Nursing School Application

[jen9394]

My question involves criminal records for the state of: North Carolina/Tennessee.

After walking through a prolonged period of illness with a family member, a lot of her RNs and MDs suggested nursing school for me. I am definately interested in this, but I have a misdemeanor criminal record. I am curious to know whether or not this will disqualify me from nursing school or employment. I was a young stupid kid and not the person that I was back then. I have worked as a nanny and with elderly patients for a long time and this never comes up on my background checks for that profession, but the company that my clinical employer uses is very thorough. BIB = Background Investigation Bureau.

The charges were as follows:
A roomate made a false allegation of theft, I entered a diversionary program and paid restitution and in return had a misdemeamor conviction. I was told it would be expunged after two years, but since I was fingerprinted at the time of arrest I would assume that the arrest record would still show. This was in TN. This was 5 years ago.

I have a driving on a revoked charge that was plead down to failure to notify the DMV of an address change. This was in NC.

Thoughts?

[free9man]

Unless you transport patients in a vehicle, the theft charge is the biggest concern. Trustworthiness/integrity are a big deal with caregivers. Why did you plead guilty to something if you were innocent? If it was properly expunged, normally only courts/law enforcement have access to records of it. Records held by private companies may still exist though. Is it possible that they might find it? Yes. Some places an expunged charged does not have to be disclosed because it technically did not happen. Not sure about your jurisdiction. You need to find out because depending on the wording of the question on your application, you may or may not have to disclose it.

A full and complete motor vehicle history check may also disclose the original citation you received as well as the one you plead down to.

[jen9394]

I considered running a comprehensive check through the same firm but was not able to.
I would disclose it on the app if asked. I would not be dishonest.

I plead guilty because that is what my attorney advised me to do. It was a former friend's word against mine. And faced with a possible felony charge and conviction, he advised me to to take the PTD as I had never been in trouble before and it would give me the best change of not having a criminal record in the event of something like this - where I had made positive changes and wanted to pursue a career.

[free9man]

I would disclose it on the app if asked. I would not be dishonest.

It's all in how the question is worded. If it simply asks about prior convictions, and you are told by the court you don't have to disclose the expunged charge (like it never happened), you should be safe to not disclose it. If it asks about prior convictions, including those that have been expunged, discharged through diversion, etc...then yes you would still need to disclose it.

[jen9394]

I was told by a friend who had entered the same program that it asks, "Have you ever been accused or convicted?"

[free9man]

I was told by a friend who had entered the same program that it asks, "Have you ever been accused or convicted?"

I would contact the court and inquire on that one. It is very ambiguous and without knowing the exact details of your diversionary program, I can't say which way it would go.

[jen9394]

OK, thanks! The court is now out of state for me, is that they type of info that I should be able to get over the phone? I had a public defender. Should I contact his office or the clerk of court?