Trouble at 19

My name is Adam, Im starting my schooling for a nursing degree. I wanted to know if there is anyone out there that has had a run in with the law when they were younger and is now a nurse. I was charged with a misdemeanor at age 19. I am now 26 and I am wondering how this will effect me when I start looking for a job.

Thanks,

Adam

testing to see how a reply comes through

adam, don't worry. depending on your charge determines if the board of nursing (bon) will issue a license. i am 22, i have 3 misdemenors that i aquired from age 18 to 20, and i have my nursing license. the key is to be honest with your bon, at least that's what i did. also, this girl i went to nursing school with had a felony and she still got her license. i'm sure you'll be okay. try contacting your bon, or if your school has a program chair for the nursing department you should try talking to them too.

good luck!

~crystal

My name is Adam, Im starting my schooling for a nursing degree. I wanted to know if there is anyone out there that has had a run in with the law when they were younger and is now a nurse. I was charged with a misdemeanor at age 19. I am now 26 and I am wondering how this will effect me when I start looking for a job.

Thanks,

Adam

Usually, it would be a felony offense that would put you at jeopardy of not receiving a nursing license or getting hired. Even if the felony were a drug charge in certain instances that may slide if you give a good explanation. However, I think their main concern is with abuse and violent crimes. As more time passes and you stay out of trouble I think that would inspire more confidence in you by the BON and your future employer. But it's just a misdemeanor??? I think (to the best of my knowledge) employers just ask about felonies not misdemeanors...I could be wrong, but isn't a speeding ticket a misdemeanor?...and you certainly wouldn't have to disclose that.

Usually, it would be a felony offense that would put you at jeopardy of not receiving a nursing license or getting hired. Even if the felony were a drug charge in certain instances that may slide if you give a good explanation. However, I think their main concern is with abuse and violent crimes. As more time passes and you stay out of trouble I think that would inspire more confidence in you by the BON and your future employer. But it's just a misdemeanor??? I think (to the best of my knowledge) employers just ask about felonies not misdemeanors...I could be wrong, but isn't a speeding ticket a misdemeanor?...and you certainly wouldn't have to disclose that.

Thank you for your response.

Adam

adam, don't worry. depending on your charge determines if the board of nursing (bon) will issue a license. i am 22, i have 3 misdemenors that i aquired from age 18 to 20, and i have my nursing license. the key is to be honest with your bon, at least that's what i did. also, this girl i went to nursing school with had a felony and she still got her license. i'm sure you'll be okay. try contacting your bon, or if your school has a program chair for the nursing department you should try talking to them too.

good luck!

~crystal

crystal,

thanks for your response.

adam

Usually, it would be a felony offense that would put you at jeopardy of not receiving a nursing license or getting hired. Even if the felony were a drug charge in certain instances that may slide if you give a good explanation. However, I think their main concern is with abuse and violent crimes. As more time passes and you stay out of trouble I think that would inspire more confidence in you by the BON and your future employer. But it's just a misdemeanor??? I think (to the best of my knowledge) employers just ask about felonies not misdemeanors...I could be wrong, but isn't a speeding ticket a misdemeanor?...and you certainly wouldn't have to disclose that.

Speeding tickets are considered infractions and not misdemeanors except for special cases like reckless driving but that may still be an infraction.

Welcome to the family Adam :)

Welcome, Adam, to our little family of nurses and nurses to be.

it won't affect you at all. you have no worry whatever. disclose it if you're asked, or even if you think it's possible.

when i'm asked, i say "all my crimes were related to motor vehicle operation and all fines were paid" for example, i had just bought a boat, and had it repaired, took it for a test at the marina where it was fixed, got pulled over by a water cop in less than 5 minutes and ticketed with a "criminal offense", since it wasn't properly registered.

even if you had a felony record, and it's been 7 years with no problems, i doubt you'd be locked out of the profession as long as it wasn't something terrible like child molestation.

Hey Adam

Don't worry too much about it, bud. I had to plead guilty to assault and battery about 12 yrs ago. Did a day in jail (DON'T GO TO JAIL!!!). Six months of probation. Never heard from Board about it. Have had no particular problem getting license in other states.

(The SOB really had it coming. My ex's 2d husband. Manipulating her by threatening to send our kids--in my custody--to foster care by sending false reports of child abuse, drug dealing, sexual abuse of my kids to police, DHS, Board of Nrsing, etc. He never did that again.---Refer to the male nursing forum 'males vs females' discussion.)

My present wife had a shoplifting conviction as a 19-20 yr old. Just became LPN. A little paperwork hassle. No problem.

Yer Papaw John