Prior "criminal" record, I need advice.. I'm scared to death.

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Hi guys! I am graduating June 8th from nursing school! I am incredibly excited and so proud of myself for doing so well in school and having my school paid off with no government help or help from my parents. I am 22 years old, about to be 23 years old next month. I have had the same job since I was 15 and have multiple entitlements from my strong work ethic including only taking 1 week of vacation in 7.5 years and never missing a day of work. I went to apply for my NCLEX exam, and I feel as if a demon is now hovering over me.

I understand I need to be honest on my application, and I never thought once of not being honest. When I was 18 years old I was found with one 'marijuana cigarette'. Due to the city ordinance this was considered 1 count of possession and 1 count of paraphenelia. However, that night the cop let me go with a warning because I explained to him my dreams. I at that point, re-evaluated my friends and learned a lesson of a lifetime. Two months after that (must have been some sort of statue of limitation) I was served a summons to court. I couldn't believe it. I hired a lawyer, only got convicted of simple possession of marijuana (minor? or 4th degree misdemeanor? I can't remember), and the paraphenelia never was mentioned in court?...

After one year I got my record sealed and went on about my life knowing I couldn't dwell on a mistake, a lesson. NOTHING will stop me from becoming a nurse.. NOTHING. I have dreamt of being a nurse since I was a little girl. I want to go back to college to become more, and more, and more. I have always lived a life of dreams and reaching and catching the stars!!! I got into nursing school just fine, my BCI and FBI background checks were clear, and at that point I was super pumped that I could leave it as the past and take it to my grave. Since then I have given motivational speeches to High Schoolers regarding how important school is, and the decisions they make after they graduate could effect them forever.

Please help me put myself to peace until I find out from the Ohio BON that I can sit for the NCLEX.. are my dreams broken? Does anyone have advice of what I can send into the board? I have reference letters from my employers/managers, clinical instructors, and schools where I do motivational speeches. I have no record, what so ever, of my conviction, only my certified sealed journal. Oh lordy, if only, if only, if only, I could go back in time. Thanks guys for reading this. Please give me ANY advice, success stories, thoughts, or anything you would like to say :-)

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Speak to a criminal attorney in the state in which you live if you want a truthful, accurate answer for your particular situation. You are not going to get accurate answers on an internet message forum, only anecdotal stories which do nothing for you knowing the truth of your situation in your state. Every legal situation can be different from all the others this is why it is imperative you speak with a criminal attorney, preferably one specializing in nursing issues.

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I commend you for being honest. Everyone has a past and never forget that. What a wonderful job you did by educating young teens on the importance of school and staying down the right path. I just want to say good luck!!

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Specializes in LTC.
Hi guys! I am graduating June 8th from nursing school! I am incredibly excited and so proud of myself for doing so well in school and having my school paid off with no government help or help from my parents. I am 22 years old, about to be 23 years old next month. I have had the same job since I was 15 and have multiple entitlements from my strong work ethic including only taking 1 week of vacation in 7.5 years and never missing a day of work. I went to apply for my NCLEX exam, and I feel as if a demon is now hovering over me.

I understand I need to be honest on my application, and I never thought once of not being honest. When I was 18 years old I was found with one 'marijuana cigarette'. Due to the city ordinance this was considered 1 count of possession and 1 count of paraphenelia. However, that night the cop let me go with a warning because I explained to him my dreams. I at that point, re-evaluated my friends and learned a lesson of a lifetime. Two months after that (must have been some sort of statue of limitation) I was served a summons to court. I couldn't believe it. I hired a lawyer, only got convicted of simple possession of marijuana (minor? or 4th degree misdemeanor? I can't remember), and the paraphenelia never was mentioned in court?...

After one year I got my record sealed and went on about my life knowing I couldn't dwell on a mistake, a lesson. NOTHING will stop me from becoming a nurse.. NOTHING. I have dreamt of being a nurse since I was a little girl. I want to go back to college to become more, and more, and more. I have always lived a life of dreams and reaching and catching the stars!!! I got into nursing school just fine, my BCI and FBI background checks were clear, and at that point I was super pumped that I could leave it as the past and take it to my grave. Since then I have given motivational speeches to High Schoolers regarding how important school is, and the decisions they make after they graduate could effect them forever.

Please help me put myself to peace until I find out from the Ohio BON that I can sit for the NCLEX.. are my dreams broken? Does anyone have advice of what I can send into the board? I have reference letters from my employers/managers, clinical instructors, and schools where I do motivational speeches. I have no record, what so ever, of my conviction, only my certified sealed journal. Oh lordy, if only, if only, if only, I could go back in time. Thanks guys for reading this. Please give me ANY advice, success stories, thoughts, or anything you would like to say :-)

As long as you were honest on your application there should not be a problem. I too had problems with the law, but it did not hinder me from becoming a nurse. I was a CNA for 12 years, a LPN for 3 1/2, and I am now a registered nurse. Here in Arkansas the state board just required me to write a statement on what happened, and submit it to the board. I followed the requirements and got my license. :)

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I'm not 100% certain, but if your records were sealed and you passed the FBI background, you should be fine to sit your NCLEX. I would contact a lawyer just to double check, but i don't think this will be an issue.

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Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse, Ambulatory Care.

I had one misdemeanor at age 18 for shoplifting and my record isn't sealed (can't do it unless it's drug related or 10years have lapsed in MA)... again, I live in MA so things may be different. You should definitely consult your BON regarding how you should handle the "good moral character" section of your NCLEX application.

I just want to let you know that I had no issues getting licensure at age 20, just an extra stack of paperwork to fill out :p

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Thank you guys. I have contacted the BON and all I get is "it is a case-by-case decision". Do you guys have any suggestions of what I can send in since I don't have any way of getting my arrest records because of them being sealed.? I want to do anything I can for them to see who I really am (although I know it's impossible through paperwork). I have many valuable letter's of reference. I never was on probation so I don't understand the whole proof of rehab thing. This is the most horrible feeling I can ever remember having. ugh!

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if you only have that one thing on your record then you will be fine to sit for the nxclex..

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