2016

Many boards won't provide you with information but will make an ambiguous statement about "each case being judged on its own merit" or some such nonsense. California is notorious for that sort of thing.

That's because the BONs do look at each case "on its own merit" and it's not worth their time and effort to do a full review of a situation on a hypothetical, preliminary basis.

arlo · Aug 10, 2018

There are people with past felonies who make it through the state board and work as CNA's and as nurses. The question is what school did they attend?