Will I be able to be a nurse with a child felony charge?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

Seems to me that since only the BoN can correctly answer this, that's where the information you seek needs to come from. I wouldn't think it unreasonable to ask to have THIS case reviewed, so that you can be sure that THIS felony conviction will not bar you from licensure, and you'd want that in writing. Or, if it will....you want that in writing too.

Be aware that every individual State BoN sets their own rules so you may be licensed in one State but denied a license from another.

Good luck.

hmmsamantha · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks for your quick response, this is their response to me

" The Board has no authority to make a licensure decision or determine eligibility for licensure until an individual graduates from a program and submits an application to the Board of Nursing.

Each application is considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Board of Nursing and there are no absolute bars to licensure in the Board of Nursing statutes. The Board does however have a guidance document (90-55 for RN/LPN/CNA or 90-59 for CMT/RMA) that will provide you with information about the application process and consideration of criminal conviction history.

Virginia Board of Nursing Guidance Documents"

So i guess I'm suppose to go through with the program and then apply and hope i get lucky :sorry: I've emailed my lawyer and he said it shouldn't hinder me but I fear going through the stress of the program only to be denied. If that happens i plan to fight for it because my dream is to become a nurse. Thanks for your input!c

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome to allnurses.com

We moved your thread to another forum so you can receive replies from those with similar issues.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

Well, I can understand why they don't want to review cases for people who haven't even started nursing school, let alone graduated (as the attrition rate is quite significant between the start and the finish)....however that still leaves you wondering. Rough spot to be in!

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 21, 2015

As the Board of Nursing has said ... there is no way to get an official ruling on a particular person's case until they actually apply for a license. Until then, you have to decide whether or not the risk of not be approved is worth the risk for you.

However ... and note that this is not official in ANY way ... I have no "inside information." I live in Virginia and I have seen people with records such as yours, with non-violent, juvenile offenses be licensed. I believe you have good reason to be hopeful. I am happy to see that you have discussed this with an attorney and recommend that should there be any questions later, continue to do so. But in the end, no one can give you a guarantee.

Good luck.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2015

Hi Sam,

I agree with RNsRWe, and I'm sorry that you haven't been able to get a straightforward answer from your BON. It would really stink to invest a lot of time and money into a nursing degree and then not be able to practice. However, you do sound remorseful, and you were pretty young at the time...

Just two pieces of advice:

First, you should probably phrase your circumstance as 'felony charge as a minor,' not as 'child felony charge.' The latter makes it sound as though you had a felony charge related to children (i.e. child trafficking, child Media) which may turn the BON and future employers off right away.

Second, I'd recommend browsing through old AN forums in this section (Nursing Licensure with a Criminal History); other AN members' anecdotes may give you a clearer sense of your options if your BON is playing hardball.

3rdeyeRN · Jul 23, 2015

Check the wording on their application. There should be info on disclosures of crimes and felonies. In California you MUST disclose any arrest, whether it resulted in conviction, has been dismissed, or expunged. I've heard that other states only require you to disclose things that are within a certain time period, etc. Your juvenile record should be sealed thoughâ€¦so not sure how that would work. Anyway, I say that you should still pursue nursing if that's what your passion is. You were only 13 and it sounds like it didn't involve drugs or alcohol and it's been a long time since then. So, if you have nothing else on your record and can document what you have been doing in your life to better yourself since, go for it!

CFLA.RN · Jul 23, 2015

I'm not sure about your particular state, but an old friend of mine was able to petition the TX BON for licensure and they approved - he had several drug and theft convictions in his 20's and became and RN in his 40's. Me, personally, would not have allowed him to become a nurse given his history but they did allow it with certain stipulations (mainly that he have proven amount of NA meetings, etc, similar to TPAPN requirements). However, another student from my nursing school was not allowed to sit for the boards because of felony DUI charges 10 years prior. I think the difference in the two situations is that the first student petitioned the board prior to going to nursing school (I saw the letter from the board myself, before he had even been officially accepted into the nursing program) and the second student didn't petition until after he completed the program. Good luck!

BuckeyeL.p.n · Jul 30, 2015

I would go to the court and request a journal entry from the clerk. If you weren't convicted then you wouldn't need to get it expunged. Maybe it was dismissed. The only way to be for sure is to see it for yourself. Now if you were charged but not convicted then you have nothing to worry about. BON generally ask you about convictions but read the wording on your states BON carefully to see if they include "charged". But I highly doubt that. Good luck.

hmmsamantha · Dec 9, 2015

Thank you all so much for your input, I forgot my password so I wasn't able to log on for awhile LOL. Anyways I appreciate all your feedback and I'm starting to apply for programs this spring. :)