will prior dwi stop nursing school from accepting my application

laurenD · Jun 30, 2005

I completed nursing school in Texas this past December. A classmate of mine was in this same situation. He is 42 and had a DWI charge in his late 20s. He sent his paperwork to the Board of Nurse Examiners about 14 months prior to graduation and made a declaration about it. He was not allowed to work as a GN after graduation but was allowed to obtain his RN assuming he passed the NCLEX, which he did. While he was not able to start a January internship due to not having a GN permit, he was able to gain employment as a PCA and transitioned to an RN position after he passed the test.

Hope this info is useful.

~Lauren

nicola33 · Jun 30, 2005

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. I think his main concern is the actual nursing school program kicking him out and giving his place to someone else, I dont believe they have viewed his criminal back ground check yet, but will in a few days. Its very worrying for him. It sounds like your friend was actually able to complete school, thats good. I am not familiar with what a GN is, and does everyone have to take the NCLEX exam? I am sorry, I only know the things that he talks to me about and right now its just making sure he is still accepted when they see the dwi.

thanks again!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 30, 2005

To be sure exactly I suggest you call the BON of your state. They are the most indicated in answering your question to its full extent.

I wish you and your boyfriend the best of luck. :)

nicola33 · Jun 30, 2005

Thank you Jessica, how do I find out about the BON of the state, I dont know much about this, I am trying to reasearch information for him to try to ease his mind a little, I am not familiar with the word BON, what is this, and how do I get a number to contact them. thanks!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 30, 2005

Thank you Jessica, how do I find out about the BON of the state, I dont know much about this, I am trying to reasearch information for him to try to ease his mind a little, I am not familiar with the word BON, what is this, and how do I get a number to contact them. thanks!

I don't know what state you are in hun, but try googling it on the web or on the phone book. Usually uder (state name) board of Nursing.

They will tell you exactly the answer. Good luck

GrnHonu99, RN · Jul 1, 2005

I am actually looking up information for my boyfriend, he recently was accepted into the RN nursing programme. He has excellent grades and has been doing all the classes he could possibly take prior to entering the nursing programme. Now he has a dwi on his record, 18 years ago, he is extremely worried that his application could be turned down because of this. At this time they are requiring he give them a criminal check, which he has done, and it showed up the dwi. Have you any information on this matter, could this affect his future career in nursing? Any advice....Please. Thank you for your time in reading this.

I would say probably not. Just tell him NOT to lie about it if asked...as long as he is truthful he should be ok. I know several people here in my state that have had DUI/DWI's and have become nurses no problem...Criminal background checks are mostly for identifying patterns of behaviors or finding violent convictions...I know that if someone has been convicted of any kind of violent misdomeanor or felony that it is a problem. Also certain felonies automatically disqualify you: murder, rape, child molestation of any kind, arson, etc...also drug convictions usually are very bad, although i have seen some people graduate and go on that have minor drug convictions...the Ohio Board of Nursing, will tell you that they take every case by a case to case basis and will look at how old you were at the time, if there are multiple infractions, what kind of trouble if any have you been in since then...I would suggest like all the others to contact your state board of nursing bc they do vary from state to state...what is ok in Ohio may not be ok in your state.