Nursing Student with a criminal past... need honest advice.

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I've read a few things on different forums about those of us who are trying to become a nurse despite having a few bad marks on our records. Most of what I see is encouraging, but I am troubled deeply by what is going on in my life right now. I don't like admitting this, but I have two DUI's on my record. They were 4 years apart, and I am currently on probation for the second one. To make matters worse, my probation officer is seeking to have my probation revoked on the basis that one of my drug tests came back diluted (which was completely unintentional, and I've submitted willingly to multiple other subsequent tests that were ALL negative - I don't do drugs and I've stopped drinking completely since this last run-in). I don't go to court for this petition to revoke until later this month, and I am TERRIFIED. I've worked so so hard on all my pre-requisites for my program, and have received all A's thus far. I have a 3.9 GPA, and I only have Microbiology left to complete before I can start the program this fall.

I already know I am going to have a load of explaining to do to a BON. Two huge mistakes like DUI's are hard enough to explain - but a probation revocation on top of that? Are you kidding me? And it's not even as though it was intentional - but I feel like giving up since I feel like a BON would laugh at my request for licensure. I'm hoping the judge sees things in my favor when I go before him, but that remains to be seen until later.

I've read things on here about people with felonies who have been awarded their licenses - this gives me hope because mine are misdemeanors. I continue to see a professional counselor, who I am hoping will help me later when the time comes to plead with the BON. However, I'm looking for anyone out there who might have a similar experience and what their outcome was. I'm pretty distressed at this point, and very ashamed - from the outside looking in, it seems like I may have screwed myself out of becoming what I really want to be. I'm just hoping that maybe my past won't haunt me forever.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Best of luck to you and keep working on it, but also be prepared for a long and bumpy road.

One hurdle will be your state BON when you apply to sit for the NCLEX. Be prepared for them to contact friends and neighbors as well as our probation officer.

Prior to that you will need to work through CORI checks for each clinical placement, an with a second DUI that will be a challenge.

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I agree that it is going to be a challenge getting into clinicals and getting liscensed because it is your 2nd DUI and you are still on probation. To be blunt, most people on here that have felonies and have got granted liscenses, their felonies have been from many years ago and not current like your situation is. All you can do is follow through with what is requested of you at court, and possibly contact a nurse attorney to see if they have any advice.

I have the equivalent to a felony, I was a juvenile and they do not give juvenile felonies, from almost 7 years ago and I am going to have a tough time getting my liscense. I apply in May, and have been upfront about it with my school and everyone else. My school said that I probably wouldn't be able to get into clinicals, but since I was a minor it didn't show up on my background check and I haven't had any problems.

Best of luck for both of us:)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moving to nursing licensure with criminal history forum.

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I agree that it is going to be a challenge getting into clinicals and getting liscensed because it is your 2nd DUI and you are still on probation. To be blunt, most people on here that have felonies and have got granted liscenses, their felonies have been from many years ago and not current like your situation is. All you can do is follow through with what is requested of you at court, and possibly contact a nurse attorney to see if they have any advice.

I have the equivalent to a felony, I was a juvenile and they do not give juvenile felonies, from almost 7 years ago and I am going to have a tough time getting my liscense. I apply in May, and have been upfront about it with my school and everyone else. My school said that I probably wouldn't be able to get into clinicals, but since I was a minor it didn't show up on my background check and I haven't had any problems.

Best of luck for both of us:)

I live in FL and had no trouble 20 years ago with the BON allowing me to be licensed as a LPN. I had a misdomer charge from 1974 when I was a runaway teen. The new laws with ACHA require all personnel in medical facilities in FL to have a background checks every 5 years now. When mine came up last month I received a letter requesting records from the court and arrest record. They are giving me 30 days by law to provide these records or I will not be able to practice in FL. I thought this was behind me. It was 39 years ago and I have been at the same job for 19 years.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

So what happened navcitylpn?

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