questionscurious

I finally contacted the bon, meaning they finally got back to me after four emails and four messages. check out my latest post and see what you think.\\thanks for the advice I haven't given up yet!

I have posted here three times, you guys have been so helpful. Basically I am interested in becoming a nurse, but have some record issues. Some advice given was, even if you get a license you may not get a job. Because of two misdemeanor drug convictions. Just go for it! or check with your state BON. I finally got a response back from the CA BON. : Application review is on a case-by-case basis. There is no one single type of conviction that would automatically disqualify an individual from obtaining a license. Things we take into consideration are the length of time since the incident occurred, the type of incident, if it was a single incident or multiple incidences. If it was drug or alcohol related we will look at any rehabilitative efforts. Rehabilitative efforts could include: drug/alcohol recovery program, AA/NA, classes related to abuse (of any kind), compliance with court ordered programs and parole/probation, any type of volunteer work/community work, completion of school. Unfortunately, we do not pre-approve applicants for licensure in California. Be advised that you will need to provide the following documents at the time you apply for licensure: * A letter of explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding your four arrests and convictions (basically your side of the story) * Certified copies of the court documents and arrest reports, if available. A letter from the court stating no record available should be obtained to submit with your application * Several letters of recommendation/reference from instructors, employers, members of the community. Unfortunately there are no guarantees that a license will be issued. I don't know if its good or bad. Partly it gives me hope that if I play my cards right, get all the neccesary recommendations, and do well in school I will get a license. But the part that worries me is: unfortunatley there are no guarantees that a license will be issued. How does one enroll in school with this over their head? Imagine all that school only to find you have been denied. That work wouldn't apply to anything else job related or even another degree. I have like 70 units currently and would like to get an associates in nursing. To recap I have 4 misdemeanors under periods when I was undiagnosed as a bipolar. This is all embarrassing to admit but I'll do it again. I tried speed 2002 and was caught with an outburst in public, it was found in my system but not on me. I followed a rehab program for 15 weeks and did diversion. I was caught with marijuana in my car in 2003. I payed fines and thats that. have a wet wreckless lower form of DUI, in 2004. Have a vandalism charge when a car almost hit me while crossing the street and I pushed off with a skateboard. It dented the car. a year ago I got on proper meds and these incedints feel so far from the true me. Part of the reason I wanted to become a nurse was from some experiences I had in hospitals. They made the difference. Oh well, do I just forget this and take in the fact that there are to many actions, and i would be looked at a risk? or do I fight on. I spoke with the oregon board even though I am in CA because they were more personable. They want me to send info in. I don't know if that would be helpful. Thanks all for any responses or advice

As I got further into picking this career, researching schools and just about to register and begin. I found out the strikes that are against me, most advice is to forget it. I have a record that includes drug possesion, misdemeanors that led to diversion, a wet wreckless (which is a lower dui charge), and a vandalism charge. Firt off this is embarrassing to admit, but I figured I had to suck it up and get some opinions. I understand that the burden of proof is up to the person. The more I read threads people all seemed to say as long as you didn't have a drug charge you should be able to take the licensing exam. I went through period in my life where my illness as an undiagonosed bipolar got the best of me. I found myself in some situations (yes all my fault) where I tried somethings that were inapropriate and disgusting. self medicating with alcohol, I tried methamphetamine, it was in my system a terrible horrifying memory where I was later arrested for an outburst in public and it was found in my system. I did diversion for 15 weeks and never did it again. MY other charge was a 1 gram marijuana possession. The vandalism charge was from a car that almost turned to hit me and I smacked it. On paper I can see everyone saying this man would make a unstable nurse he should forget it. In the last two years I got my illness diagnosed and have been as stable as ever. With proper meds and AA I am functioning perfectly. It probably is to little to late. The main thing is I would of never picked this career if it wasn't for my direct experience with how much nurses had touched me in hospitalizations. I love working with people, used to be a successful personal trainer. Yes I had to start my life over but still missed that personal contact a job like nursing offers. I am by no means use drugs, made a few bad decisions when I wasn't functioning on all cylinders and now that I want to restart my life and give back what I have learned, and with even greater compassion and appreciation its probably to late. I want to know if anyone knows of anyone turned down for the test? Do all these strikes against me mean turn and run from this career? Or is there some small chance I could actually explain myself in the burden of proof colum to the board. Thanks for anyone that took the time to read this. I doubt it is anything you all have experienced before defenitely not the intended course I planned. thanks DST

I was under the impression that only felonies effect your license. I noticed a caption under a possible school that I might attend that if you have any misdemeanors, or felonies don't take nursing. Because it will effect you at the license level. So don't waste your time. Is that true, does having a few misdemenors on your record negate your ability??? Has anyone ran into a problem with this got around it or wasn't even an issue. thanks !!

Do they come up in any fashion, ie background check etc/?? I think it is illegal to search that deep, but i also figured that a medical profession might do extensive checks. Did you not disclose any information, when asked in any questions. I don't want to do anything that would back fire.

What is an ad-rn school? what does the ad stand for. Would that be a bachelor degree to become rn? The community colleges I looked at have three year programs that start at lvn than they have a lvn to rn also. Otherwise its a major then transfer. Your advice would be to go for the degree. any more specifics you could recommend would help. thanks

a 5150, is a legal involuntary hold for 72hrs. Thanks for your replies they give me a lift to strive for a career I feel I would enjoy. Are those online nursing programs reputable. I am 75 units from school, taken most of my sciences, I figured the best start would be to finish my associattes at a jc for an LVN. Any advice is appreciated. I'm curious about the differences in programs an AA LVN VS an one year program, and what those open up job wise. Where is the best starting point with about two years history of school, but probably not able to finish a bachelor to be a RN , just yet. Thanks for all your encouragement.

I firstly want to thank everyone for becoming a nurse. In my life any great traumas were met by wonderful nurses over to busy doctors. I am interested in becoming a nurse, but wondered if you have a previous history of mental illness if that excluded you as a canadiate. I thought there was no descrimination but at one school , they said you cant join up if you have had any behavioral circumstances that would interfere. This contradicted a teacher that emailed me there is no disability discrimination. I am quite well now but have some history of bipolar and 5150's. I really had my heart set on nursing and before I think of it any longer I want to get this question answered. Thanks to all great nurseing.