States that will license a RN with a criminal background

Sour Lemon · Jul 2, 2018

How long ago the offenses were and how spaced out they were is most important in any state, I would think.

Theft can actually be pretty serious as you'll be working with vulnerable individuals. If you shoplifted a few times 20 years ago and have stayed out of trouble since then, you'll probably be ok, though. If it's something that's recurred throughout your life, most recently yesterday, it's going to be a hard sell.

Have you considered seeking legal advice?

chinny4213 · Jul 3, 2018

Hello everyone, I need some advice please!!

I just finished up all my prereqs for nursing school and before I go anyfurther I want to make sure that I won't be doing all this for nothing, becauseI do have a criminal background. I'm afraid that when the time comes, Floridawon't either let me sit or if they do then they won't license me. I don't haveviolent charges, drug charges, and have I've never been convicted of a felony (butI have been arrested for one). When I was 20 I started going down the wrongroad, hanging out with the wrong people and caught to separate charges forpetty theft, one of them I was originally arrested for a grand theft (a felony)but it was later dropped to a misdemeanor and adjudication was withheld. Forthe second petty theft charge (later that year) I was convicted. I stayed outof trouble for 8 years, but last year November I was pulled over in NY, leavingmy girlfriends sister's wedding and blew a .008 (the legal limit) and wasarrested for a DUI. It has been dropped to a DWI (only a traffic violation inNY and moves out of the criminal category). Do they go off what you were originallyarrested for? And more importantly do you guys think I have a chance of evergetting licensed in Florida or any other state for that matter?? I'm an EMT andI've worked in hospitals and it never seamed to be an issue....[/COLOR][/font]

medsurgRNCali, ASN · Jul 7, 2018

So here in Cali, you only disclose the conviction. Check into what your board asks for.

medsurgRNCali, ASN · Jul 7, 2018

Can you do a live scan of yourself? See what actually comes up as convicted. I am pretty sure that's what you have to disclose. I had a very ugly record here in Cali, all very old and all but one charge was expunged. I was a long process for me, but I finally got my unrestricted license. This is what I did... I did a livescan, found out what I was convicted of, what the board required me to report, and went from there. I only had to report convictions here, not arrests. I also had my felonies expunged. I gathered as much paperwork as possible ... proof of rehab... probation report for drug testing, I also got letters of recommendation from instructors, coworkers and even one from my bible study leader. I went to meetings and got signatures and included that... then I wrote a 3 page letter and was completely honest. started from the beginning and never made excuses. I told them how much I regretted my mistakes and how much I had changed since... I sent the paper work in and prayed. Then got a letter back asking for certified court document, then ones I sent were apparently not certified. I went back to the courthouse and got certified docs 25$ a copy! ugh!! I sent that in and waited about another six weeks and got my approval to test!!!! I was told cali would be the hardest to get licensed in and I was sure they would deny me. I feel like if I did it anyone can!! best of luck to you

muggs · Jul 10, 2018

I just went through this with FL( literally, I got my endorsement on 7/2) for a dwai I had 20 years ago Just be honest about the DWI (you were just at the legal limit, thought you stopped drinking early enough in the night, have never gotten a ticket for it before, whatever) and send them all the paperwork. Florida doesn't have the same level of classification for DWI, DUI, DWAI as NY so they want you to disclose this incident (I learned that the hard way). Seeing as the other charges were so long ago they won't matter but you will have to disclose them as well.

Here's some information the office people use to clear applications or send them to the board for review

https://www.enfermeriaeneu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/convict-record-guidelines.pdf

MJo722 · Jul 14, 2018

I have a similar story... I thought I was going to get a denial based on everything I have read, so I was prepared to file my appeal and continue to wait. I just got a letter stating that they have reviewed everything and continuing the licensure process with no reprimands!!! I'm trying to figure out if that is coming soon, or if it is another waiting period, this process has taken me 3 years so far, so I really need to study!

futurenurseac4843 · Aug 3, 2018

If you feel comfortable would you mind elaborating on some of your "ugly record". I'm about to start nursing school and I have fairly old "ugly record" myself, and am pretty worried about what to expect. Im also in California, and from what I hear California can be one of the harder states to get licensed with past convictions. Im not sure if you can message me privately as I'm a new member, but any further advice would be appreciated

medsurgRNCali, ASN · Aug 8, 2018

sorry just saw this. I sent you a pm. futurenurseac4843

jadeheart6 · Aug 15, 2018

I've been an RN in Florida for over 10 years. Before nursing school I had been arrested 3 times for misdemeanors in Florida, one charge was dismissed and the other two had adjudication withheld so I technically had no convictions. While in my 3rd semester of nursing school, I was arrested for felony Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Woman (won't go into the details but rest assured I was innocent). It took a while but once the State DA finished their investigation they decided to drop the case. So at the end of nursing school, I sent the information required by the BON on all four arrests. So as long as you don't have felony conviction, you should be OK. I have known other RNs who have had DUI convictions or minor busts for pot and gotten their license. As for felonies, read the specific BON website for whatever state you want.

As for getting hired somewhere, I've worked at 2 different hospitals and it hasn't come up. Most of the background checks they run will only show felony arrests. Again, I've never been convicted but it did cost me a spot in the CRNA program at FSU. I was accepted and once the background check came in they pretty much kicked me out because of the felony charge even though it was from 12 years ago and the case was dropped. Good luck.

JbiebLovesYou · Apr 6, 2019

On 8/2/2018 at 5:18 PM, futurenurseac4843 said:
If you feel comfortable would you mind elaborating on some of your "ugly record". I'm about to start nursing school and I have fairly old "ugly record" myself, and am pretty worried about what to expect. Im also in California, and from what I hear California can be one of the harder states to get licensed with past convictions. Im not sure if you can message me privately as I'm a new member, but any further advice would be appreciated

On 8/7/2018 at 5:26 PM, newnurse Fresno said:
sorry just saw this. I sent you a pm. futurenurseac4843

newnurse, if you dont mind, would you also send me a pm elaborating your record? Im in a similar situation to futurenurseac4843, and id like to see if its worth applying to nursing school with the record that i have..

SoonRNKV · Apr 16, 2019

On 4/6/2019 at 2:41 AM, JbiebLovesYou said:
newnurse, if you dont mind, would you also send me a pm elaborating your record? Im in a similar situation to futurenurseac4843, and id like to see if its worth applying to nursing school with the record that i have..

I am also in the same boat to. I plan on starting in August of 2019, but want to know if it’s worth it. Hey JbiebLovesYou, can you pm me too? I would like to at least have a buddy I can go through this with lol.