Texas RN license endorsement problem

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Hello---I'm a new male nurse from Tennessee working in Texas. I'm in Arlington at Healthsouth Rehab Hospital.

Anyway, I'm having a problem endorsing my compact license here. When I first came here, I was told I couldn't work on a compact license for more than 30 days. I began the process of endorsing my license and becoming a resident here. I'm 100% Texas resident. I just need a permanent Texas RN license.

When I appliedto the BON, I didn't disclose an arrest from ten years ago I had because it had been expunged and not found by any agency except one: the FBI. The charge, I recently found out, was 'Burglary, Motor Vehicle.' Whoa...sounds serious! I opened the door to a flooded and abandoned truck ten years ago. I was convicted of a misdemeanor and had it expunged. Anyway, it was expunged with the state, but not the FBI; it's with them forever. ***, I thought. I even did a year of clinicals at the VA in school, and even that fingerprint background check showed I was clean. Before I took NCLEX in Tennessee, I got a letter from the board there asking me to explain the arrest. I wrote it and provided them with a copy of the clean background check I had run on myself in Tennessee. That was fine for them.

The Texas BON has found this offense halfway into me practicing on my temporary license here. I sent them a detailed account of what happened and the same clean background check of me from Tennessee. I guess it wasn't good enough because my application has been sent to their Investigation section. The BIG problem is that the investigation won't be over until 2 months (maybe only 2 months) after my temporary license expires, and the BON will not renew it. T-R-O-U-B-L-E

I really don't want to move back to Tennessee. I love the place, but I've come so far, and I LOVE my job here. I talked to my former instructor who is also an attorney and used to practice in Texas as an RN. She said I should be able to practice here on my compact license as long as I claim Tennessee as my permanent residence and my place here in Texas as my domicile. I've never heard of that, but I never knew 'bedlam' was an old English law term until she told me so too. I was also advised to speak with an attorney well-versed in Texas BON law too. Can any of you make any recommendations?

Has this ever happened to anyone here?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give me about this.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Moved to nursing license with a criminal history forum. Please note that this is a moderated forum and all posts submitted must be reviewed by a moderator before appearing in public view. good luck.

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Not good, you're facing an uphill battle. Never can fail to dislose a prior, ever, for life- expunged or not, or arrested and dismissed, or not. The language is really clear in the applications. Good thing is, from what it appears, if you can't get a TX license for failing to disclose, you still can fall back on TN? The worst states, from what I've read, in getting a license with so much as a sneeze in your background-AZ, CA, TX, and GA.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I was also advised to speak with an attorney well-versed in Texas BON law too. Can any of you make any recommendations?

You have already received the best advice we can give you--I bolded it.

And learn from this experience should you ever move and have to endorse into another state...or when you have to renew with TN.

Best of luck.

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Thanks, both of you. At least I know now. Don't screw up (or get caught); the FBI knows it forever.

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Not good, you're facing an uphill battle. Never can fail to dislose a prior, ever, for life- expunged or not, or arrested and dismissed, or not. The language is really clear in the applications. Good thing is, from what it appears, if you can't get a TX license for failing to disclose, you still can fall back on TN? The worst states, from what I've read, in getting a license with so much as a sneeze in your background-AZ, CA, TX, and GA.

Just saw that RI does not ask for expunged convictions on the application for license- have yet to see that anywhere else. Brings up a point- that is a compact state. If you apply for initial license in a compact state, can you test in any compact state for your initial license? If yes, you apply in RI, that doesn't ask for expunged convictions?? Hmm.

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Hello Yitong_RN, I was woundering if you ever heard anything back from the boards or what was the out come. Going thru the same thing here.

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Did you ever get your license and how long did it take? My status says I was submitted for permanent license finally after 2 months in investigation. Now what? I completed all the other requirements at the beginning if the year.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

OP has not been back to update their post.

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I am having a problem obtaining my Texas license. I was informed by the BON that I have a positive background check and to send in paperwork, along with an explanation, about an arrest that happened 19 and half years ago. The problem is, I was never arrested during this time period, or any other time, but my husband was the one that was questioned and fingerprinted on the date in question. The only time I was fingerprinted was for my Texas RN application and of course I didn't disclose the arrest to the BON since I was never arrested in the first place. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I have had numerous background checks for nursing school, graduate school, employers, etc. and not once did I have a problematic background check result. I am waiting to hear back from an attorney and submitted to obtain a copy of my FBI check....so frustrating!!

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