Trying to be honest

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Hi everyone,

I decided to post this just in case anyone else had the same situation I do. Hopefully this will alert others of the possible hassle trying to get a disposition letter on any old court case (you might want to start trying to get it months in advance BEFORE you actually need it, especially if you are now in another city from where the incident occured).

I got a DUI 26 years ago at the age of 18 in Savannah, Georgia. I currently live in another city in Georgia now. When I finished my LPN program and filled out my state board application recently, I was honest and divulged this information. I enclosed a letter with my application stating that this was a youthful transgression and the ONLY time I have ever had any type of legal issue in my life. I then began trying to get in contact with the court system in Savannah, as I was told by a representative of the Georgia BON that a disposition letter would possibly be required in order to finish my application.

I have been given one run around after another. First I was told they didn't keep records that far back so I requested could I be sent a letter to that effect. I then received a letter stating that after some research they did indeed find my old case. I was given date and time case was handled, docket number, and the telephone number to call in order to get a copy of this file. I call and was instructed to mail a letter requesting a copy of disposition, which I did the same day. The representative advised me it would take 5-7 business days. After three weeks and no disposition letter, I began calling again. I was either told the representative that handled this was not in the office or I got her voice mail, which I left messages on to no avail. Finally this morning I guess the woman who answered could hear the frustration in my voice and she finally got me back to lady I had spoken with that had instructed me to mail a request for disposition. I mean at this point I wasn't even sure they had even RECEIVED my request:( I am put on hold and after several minutes she comes back and tells me that records this old are not kept on site and that she had requested mine and soon as it was received she would send me a letter of disposition. She could not tell me how long it would be. So unfortunately I guess I just sit here waiting and waiting.

Frankly I almost wish that I hadn't even divulged the information to begin with. I was trying to be honest and sadly this is what happens when you do. I have had several friends and even my husband tell me I should have just kept it under my hat, but I didn't want a foolish decision I made as a teenager come back to bite me in the nether regions.

Sorry for this long post. I suppose I needed to vent and I also wanted to warn upcoming students that if you do have anything you wish to reveal you might want to begin trying to get any type of disposition you may need BEFORE graduation!

Have a great day everyone.

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I'm sorry that it's turning out to be so much hassle to get the paperwork you need, but it is v. important to be honest with the BON. If you had just withheld the information and the BON later found out about it (if it turned up in your background check, for instance), just the fact that you failed to reply honestly when asked would be grounds for the BON to refuse to license you or revoke your license.

Nursing is an occupation in which people's lives depend on our honesty and integrity. I always think it's a shame, and a bad sign for one's future career, when one starts out by being dishonest (we get a fair number of questions here about this). Congratulations to you for not doing so!

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ty for your kind words elk. I suppose I am just really frustrated and feel I am getting nowhere after trying to supply everything needed for this disposition letter. I even offered to make the 2.5 hour trip to pick up the paper if necessary, but was told since it wasn't on the site I would be wasting a trip. Hopefully they will do their jobs and get it to me eventually.

Have a great day!

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Hang in there! In the long run, over the course of your nursing career, the delay and hassle you're going through now will end up being insignificant. :)

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You did the right thing about disclosing that information because it will resurface even if they don't keep records that far. My friend was applying for a license (not nursing) and it took her ALMOST 2 YEARS to get it after she had passed her exam. She disclosed EVERYTHING that she had regarding her past. Well after further reasearch, she got a letter from the Board that she was applying to that there was something that wasn't disclosed. It was something that happened when she was 16 years old that she had completely forgot about that she didn't disclose, and she even sent them a print out of her record that she got from the county courthouse and what happened at age 16 wasn't even on there. She was in contact with the board because there was something that she disclosed that wasn't even showing up on her print out. So she wanted to let them know that it did occur, but that it wasn't showing up. Needless to say, it looked like she was hiding something and that pushed her back about 6 months. So kudos to you for doing the right thing! Just hang in there, hopefully they will overlook that and move forward with your application! GOOD LUCK!

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Hi again everyone,

Well I now have my testing date for NCLEX, August 19th, but still no disposition letter from that old DUI charge. I called once again today and was given the same spiel I have been getting. The file was requested yet again because she got something back stating they couldn't find my case... and there are 50 people ahead of me blah, blah, blah. I stressed to her that this could hold me up as far as getting my license, but frankly I could tell by the tone in her voice she couldn't care less:( When I call back again.. if they still don't have anything I am going to ask if they could just possibly write me a letter stating it can't be found or at least something. Sheesh this is ridiculous!

I honestly don't know where else to go. I almost feel like sending an email complaining about this representative to one of the judges that is listed, but then again I don't want to cut my nose off to spite my face lol. Maybe the GA BON will just accept the letter of explanation I included with my application and not require anything else. If I can't get this disposition letter I don't know how I can possibly find the info they need since it was nearly three decades ago. I hate to get all the way to the end of this process and then be turned down for licensure *sigh*.

Have a great day!

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

Write a letter, include who you spoke with & department name/position, dates converstaion occured and outcome conversation and submit to the board.

These few extra hoops will make you cherrish that license more and protect it with great care. Best wishes moving forward.

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I think perhaps you are right and explaining to the BON might be my best bet. At this point I really don't feel the folks at that state court are going to go out of their way to help me.

I just hope when the BON pulls my background check they can see I am about the most boring person you would know since my younger years. I even drove for the USPS for three years as a sub mail carrier and I know they do a major background check (fingerprinting & the whole shebang) before you are allowed to work there.

Karen, I really like your quote from Dr. Randy Pausch... in fact I was remembering him saying it just a few days ago:)

Have a great day everyone

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Specializes in Float.

Me too Karen. Very inspirational. A truly beautiful quote

BTW, are you the one who sent me the inviation of the poster I posted about in the 'the glass ceiling of nursing school thread'? If you are, thanks so much :saint: you're a very special person to do something so thoughtful. Unfortunately, he hasn't responded. I do wish that he would post again and let us know how it went.

Anyway, if it wasn't you than please excuse this message. I still think you're special........but I feel it was you.

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:typing Hi, I was reading your dilemma and were wondering how things were going? Sometimes I think that some states got rid of records before computers became so popular and that some of the records were just destroyed or lost for good?....

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I still haven't heard one word on any type of disposition letter from the court system in Savannah. I take my nclex examination on August 19th. I don't know what the BON is going to require me to do at this point. Basically I am just hanging in limbo I guess until after the exam.

I will try and call County one more time and if I can't get any results that way then I do plan on writing the BON and letting them know I have made every effort to get proof this matter was handled and finished nearly three decades ago. Maybe they won't require me to have it.. who knows lol.

have a great day.

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Goodness, I hope that you are doing fine and can relax to take your test on the 19th!...Something must be up if they are letting you take your boards, hopefully everything will go okay..:heartbeat

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