11 years ago, positive UDS, can I get a job?!

John_T · Apr 29, 2016

I would check the box that you have been in the military and if asked that you were honorably discharged. I highly doubt they will ever ask to see your paperwork. If they do, then that is when you should provide an explanation. As far as I know no employer has ever verified anything on my resume except professional certifications.

chare · Apr 29, 2016

I would check the box that you have been in the military and if asked that you were honorably discharged. I highly doubt they will ever ask to see your paperwork. If they do, then that is when you should provide an explanation...

I think this is bad advice. If/when they ask for a copy of your DD 214, what are going to tell them? If you are less than honest on an employment application and are found out, it will likely result in your immediate termination.

SNRN2BE · Apr 29, 2016

I should have been more clear, my apologies. I've been offered employment as an RN, where I did the bulk of my clinicals while in my RN program. The hospital's HR has asked me to complete an online questionnaire with a company that's been contracted to perform a background check on all new applicants (as well as current employees).

You enter your information in the fields offered, one is "relevant military service." The parent human resources department representative I spoke with about accessing my DD214, said that they will receive a copy of my DD214 but that they only go back seven years. Wasn't entirely sure if they'd receive it and consider it or not. That said, I already put military service and my MOS on my resume which the nurse manager has. The military stated on my discharge paperwork that I was not found to be a user or an abuser. I have all of the paperwork surrounding my discharge, on military letterhead. They told me that one day, I would need it to explain what happened.

I guess I'm more asking if I have a chance of gaining employment by just bringing in the paperwork and explaining the circumstances. In other words, would you consider hiring someone in my position? Other than this obviously unfortunate situation, I have never had any involvement with any kind of controlled substance (other than prescribed medications). I am now in my 40s and am hoping to one day create a life for me and my children, free of this whole mess for a crime, I didn't even commit.

Interestingly, the military has since changed it's policy and allows a one time blip for those who were positive on UDSs but that change occurred two years after I got out.

Any tips would be appreciated. I do have some time as I'm not even able to take the NCLEX until June.

Thank you

SNRN2BE · Apr 29, 2016

So are you offering any advice on how to proceed? Would you consider hiring someone in my circumstances?

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2016

Some of what you wrote seems contradictory and confusing. Like this part:

"I'm afraid of being accused and found guilty again for a crime, I didn't commit. I have official military documents proving my innocence but again, at the time, the military's policy was zero tolerance."

nutella, MSN, RN · Apr 30, 2016

You did serve though it sounds - did you get discharged dishonorably? I am confused, sorry.

In any way - I think that if you are clean now, no other offenses, no rehab for drug addiction and such, other crime and so on there can't be that much coming up on your background check.

If on the other hand you also have other stuff that would come up, that is a different story.

If the BON cleared you to sit for the NCLEX it means that they think you are able to be a nurse at this moment.

If you did get discharged dishonorably from the military and it shows up - that will raise questions.

If you are not honest about your military service and it comes out later they may let you go. Some background checks are very comprehensive while others don't dig that deep.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Apr 30, 2016

First off, thank you for your service.

There are so many strange service situations, that end up with for instance, PTSD and other issues relevant to time served. Many people realize this, including people who hire. Few have a straight shot military history, such as it was say back in the 80's.

I would at least pass this all by an attorney who specializing in nursing issues.

There are few facilities (dependent on where you want to work) that will do a full out backround check--it is usually a CORI form. So if you were brought up on charges, then it could show up on your CORI. Many states now have a "no adult convictions" mandate, if your were not actually convicted of a crime. But all of this needs to be discussed with an attorney who can advise you of your steps.

Regardless of your military history, you are a Vet. And Vets can have complicated and even sometimes a heartbreaking dynamic. Wishing you nothing but the best going forward.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 30, 2016

Threads merged.

SNRN2BE · Apr 30, 2016

My discharge was characterized as "General, Under Honorable Conditions" reason for discharge "Misconduct, Drug Abuse." This allowed me to use my Montgomery GI Bill, thus my ability to go to school. I am clean now and was then as well. If I had provided that sample for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, it would have resulted in a negative test. However, the military's standards are lower than many other testing facilities. Based on an evaluation conducted by the military at the time of the positive UDS, I was found to not be a user or an abuser of controlled substances.

For the record, typical positive UDS service members get an Other Than Honorable discharge. It's rare for a service member to get anything worse than that for a positive UDS.

Back to my question, if a nurse came in with documentation proving the unknowing ingestion and you were a hiring supervisor, would you hire said person?

caliotter3 · Apr 30, 2016

The majority of my job applications did not ask about military service at all. Those that did, did not ask about disciplinary action or character of discharge.

SNRN2BE · Apr 30, 2016

Thank you for your response and I will try to clear up any confusion I may have caused iwth my post.

Some of what you wrote seems contradictory and confusing. Like this part:

"I'm afraid of being accused and found guilty again for a crime, I didn't commit. I have official military documents proving my innocence but again, at the time, the military's policy was zero tolerance."

What I meant was, going through that ordeal was traumatizing for me. I can't say for sure that I've gotten over it as I still wake up having nightmares from "being accused and found guilty for a crime I didn't commit." That was through an administrative process, I asked for a court martial so the rules and laws of court would apply, my request was denied, so there is no legal conviction or the like of this incident.

In regards to my statement of zero tolerance, if there is/was more than 100 nanograms in your system, in the eyes of the powers that be for the military, it is viewed as having done the drug. To respond to the statement before that, "I have official military documents proving my innocence," my unit commander of the post I was on (with some 2,000 people), said he believed I deserved the benefit of the doubt but the military's policy over rode his position and thus he had to comply with military policy.

I hope this clears up whatever confusion I may have caused and allows for someone to respond with something like, "yes, I would hire you if you came to me with a situation like this" or "no, I wouldn't hire someone with a situation like this, because of A. B. C. and D. or unless said person did A. B. C. and D."

My initial approach to the situation is to bring all of my documents to the nurse manager and give it to her to allow her to make an informed decision. But to restate what I've said, I just don't want to be accused of something I didn't do all over again, it was very traumatizing for me.

Thank you in advance for any time you spend reading and responding.