question for all with any charges from past

watersnake · May 19, 2004

Im wondering has it affected your employment status. I know a few people mentioned the had criminal charges on their record and went to board and no problem. Does anyone now work in a hospital or a place where a background check is done and were they approached and questioned. Im just wondering if there will be stumbles fro future employment. I want to work in a hospital >i am hoping to but if I have a charge thats 12 years old. I dont know. Thank you Donna

Don't volunteer anything. I have no criminal record, but let me say gently that I came up in the late '60s & '70s (ok, early '60s, too).

As I have spoken with many nurses and physicians my age on the subject of the good old days, I can guarantee you that some questions require a "modification" of fact (something like what Presidents and congressmen do) in the interest of achieving goals as regards one's distant past. Else there would really be a nursing and physician shortage. OK, I'll be honest. Most of us have admitted that at some time we listened to Bob Dylan... but we didn't sing. (Stick that in your pipe, Clinton).....Snake

purplemania, BSN, RN · May 19, 2004

Tx requires fingerprinting with licensure (new grads). When the prints come back indicating a criminal record a declatory statement will be reviewed. I am sure it depends on whether or not the "crime" was a felony vs. misdemeanor. I know some nurses charged with possession that got a license with no restrictions, and one was restricted following DUI (individuals get different restrictions). Point is, you probably will have to actually submit the application before finding out for sure. However, you might contact your BON to see if they have any guidelines to assist you. In case you don't have your BON address:

http://www.ncsnb.com

Jnet55 · May 20, 2004

My daughter, who is currently in nursing school, was arrested on a felony shoplifting charge that was dropped to a misdemeanor (petit larceny) 1 year ago - no other records, not even a traffic ticket.

She applied for a summer externship this year and was initially offered the position, but 2 months later the hospital rescinded the offer. The nursing dept. said it was HR's decision based on her record, even though everything was disclosed up front.

I'm just hoping she doesn't make it through nursing school only to discover that no one will hire her....

donnar232 · May 21, 2004

Im surprised the hospital hired her and gee I think you can sue if you disclose everything up front and they deny you after being hired because of a charge. Its like a deformation of character. Did she have any problems getting into nursing school? Im sorry but they will be hurdles in life but lots of rewards too. Im prepared to explain myself about my past when its time. I hope they have some compassion seeing that I was in an abusive relationship that had plenty of vioelence. If I did not do what he said, he would put gun to my head . I lost many jobs friends and ended up in trouble and now that I have moved on that jerk will always remindme of my past. Well thats enough pity. I will talk about something sweet. Donna

mattsmom81 · May 21, 2004

I don't believe there is a law anywhere that says facilities have to hire nurses with a history of shoplifting, using drugs or having a criminal record. Facilities have a choice whether to hire a nurse if anyone has ever said anything bad about them (proven or not) on their background check. Even for vindictive purposes.

In an employment at will state like mine, you can be fired for just about anything too. Employers will not necessarily be truthful or disclose the 'real' reason and that can be difficult to prove. Unless they are breaking discrimination laws (which are based on race, sex, color, creed, etc and it can be PROVED) we are pretty much at the mercy of employers when we have something deemed 'bad' in our history. Employers decide what is bad in our background checks.

All we can control at that point is how we present ourselves and how we have learned from our mistakes, demonstrate we have moved on, try to show them how we are not that person anymore. However, they may not believe us. As I said earlier, nurses are under very close scrutiny today.

Kids don't believe us when we tell them their mistakes when they are young can effect them the rest of their lives. But it is true. There's no promise the world will forgive and forget.

Jnet55 · May 21, 2004

Im surprised the hospital hired her and gee I think you can sue if you disclose everything up front and they deny you after being hired because of a charge. Its like a deformation of character. Did she have any problems getting into nursing school? Im sorry but they will be hurdles in life but lots of rewards too. Im prepared to explain myself about my past when its time. I hope they have some compassion seeing that I was in an abusive relationship that had plenty of vioelence. If I did not do what he said, he would put gun to my head . I lost many jobs friends and ended up in trouble and now that I have moved on that jerk will always remindme of my past. Well thats enough pity. I will talk about something sweet. Donna

She was surprised too, especially since there didn't initially seem to be a problem. The crime was commited while she was already in nursing school, so that part was not a problem. She talked to her advisor after the rescinded offer, who was supportive and simply said she was going to have to prove herself more than others. But shoplifting is what it is, and I anticipate many, many hurdles ahead.

I'm sorry to hear about your past and am sure you get tired of having to explain yourself over and over. I wish you the best of luck in the future.

DOCS RN · May 21, 2004

It is very improper for you to ask anybody if anybody has a criminal record. It is none of your business. In all states the charge will tell you if you will ever be eligable to sit for the board exam. I can tell you this, if you have a felony conviction you can never be an RN/LPN. The best thing for you to do is contact your local state dept. of nursing. In the future please consider what it really is you are asking someone.

apogee · May 21, 2004

Im wondering has it affected your employment status. I know a few people mentioned the had criminal charges on their record and went to board and no problem. Does anyone now work in a hospital or a place where a background check is done and were they approached and questioned. Im just wondering if there will be stumbles fro future employment. I want to work in a hospital >i am hoping to but if I have a charge thats 12 years old. I dont know. Thank you Donna

You darn straight it will effect things. You are realisticly looking at 15 years with zilch point s**t problems. Even after then, you must disclose, and face the continuos ridicule and humiliation for any mistakes made in the past. You are liable for the rest of your life!!!!!! If you do not disclose, you are falsifying employment documentation, and you could work an entire career right up to the point of retirement and some hotshot personnel geek with a new computer will lay you to waste. There is a lot of people, and ultimately there is no loyalty to anyone when a buck can be saved (unless your connected). Are you connected? Welcome to the new America, and the Old Puritan America, at the same time. I am a good guy. I spend my whole life helping people and animals. I volunteer my services for Search and Rescue in my time off. But still, to this day, years and years later after my youthfull indiscretions, I am still rehashing the same old ground, and repeating the same old stories to backround investigators. The key is: Do not lie about anything...ever. Most people have a variety of skeletons. I think it is tragicaly unfair how the system is, life scans and all, and having to relive the mistakes of a person you no longer are. What can I say? Welcome to the machine.......

sierralafry · May 21, 2004

What if a charge was expunged from your record by the court? Will it still be a problem in the future?

Truly_Blessed · May 21, 2004

It is very improper for you to ask anybody if anybody has a criminal record. It is none of your business. In all states the charge will tell you if you will ever be eligable to sit for the board exam. I can tell you this, if you have a felony conviction you can never be an RN/LPN. The best thing for you to do is contact your local state dept. of nursing. In the future please consider what it really is you are asking someone.

Improper smopper....if people want to answer they will ,and obviously they don't care that they are being asked. For those that are offended, they can click on another thread...no big deal.

apogee · May 21, 2004

What if a charge was expunged from your record by the court? Will it still be a problem in the future?

I am sorry that you think expunged means expunged. It does not. If you are trying to get a low level job (unless they are low level and think they are high level) you can roll the dice and see how it works out. If you want to work for Corrections, Sheriff, Military, CIA, FBI, any aerospace company where a

security clearance is involved, you will speak up. Heave to, and face the music. You did it! Accept your life sentence, deal with it! Kinda sucks, don't it?...