Razorback5

Well, I got my approval from the BON a day before I was to be removed from the program. Even though legally I don't have a record they still sent me the letter stating that I must paper file to take the NCLEX 90-100 days before I graduate. Don't get me wrong I'm glad that I'm allowed to continue in my program but still amazed that they can violate the law by still considering me to have a criminal record when those record have been sealed. I guess I will take it for now but this isn't over yet.

For all of those worried I was going to apply for Spring but got into Grayson for this fall semester, even though I was at a 2 point disadvantage because of not living in Grayson County. I've been there for a month and can tell you the instructors there are great. They are very helpful and want you to succeed and will help you accomplish that. I also have some friends that are currently in the Collin nursing program and don't seem very impressed with the lectures. Don't put all your eggs in one basket because at the end of the day it doesn't matter where you go, just that you pass the NCLEX. I drive 80 miles roundtrip to get there but it was the best decision I could have made. I love it there! If someone told me I could leave Grayson right now and start at Collin without missing a beat I would tell them No way, No How.

My situation is driving me crazy! I had some things come up on my FBI background check but they had been expunged. So, according to the Declaratory From they need not be disclosed. So, when I got the letter from the BON stating that I had a hit on my background check, I immediately sent them certified copies of the expunged orders signed by a judge. I didn't send in a declaratory order with it or a statement concerning those issues because as they say "they need not be disclosed." Well, two weeks later I got a letter from the BON saying I needed to fill out a declaratory order to start a file on me, so I called them to ask some questions. Mainly why do I need to fill out the DO? She stated because I had a positive hit on my background check. I informed her that I understood that but that I had sent in the court orders expunging the records. Now, here's the crazy part. I told them I would fill out a DO but where it ask about criminal offenses I asked them if I could check NO because my records have been expunged. They told me they couldn't answer that question. I then told them under Texas law and in their own statement that "expunged/sealed records need not be disclosed" and that I had the right to answer NO, they again stated that was up to me and that they couldn't help me at all on making that decision because of possible legal ramifications. They also stated that if I answered NO that could delay my approval and if I answered yes it could also delay it. I mean they are literally no help at all and seems like they are trying to trap you. So, I filled out the DO and checked NO to the criminal charges question. Now, I'm wondering if they will try to hold that against me and violate a judges order and Texas law. Again, if they do this they will be violating Texas law. Below is the Texas law: Art. 55.04. VIOLATION OF EXPUNCTION ORDER. Sec. 1. A person who acquires knowledge of an arrest while an officer or employee of the state or of any agency or other entity of the state or any political subdivision of the state and who knows of an order expunging the records and files relating to that arrest commits an offense if he knowingly releases, disseminates, or otherwise uses the records or files. It seems to me they are already violating Texas Law by having me fill out a DO knowing that my records have been expunged and therefore can't use that against me. By talking to them I have become even more confused on my rights concerning the BON. I mean what good is having your records expunged if they are going and turn around and violate the judges order and use that against you? I was told in the first letter that it would take 30 days to process so I made sure to get the expunged orders sent to them on time but now with this second letter that I received 15 days later requesting a DO it also states that it will take 30 days to reach a decision. So, I'm running out of time as I have to have this resolved by the end of this month, if it's not resolved I will have to leave school because I can't attend clinical rotations. I have this feeling that in the end they will screw me over because they don't like it when their power is taken away from them. I hope I'm wrong but they don't seem to be helpful at all and have zero sympathy for anyone's situation. I have complied with everything they have asked and not to mention these charges are from 16 years ago and don't involve crimes serious in nature. Anyway, I will post when this reaches a conclusion and hope this helps people who think that having an expunged record will help them with the BON, because it doesn't.

I've given up on Collin and their ever changing admission requirements. It's funny they dropped stats as a pre-reg and have now added these honor courses for points. IMO They just want more money from you to retake classes you already completed. Good luck to you all! I start Grayson in August as I received a late call that a spot had opened up and I was accepted.

I have recently been accepted into an RN program after two years of hard work. My criminal background is as such. DWI in 1994, Hot Checks in 1998 and a FTA in 1998 on a traffic ticket. Bad news huh? Now the good news, The Hot check was just expunged Friday and I have mailed in the request to have the DWI expunged and see no reason why it shouldn't be, because I meet the State standard that 5 years have elapsed since the incident. The FTA on a traffic ticket seems more difficult as the court says they have no record of it, but it does show up on my FBI background check. So, my question is will I not be allowed entrance into the program? No where does it state that they will deny me entrance into the program but I must start the DO process if my background check comes back with a hit, which it will. School begins August 25 and I have orientation this week on the 8th. If I can show the orders to expunge on the hot checks and DWI and will continue to work on clearing my FTA charge, will the school take that into consideration? I have read many stories on here with the BON taking up to 6 months to process DO's that are sent to enforcement (seems like almost everything is sent to enforcement) would the orders to expunge suffice to allow me entrance into the program? These charges are from 16-20 years ago and although the DWI is clearly my fault the hot checks were due to a roommate I had at the time. He stole checks from my box of checks and went to town. I paid all fines associated with them and he just got released from Prison after serving 5 years for fraud, identity theft and various other crimes. The FTA was because I was out of State working and couldn't make it back in time for court. All fines have been paid and I have no other issues besides those from many decades ago. In the end my record will be clean with everything expunged but this will probably take a month or so to accomplish. Since my school starts on August 25, I will still not have the order to expunge on the DWI and the FTA. If I had known that the TX BON will use anything on your record, no matter how long ago, I would have started this process many moons ago. Anyway, the school was accepted to is Grayson. So, if anyone knows what they will accept and wont accept please give me some good news! I know if I can just make it into the program and given a month I can have all of my record expunged and sealed.