Writing Explanation Letter (criminal hx) For Nursing Board

[cml61]

Hi Melody

I have been through this twice. In 2012 I wanted to get into the medical field and was determined not to let my past deter me from seeking a future in a field I have a passion for. I went before the BON and was granted permission to sit for my CNA exam provided I had an evaluation done by IPN (Intervention Project for Nurses) and was then required to be in their program with a 5 year contract. I just went before the BON again last week in order to get permission to take the NCLEX for RN. I was granted permission. I see you are in Tennessee and they have TnPAP. I am not sure that you may be required to go through their program or not.

Keep your letter of explanation short and to the point and be honest. Admit your part in the poor choice you made and how your thinking has changed since that time. Include what you did to make those changes in thinking happen. I prayed for God to soften the hearts of all who read and heard my testimony. I prayed for Him to help me find the right words to say or NOT to say. Both times He answered my prayers!! If He has brought you to it He will get you through it :)

[707sciguy]

Wrote my letter to CA BON last year. Began letter with a summary of the event. Included a copy of citation and all related paperwork and documents certified by the court. Make no excuses and take responsibility. I then summarized some issues and hardships I was dealing with in my life that lead up to the event. The next section I spoke of all the things I did since that time. Did you complete probation? Incident free since that time? Went back to school, won awards and scholarships, maintained a high GPA, did community service? Include it all and how you have changed and will not repeat the same mistakes. If you can, get the charges expunged and include that paperwork as well. I also included copies of awards I had won and letters of recommendation from over 25 people. Professors, coworkers, mentors, preceptors, physicians, and spiritual leaders as to their perception of my character and their endorsement of my ability to practice as a nurse. Each letter was hand signed and ended with, "I declare under penalty of perjury that the aforementioned statements are true" START EARLY. There is much to do. I also hired a lawyer to help me get everything sorted out. I used RN Guardians, a legal firm that are experts in these types of situations. After it was all said and done I was allowed to take NCLEX and received my RN license unencumbered. I know it is stressful but with the proper preparation you will be successful. Good luck!

[mla30]

I have been dealing with the board since February of this year. I too only have one misdemeanor offense and the board has made it so horrible. Mine was 7 years ago.

I strongly suggest being as honest as possible. The board will read the police statements and all of that. When you do a declaratory order, which they will make you do if you have not already, it clearly states to explain everything about the incident.

I know that sounds stressful and it is, but I would simply explain what happened. You can include some of the details that may shed some light as to why things happened, but honestly, the board is looking to see how honest and upfront you are about the situation. I hope it works out for you. I literally met with the board today, 6 months later, and they want me to jump through more hoops. I just graduated my nursing program August 8, and Im still dealing with the board. Good luck

[Desert Lady]

Just the facts not whining or defensive but just the facts. When you write the letter let 2 people who know you and the incident read it. They maybe able to help you add or subtract somethings that are pertinent. Explain that there has been no other offences and this was just 1 day in your life that will not happen again. Explain all that has been done to prevent any other slips and if you have a pastor that can vouch for you ask him or her to write a letter of recommendation. I am sorry to say but this will probably consume a lot of your time and make you feel hopeless but when you actually have those license in your hand they will mean more to you than it does to any of your classmates. Ask the state board to let you have the priviledge of community service which would to be working as a healthworker but you need a license to do this.

[Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN]

Be prepared for some smart orifice to belittle you and doubt your ability to be a nurse because of this incident years ago. I have noticed folks on here tend to pass judgement and totally degrade people who ask genuine questions asking for help. It annoys me to no end.

At any rate, I don't have a situation like yours but I would suggest, as mla30 has, that you be honest and provide enough information to fully explain your situation. Go ahead and provide background if it contributes to the overall understanding of the situation. I think the worst thing you can do is not be thorough and make the process longer and harder than it has to be. Just my opinion.

Good luck and congratulations on your graduation!

[SEvansRN]

My bestie saw this post and suggested that I respond. I too had to write a letter to the board about a crime that occurred in 2009. I graduated in 2013 and today I'm a practicing RN. I suggest that you first take a look at yourself and see how much you've changed since the incident, because you have to be confident in yourself. If you were applying for licensure in a technical field stating only the facts would likely be sufficient, but you're applying for licensure as a nurse, and those who have the task of approving or denying you for said license are nurses. You don't have to make any excuses, but do be candid about what led to the incident, your rehabilitation afterwards, things that you intentionally did to change. Tell them about you now, how great of a nurse you would be and as a nurse how you would have handled the situation differently. Additionally, let the nursing process guide you. Assess the situation: look on the boards website and find out about the board members, don't stop there research them further. Data: look at the board minutes and read up how the board has previously handled displinary cases, and other details surrounding previous cases. Plan: with the knowledge you've gained make a plan for executing the letter. Intervention: use additional resources like a thesaurus and online copies of similar letters, relax and be thankful that you've made it this far. Evaluate: let someone else proof read before you send, and find out when the board meets, because you want to get your letter to them the week of the meeting. Hope that helps, best wishes!

[carrie_c]

I graduated nursing school in 2011 and I went through the same thing you are dealing with. I was terrified, but I got my license with no problems.

The most important thing is to be honest. Go into detail about what led up to it and just tell the truth. Also say that you know it was a mistake and you haven't ever gotten into any more trouble. Do take responsibility for it, but also be honest.

