Pre-lpn Student-need Legal ? Answered

elkpark · Jun 21, 2004

Sounds like you have a legal record in another state that you don't want the school to find out about. You need to not worry as much about whether you would have to drop out of school as whether you are eligible for a license or not -- something it would be good to know before you go to the trouble and expense of completing school. There are some legal restrictions on who is eligible for licensure as an RN or LPN, based on past criminal convictions, and these vary from state to state. It will be up to the OK Board of Nursing (assuming you would still be in OK when you finish school, and write your NCLEX there) whether or not your past record would be a problem.

BTW, whatever your past record is, things can only be worse if you are secretive or deceptive about it with the Board -- best to be up front with them now and get a straight answer one way or the other. The state Board will do a background check before they license you, the state Board in any state you move to will do a background check on you, and, nowadays, most employers will do a background check before hiring you, so you may as well put everything on the table now. Otherwise, it will just keep following you around, and you'll have to keep worrying about it.

Best wishes -- :)

Trauma Columnist · Jun 21, 2004

I endorse the "be honest from the start" theory also.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2004

one of my students committed suicide when his criminal record prevented him from getting a license. Obviously, he was troubled, but I still grieve for him because he worked for years on that degree and was a great guy. After graduation he owed a lot of money and could not get work as a nurse without his license. Sad sad sad :crying2:

ALONNA · Jun 21, 2004

one of my students committed suicide when his criminal record prevented him from getting a license. Obviously, he was troubled, but I still grieve for him because he worked for years on that degree and was a great guy. After graduation he owed a lot of money and could not get work as a nurse without his license. Sad sad sad

TO VERDANA: WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET YOUR LISCENSE? I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION YOU TAKE THE COURSE, TAKE THE STATE BOARDS, PAY FOR YOUR LICSENSE IF YOU PASS AND THAT WAS IT. TO START THE SCHOOL, THEY ARE REQUIRING YOU SUBMIT AN OSBI CHECK. WILL I HAVE TO HAVE A FEDERAL AND STATE CHECK RAN AFTER I COMPLETE THE SCHOOL AND BEFORE I CAN GET A LICENSE? I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.

BabyRN2Be · Jun 22, 2004

TO VERDANA: WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET YOUR LISCENSE? I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION YOU TAKE THE COURSE, TAKE THE STATE BOARDS, PAY FOR YOUR LICSENSE IF YOU PASS AND THAT WAS IT. TO START THE SCHOOL, THEY ARE REQUIRING YOU SUBMIT AN OSBI CHECK. WILL I HAVE TO HAVE A FEDERAL AND STATE CHECK RAN AFTER I COMPLETE THE SCHOOL AND BEFORE I CAN GET A LICENSE? I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.

If you have a felony on your record, in most cases you can't get your RN. As others have said, you need to be upfront with people. If you have any questions about your past, it's probably best to check with the BON. You don't want to go to school, have all that money invested in your degree and not be able to get a job or license because of a legal past. It's best to get all the information from people who know the legal ramifications about your situation. Best to check before you start. Hiding your past is not the best policy. In this day and age of everything being checked electronically, people could find out about your past very fast.

Best of luck to you. Hope everything works out OK.

Dixiedi · Jun 22, 2004

If you have a felony on your record, in most cases you can't get your RN. As others have said, you need to be upfront with people. If you have any questions about your past, it's probably best to check with the BON. You don't want to go to school, have all that money invested in your degree and not be able to get a job or license because of a legal past. It's best to get all the information from people who know the legal ramifications about your situation. Best to check before you start. Hiding your past is not the best policy. In this day and age of everything being checked electronically, people could find out about your past very fast.
Best of luck to you. Hope everything works out OK.

I'm not a lawyer but it was my understanding it depends on what the offense is/was.

We had to keep doing my fingerprints over (3 times before we got keeper! LOL) when I took my current position and we chatted about it as we did them each time. Seems some offenses are "OK". Check with Ok BON. Better to be safe than sorry.

Okiecruffler · Jun 25, 2004

Not only that, but some offenses are going to more okay if you declare them up front rather than have them find out. Sneaky is not seen as a good quality by the OBON or an employer. And for what is worth, the OSBI check is very extensive, if you're trying to hide something from another state it will turn up.

BabyRN2Be · Jul 2, 2004

Not only that, but some offenses are going to more okay if you declare them up front rather than have them find out. Sneaky is not seen as a good quality by the OBON or an employer. And for what is worth, the OSBI check is very extensive, if you're trying to hide something from another state it will turn up.

Yep, couldn't agree with you more. In this electronic day and age they can find a lot of information about a person, whether they were looking for anything or not.

BTW, I should have stated that in SOME cases you couldn't get your license, instead of most.

BabyRN2Be · Jul 2, 2004

Not only that, but some offenses are going to more okay if you declare them up front rather than have them find out. Sneaky is not seen as a good quality by the OBON or an employer. And for what is worth, the OSBI check is very extensive, if you're trying to hide something from another state it will turn up.

Yep, couldn't agree with you more. In this electronic day and age they can find a lot of information about a person, whether they were looking for anything or not.

BTW, I should have stated that in SOME cases you couldn't get your license, instead of most.

okie2 · Jun 23, 2005

For info regarding the original ????? you need to go to the OK-BON site http://www.youroklahoma.com/nursing

search under NCLEX-- it will give info and forms for people with past criminal records.

Good Luck