Nursing Student can't find a job with a misdemeanor.

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Hi I just finished my 3rd semester in a 4 semester Associate Nursing degree program. I am on summer break now, for the first few weeks I reveled in my free time especially now that the weather is nice. Its now the middle of June and I am going stir crazy and money is getting tight. My fiance is supporting me but I need a job. I have applied to about 30 different patient care tech, nursing assistant, and patient attendant/sitter jobs. I applied to 2 extern positions with no luck. I have a decent GPA and I really want to work. Every time I fill out an application I have to mark yes to "Have you ever been convicted of a crime". I was 19 and stupid, I shoplifted got caught. I went to court without a lawyer plead guilty. Its been 5 years I am currently going through the expungement process to remove this charge, but its not guaranteed and takes 6-8 months. Lots of paperwork, fingerprinting, and another court appearance. I guess I am just really discouraged. I can't even get an $8.00/hr sitter position. I contacted an employment agency and they basically told me that there employers want a clear criminal background and that with a charge my chances of landing a hospital job are slim. She told me to call back when my record was clear. Is there anything I can do with my unwanted free time to bolster my resume, such as certifications, etc? Does anyone else have a similar story, what did you do? I really need the money, I'm thinking of looking for work outside healthcare just for the money and that just feels like a waste of time. Feeling hopelessly unemployed and even more worried about when I graduate in 6 months will I be able to get licensed and find a nursing job?

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Keep working on the expungement. Say it was a misdemeanor and see if that helps. Get a lawyer's letter to explain the process. And tell as many younger people as you can because, as my grandmother would say, some of us are put on this earth to be examples to others. You will get past this, but in the mean time, testify, testify, testify.

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Specializes in none.

Unfortunately I'm going through the EXACT same thing, same crime too I shoplifted when I was 18 young and stupid yes. I passed boards in April put in about 50-60 applications here where I live and other cities as well, I've had a few interviews but that's it just interviews, never a call back. I am too in the process of having this expunged and its taking forever! I am currently in school pursuing my bachelors wishing I was working as a nurse part time, I believe it is a waiting game until your lawyers expunged this, then you can apply and get a job (since legally you can mark no to the "have you been convicted for a crime" question, if its been expunged). That really all I'm praying for is a job. School and passing the NCLEX was hard enough you'd think landing a job would be the easy part. I completely understand your frustration I'm there with you :( good thing is hopefully by the time you're done with school you'll have a court date and it would be expunged by then. Just stay positive, I say you didn't get this far for nothing!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Feeling hopelessly unemployed and even more worried about when I graduate in 6 months will I be able to get licensed and find a nursing job?

It's possible to get licensed with a misdemeanor. Tough but possible. Start working on the documention that you will need to send in with your license application (if you need to order any court reports or obtain proof you made restitution, character references, etc., now's the time to it).

Also try to get your record expunged when you are able to. Expungement wouldn't help you with the BON as most if not all BONs require the disclosure of even expunged charges...but expungement will help with the job hunt.

Also should the BON ever want you to appear in person to discuss your record, have a lawyer with you. The BON is not the nurse's friend: their primary interest is not your career but the safety of the public. You need someone who will put your career first--hence the lawyer.

Best of luck.

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I have a DUI and Aggravated Battery (self defense if they look into it), both misdemeanors. I am debating on waiting to expunge the agg batt, which is easily done according to my lawyer, or just going ahead and sending in my court documents to start the Texas BON process. I am in a dilemma because I know I have to disclose the charge either way, but is an expunged charge "better looking"?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I have a DUI and Aggravated Battery (self defense if they look into it), both misdemeanors. I am debating on waiting to expunge the agg batt, which is easily done according to my lawyer, or just going ahead and sending in my court documents to start the Texas BON process. I am in a dilemma because I know I have to disclose the charge either way, but is an expunged charge "better looking"?

I'm not sure if BONs see expunged charges as "better looking." I just know that they get to see them regardless of expungement.

Best of luck with the Texas BON.

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If BONs thought of expungements as 'better looking', my guess is that BONs would not, in fact, require that expunged convictions to be reported to BONs.

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Specializes in none.
I have a DUI and Aggravated Battery (self defense if they look into it) both misdemeanors. I am debating on waiting to expunge the agg batt, which is easily done according to my lawyer, or just going ahead and sending in my court documents to start the Texas BON process. I am in a dilemma because I know I have to disclose the charge either way, but is an expunged charge "better looking"?[/quote']

If I were you I'd get it expunged now, because I got mine non disclosed AFTER I took boards and on my stipulations order for my license it shows my crime I recently contacted them and let them (TBON) know I got it non disclosed and if they could rewrite my stipulations order by taking off the charge (My license will still be under stipulations BUT it won't show the crime) they simply said no although its illegal to disclose that info according to my non disclosure order :( it's a bummer

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What state are you from? Same issue with me, but boards are coming up and i'm worried they'll deny me.

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I’m having the same problem ...I currently live in Maryland but the shoplifting incident took place six years ago in Virginia. They don't grant expungements in VA, & you can only apply for a pardon after five years, however I doubt Governor Bob McDonnell will grant me a expungement. I've only applied to one nursing school but I haven’t heard back. I have a 3.6 so if I’m not accepted I will definitely know why :(

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I have two DWI within five years should I even bother applying to the nursing program I have to do a second declaratory order and Im not sure what to even say in my later first incident happened on my b-day not to say it was an excuse and I have been doing so well 2nd incident I was happy had finally finished all my prereq and ready to apply for rn prog so I decided to celebrate very bad move since I was doing so well not partying studying hard and all that now I'm basically screwed don't even know if its all worth it its hard enough finding a job with my prior Misdemeanor ......................

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