Explain steps you have taken in your life to be a better person. For example, if you've worked in the medical field in other areas or any volunteer work you have done.

I honestly think you will be fine. I had 2 convictions I had to deal with, both misdemeanors. Like you, it had been a long time ago and I was just honest about everything.

Be sure you get certified judgments from the courthouse and include those. I really think you will be OK as long as you are honest. The same when applying for jobs. Be honest. My prior record has never kept me from getting a job as a nurse.

Most places now only ask about felonies, thankfully. I don't mention it on those since they weren't felonies, but you have to be honest if they ask about any convictions. And don't worry about the judgmental people. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. And like someone said above, you will cherish your license when you get it. When I got mine, I literally fell on the floor and cried. I think you will be OK. Good luck! !

[errncam]

First of all, I want to tell you how sorry I am that you even have to include this past incident in your current life. Something so long ago overshadows all the joy you should be experiencing because you've completed an incredibly difficult course. You deserve to be congratulated for coming so far.

That said, I would advise you to obtain an administrative lawyer who is well versed in the laws and language of the Board of Registered Nursing in your state. The lawyer can give you proper advise. This is delicate and you don't want to make a critical error because your future is at stake. Laws and requirements vary from state to state so I wouldn't feel comfortable advising you specifically on your situation.

In the state of California, student nurses are being prevented from obtaining their licenses because of past infractions and are required to be heard by the BRN, then put on probation where a large amount of mandates are imposed upon them. It's really important that you receive good sound legal advise from someone who knows the BRN system specifically and can advise you of what to say and what isn't relevant or what could complicate things.

Please don't beat yourself up because that was then, this is now, you are a different person and that is what the BRN will want to see proof of. They are there to protect the public and the onus is on you to prove that you are trustworthy and safe. Be cautious and get legal council. I wish you the very best and know you will get through this to enjoy a wonderful career. You deserve that.

[marsbars62]

Yup, done this, twice now...once for my LVN and again for my RN. What they want to read is that you learned from the mistake, not a bunch of details trying to defend yourself because, in my opinion, that can sound as if you are NOT sorry or do not believe you made an error in judgement at that time. They read a billion of these letters and I think they are looking for words of reconciliation, admission of guilt, what you learned from the mistake and what you plan to do different in the future to avoid this mistake again. I hope this helps, I know these letters often bring up old feelings and maybe you were treated unfairly in that situation, but don't come across bitter. Good luck. Marsbars

[MichelletheRN]

Just be honest, and show how you have learned from this experience and changed to become a better person.

Where I worked back before we moved, I worked with this lady who was a CNA at the little hospital with me. She went to nursing school, but had about 10 years in her past gotten two felonies for selling meth to an undercover cop. She cleaned up her act, and did what time she needed to, accepting responsibility. She got off meth. She raised a family and went to college, but this was in her past.

She got the felonies expunged. A dozen or so doctors, nurses, etc wrote letters for her. I was one who wrote a letter. She went before the judge she did ten years earlier. He congratulated her and these were removed. We did this again when she applied for her license and received it with no restrictions.

I personally don't like her, but not because she used to do drugs. Everyone did dumb things at some point. I don't like her because i think she is annoying. But she is a perfectly fine and intelligent nurse who deserves her license.

[nk2011]

Just make sure to state your desire to be a nurse and that you learned from the mistake. Provide the requested court information and don't incriminate yourself in your letter to the board.

[Mocha25]

MelodyinTN2015 said:

Hello All,

I am just about to graduate nursing school. I am at the point where we are finishing up paperwork and registering for the NCLEX. Due to a misdemeanor charge that I plead guilty to about 11 years ago, I need to include an explanation letter with my application for licensure.

I am having a difficult time with this because I don't exactly what I should include in the letter. I understand that I need to include how I have changed, remorse for the crime, why I can now be trusted, ect... But I am not sure how much detail I am supposed to include about the actual circumstances surrounding my being charged with the crime. I am including all of the paperwork with my application that includes the arrest affidavit, statements from the person(s) who filed charges against me.

My dilemma is that I feel like I should be offering explanation, basically my side of the story, and what led up to the event. But at the same time I don't want to sound as if I am placing blame or giving excuses. However, there were extenuating circumstances that I think I should mention. So I don't know if I should go into all of that detail, or do I just explain that I am remorseful and sorry for my mistakes and leave it at that?

I have not been arrested repeatedly. This incident is the only criminal history that I have and it was almost 11 years ago. I have not had so much as a speeding ticket since that time.

If anyone else has experience writing a letter of this type and could offer some guidance I would be forever grateful. I have worked so hard to get through school and have overcome so much to get here. I am a single mother just getting out of a very unhealthy marriage and I feel like my ability to provide a good future for my children is resting on this one last hurdle, obtaining the license. So obviously this letter is stressing me out quite a bit.

Thank you in advance for any guidance and support that you can provide.

I have had to report criminal history to BON. I was having trouble at the beginning. I was not sure what to write to the BON either I came across a lawyer that represents nurses in situations like this or have trouble with BON. He has been representing me since this occurred . He wrote the letter to BON for me. It was an excellent letter. It had references in the letter. Having this lawyer represent me has reduced my stress level. I don't feel BON can take advantage of me since this lawyer has so much knowledge in this area. I would suggest representation to help you. It is expensive but well worth it.