rickys614

I can’t speak for the OPs experience but I had a dui before nursing school too. I applied for my authorization to test (att) for the NCLEX about two months before I graduated in July and I received my ATT in August a couple days after I graduated. It took about a week after I passed before I received my license. However a lawyer I talked to before did say what you put in your explanation can affect your license. Hope that helps.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It definitely gave me hope. I was fortunate I didn't have to do anything further than what I did.

Update: I got an unrestricted liscense. I got outside help and talked to a lawyer outside of the program who specializes in dealing with the board before writing my letter of explanation. And I talked to a psych nurse and a friend in a 12 step program who is in healthcare. The lawyer directed me to only disclose what I needed to (I was about to talk about my whole story and was advised not to). I talked about the effect getting my DUI had on me. And what I did after I.e. stop drinking, service, etc. My friend, based on personal experience, thought it'd be better to talk about my 12 step program without talking about my 12 step program. Have been lucky to do lots of work in H and I and public information before nursing school. So I also wrote about that without disclosing it as 12 step service work.

Hey Shan can only share my experience. I do have a BSN so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I was told experience in telemetry or trauma surgery could help to get the foot in the door. (As a sidenote for anyone reading without healthcare experience an ER nurse manager told me they had success with candidates without healthcare experience who had experience in the service industry) I eventually got a residency in the ER. However, I did not do work in tele or trauma surgery. I worked as a tech on an ICU unit during nursing school. Initially, I spent a lot of time applying to new grad ER residencies in my home state. Almost always got to the interview, but was never selected. An out-of-state recruiter reached out to me on a job networking site like LinkedIn. I told them I was only interested in the ER. The recruiter set me up with an interview and I ended up being offered an ER new grad nurse residency. I don't know if this will be applicable or desirable for you. But, I've heard some have had better luck looking at out-of-state nursing programs. That has been my experience. Hope that helps.

thank you so much for sharing this!

Recently graduated and passed NCLEX. I had a DUI before I started school 6 years ago. Waiting on the Nursing commission to deny or approve my license. I was wondering if anyone had any experience where they disclosed in their letter of explanation being an active member of a 12-step group (AA/NA) to the nursing commission. I was wondering what happened and if the license issued was restricted or if they were placed in a substance abuse program? (I've been sober for 6 years and have not seen anyone with this experience yet)