What Kind Of Criminal Record Stops People From Being Able To Sit For The Board Exams?

thanks for reading this email and i hope you are able to respond. i

am very interested in becoming a registered nurse and have done a lot

of research. i think it is the career for me.however, i have

commited to crimes when i was younger and hanging with a bad crowd.

when i was 19 i was caught concealing merchandise in a grocery store

and sentenced to probation, which i did not complete. i was then

jailed for two weeks. a little later, when i was 20, i was charged

with damage to personal property for throwing a rock at my

boyfriend's car. i served 3 months in jail for that and was also sent to the mental hospital for an evaluation. both of those

are misdemeanors. i also have a felony failure to appear charge that has been dropped. since then, i have been in counseling. and i have

volunteered for various agencies while working as a housekeeper,

secretary, and administrative assistant. these crimes were commited

five or six years ago, and i have been a law abiding citizen since.

is it not possible for me to obtain a license upon graduating from a

nursing program? please respond

[Gomer]

I believe the answer will vary state to state. You should check with your state's BON. However, in most states those convicted of a felony are unable to obtain state professional licensure.

[mattsmom81]

All I can advise you to do is to check with your state Board of Nurse Examiners. I do have to tell you that nurse employers also ask questions about misdemeanors and felonies on applications, and do extensive background checks, so even if you get past the BON you may have trouble getting a job in nursing.

Nurses are held to high standards; but I can't tell you offhand the specific restrictions. Good luck to you and I hope you can move forward with your life. When we are young we often don't think about the future and how our youthful pranks and poor judgment can effect us later. Good luck to you.

[JohnnyGage]

Speaking very generally ... the only crimes I can think of that would absolutely ban you from nursing would be sex-related (i.e. rape or child molestation), murder (duh!), and possibly domestic abuse or elder abuse convictions.

Usually employment applications note that felony convictions do not bar employment but are considered on a case-by-case basis.

It sounds like you've been working on your problems. Contact your state BON for more information. Also, be sure not to hide anything when you apply -- falsifying criminal background is a sure way to get fired or not hired.

[SmilingBluEyes]

only way to know for sure is like the others said. contact your state board of nursing for specifics. and good luck.

[Sally_ICURN]

In the State of California, the BRN does background checks with the DOJ (Department of Justice). That includes the FBI, your local law enforcement, and nation wide records.

Here's my bit of advice, and actually it was a bit of advice given to me when I telephoned my board about this exact same thing just months prior to applying for my licnese. They had a person specifically to answer these questions. She was very helpful and completely available to answer any and all questions!!

#1 thing: If you have something in your past you will need records. Start planning yesterday to obtain those records!!

Other #1 thing: If you have ever been taken in for anything at any time in your life (even if you were a minor) even if you were not arrested, charged or sentenced, again, for anything, fess up to it in a letter to your Board of Nursing when you apply for your license. They really appreciate it and they get more leary of a person when they don't admit to what are usually past mistakes than they do when they see that you are willing to stand up to your boo boos and do what ever it takes to obtain your license. It show integrity to answer that question honestly and that's what they're looking for. If you have something in your past, they WILL find out about it. Sometimes people forget about things in their past, especially people who enter into nursing as a second career and obviously are older...sometimes you just don't remember that time in the early 70's when you were a dumb very young adult and got popped for having a dime bag of marajuana on your person! They are pretty good in these circumstances and understand that people do make mistakes.

This is my experience in California. I'm sure other states also do background checks with the DOJ. Don't be afraid of it.

One of the things that woman said to me at the BRN was "remember, we're here because we want you to succeed at obtaining your license!"

Hope that helps!

~Sally

[Q.]

I don't think those would prevent you from sitting for boards, provided you disclose them beforehand on the application, I think. If you deny them, but they find them, it will automatically disqualify you.

[TX Guy]

Good luck in pursuing your goals Dadaui6!

Paul

[Totone656]

Originally posted by dadaui6

thanks for reading this email and i hope you are able to respond. i

am very interested in becoming a registered nurse and have done a lot

of research. i think it is the career for me.however, i have

commited to crimes when i was younger and hanging with a bad crowd.

when i was 19 i was caught concealing merchandise in a grocery store

and sentenced to probation, which i did not complete. i was then

jailed for two weeks. a little later, when i was 20, i was charged

with damage to personal property for throwing a rock at my

boyfriend's car. i served 3 months in jail for that and was also sent to the mental hospital for an evaluation. both of those

are misdemeanors. i also have a felony failure to appear charge that has been dropped. since then, i have been in counseling. and i have

volunteered for various agencies while working as a housekeeper,

secretary, and administrative assistant. these crimes were commited

five or six years ago, and i have been a law abiding citizen since.

is it not possible for me to obtain a license upon graduating from a

nursing program? please respond

Have you thought about checking with an attorney to see if your record could be esponged ? Some states let you have your record wiped clean from certain misdeamor charges after seven years of no arrests.

[louloubell1]

I would definitely follow the advice of other posters and seek out info from your state BON. When I was applying for boards I had to write out a lengthy explanation for two minor problems that were on my record. One was a midemeanor offense from when I was 15 years old, and the other was just a fine for violating a city ordinance. I think my explanation for the latter went something like, "I don't know what on earth possessed me to shoot off that bottle-rocket. . ." Just kidding of course, but I really did have to give detailed explanations for these two little indiscretions. . . made me really feel like a criminal. Good luck.