Worried my nursing career might be over...

[foreverLaur]

Long story short - good friend (or so I thought) asked me to sell some vintage microphones for her. I obliged as I knew she needed more $$ as she had recently expanded and redone her recording studio. Reseached the microphones, sold them, got the $11,000, gave her the $$ and she vanished. I was called in by the police to ask if I could help explain the situation and help them find her. I told them everything I knew, they found her, and she was arrested. Then, they charged me with the same crime they charged her (felony theft) because she said I knew the microphones were a fraud and agreed to sell them anyway. I hired a lawyer, got multiple forms of proof, and spoke to a lot of people. They essentially told me they couldn't drop the charges because it would make the new prosecutor look bad - I could go to trial or do a diversion program. I opted for diversion because on the 0.01% chance I'd get convicted, my life would be ruined. I essentially had to not break the law for a year and the charges would be dismissed and expunged. On a BCI, nothing shows up but the NCLEX application asks if you've ever done diversion so I have to mark yes and it shows up on a FBI background check. No one will hire me in the hospital world and all the nursing schools are denying me admission due to my background of having been charged (not convicted) of a felony. They all assume I was guilty because I wouldn't go to trial. I thought I was taking the safe route -- little did I know! Any ideas how another way to approach this? Apparently those who have never been involved in the legal world don't realize they charge, then investigate. People assume they investigate and only charge if they have valid proof. The prosecutor even wrote a letter explaining that they had no proof against me (after it had been dismissed) and to not hold this against me in any way and it didn't help at all.

[HoustonTXRN]

it's one thing to qualify for an expungement, but then again hospitals and government affiliated agencies can still see it. That's what the law in Texas says. So do some law research in your state.

[Racharina]

Thanks Houston,

I will ck the web site. I brought up the NAVY to my husband and he almost had a "nervous breakdown". He is like: "who have you been talking to? you have two kids, they can't be without their mother"... oh boy. Well, my husband does not know what I am going through. I haven't told him I got accepted into school and most likely they won't let me stay due to my infraction. I will go to my grave before I tell him about this.

However, I must say my husband told me the Navy is a reputable entity, but also brought up the fact that they are salespeople. Who knows. I feel I am in a dead end tunnel.

foureverlaur,

they say that about expungements, but nursing can still see it. That is what my lawyer told me. You still have to disclose it. Isn't that amazing? But it is better than an infraction, they can't never be expunged, even though infractions are less severe than misdemeanors and felonies. Some times I feel the law is so washi wishi.

[mag1]

Foureverlaur,

I graduated nursing school in June 2010. I live in Ohio and like you I contacted the board before starting LPN school. I have a felony theft charge not conviction as well, and they assured me that it would be fine under the circumstances. Now I have applied to sit for the exam and things are different. I applied in June and I'm still waiting for a decision. As of today the attorney for the board emailed me and said my application is going in front of the board Sept 23, for a notice of opportunity for hearing. Not sure what that is, but basically the board will decide if they will deny my application, grant an application with restrictions or reprimand me and fine me $500 but grant the license with no restrictions. I guess after they decide I will go before them in November and they will give me the decision they have made. Stressful to say the least. I have a job opportunity in Indiana (I live minutes from the state) and I'm deciding if I should just test in Indiana since they have approved my application. Problem now is that I've went this far with Ohio I'm not sure what I do once I'm in front of them in November if I have an Indiana license? Guess ask for an endorsement? I don't know.

[foreverLaur]

Is your felony charge still pending or has it been dismissed?? They can't punish you if it was dismissed because that means you were not found guilty of the crime...

[WadeRN]

I'm an RN with a misdemeanor. I graduated a little over a year ago and still have a hard time getting a job in the hospital due to my record that occurred 5 years ago. I'm honest about my record on job applications. I almost landed a job 2 weeks ago. I was offered a full time position and completed all of my paperwork. When it came time for the criminal background check to process, they halted my employment process because they didn't like the idea of hiring a nurse with a record. During that time, they gave me the run arounds every time i called to ask about the start date. Long story short, I was denied the position a week later through a mail they sent me. They couldn't even tell me over the phone from all those times i called. I was very disappointed. And from that moment on, the phrase "my nursing career is over" kept replaying over and over in my head. I'm really sorry to burst your bubbles. I just didn't understand why the BON still allowed my to go to nursing school.

I can totally relate. I am an RN with a misdemeanor and I was with a week of having a job. I too was honest and up front and 3 days before my start date they rescinded the offer. I feel very broken but am determined that someone out there will give us RNs a second chance. I hope thing have been better for you since this post