That's a little sad, i think it's going to be such a hard-hard work for you if you still insist in continuing your nursing program. You were convicted of felony for health care fund fraud and mind you it is a serious offense in the US, that aggravates your case of not being accepted in the program because your conviction is related to the career you want to pursue right now. Not being judgemental here, but i guess, if i were on your shoes, i would rather take a different step from here....

man FORGET IT, the BON is notoriously like NAZIS, spend your time getting an XRAY license and that  would give you great $$$$ and less grief anyway. any lawyer who has dealt with the BONS in any state would give you that advice. Better your conviction was drugs or theft, but defrauding the public trust.man ...............???????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would demand that they review it now before you waste all your money on nursing.  Without your nursing license, regardless of a degree, it is not worth crap.  Take it from me.  I will be getting another degree in something else.  My  license is still available, but I have stipulations too, because what happened to me happened under a very , very stressful time.  But I will be retiring in a couple of years, so I rather pursue this challenge and go on with my life, rather than cause myself embarrassment. 

I think I would be equally concerned about getting a job in healthcare. Even the smallest of employers do background checks. My advice is to pay a lawyer who can advise you and check the regs on expunging this conviction. Until that can happen I'm with the person who said in their opinion you're screwed. I would imagine any medical program would be the same as nursing.

I am not an attorney and offer no advice - just an observation of our profession as it intersects with current events and close scutiny presently from a growing sector of the public and regulatory agencies.  There are two very huge variables which no entity, including a State Board Of Nursing (SBON), can predict: 1) any changes in an individual's legal or conviction status between entry into a nursing program and completion of licensure requirements and 2) possible changes in the state's legislation which may be amended in the years between acceptance into nursing school and initial registration after completing all requirements to obtain a nursing license.

With all the heightened scrutiny SBONs are under since the recent scathing report ProPublica articles cited between October 2008 and July of 2009 regarding California RNs with criminal convictions, I would not be surprised if a past conviction may be an increasingly difficult characteristic to sell to SBONs and prospective employers in the future.

For anyone with a conviction in any way related to misappropriation of medication or a similar charge, you may find The Prescription Addiction Radio Show which airs each Sunday from 9-10pm Eastern of value.  It can be accessed live at www.860WGUL.com and has archived shows with commentary on this issue as it relates specifically to nurses at www.prescriptionaddictionradio.com on past show dates of 3-22-09 and 7-19-09.  Tonight's show will also have a segment specifically related to nursing.  Paula Davies Scimeca, RN, MS

You know, you're right. I say banish this fiend. Let him, or her, be a criminal all their life. Makes sense to me - how about you? Or should society actually practice what they preach and after a person pays for their mistakes let them move on? And this person doesn't say what the specific charge was. Billing for wheelcahirs 2 times? Billing for patients long dead but still needing a scooterchair?

Oh and how about the nurses you know who smoke dope but haven't been nabbed at it or drive drunk regularly? Or lie on their income tax every year?

Anonymous says ...

I would demand that they review it now before you waste all your money on nursing.  Without your nursing license, regardless of a degree, it is not worth crap.  Take it from me.  I will be getting another degree in something else.  My  license is still available, but I have stipulations too, because what happened to me happened under a very , very stressful time.  But I will be retiring in a couple of years, so I rather pursue this challenge and go on with my life, rather than cause myself embarrassment. 

You can't demand the Board of Nursing to do anything.  Making a demand like you suggest is a sure shot way of getting a "HELL NO" answer.  Nursing Boards are notoriously tough on any nurse or would be nurse who commits actions that endanger the public welfare. 

That being said, it depends on how badly you want to be a nurse, what you've done with your life since your conviction, and how long ago that conviction was.  If it was years ago, you might have a good shot, especially if you have been doing things that promote public or community welfare, like volunteer work (that is not part of a community service sentence).

It's a risk vs benefit question.  If you want to do something in healthcare, you might have to look for something that doesn't require state licensure, but most of those jobs are labor intensive and low paying.

What are you looking to do in nursing, why is it you want to be a nurse?  Your answers to those questions might help you make a better decision.  If you want to get into nursing because it provides job security, is well paying in your area, and there is a shortage where you live then you might want to rethink your career choice.  The effort of nursing school combined with the anxiety of not knowing if you'll get a license probably won't make it worth your while.

If, OTOH, you are sure it is because you feel you have a calling towards working with the sick, you can take a shot and try and convince the Board you are a changed person.

Even if you're sure it is because you want to make a positive difference, you might want to look at other ways to acheive your goal that won't require you to go through this kind of process.

 A felony bars one from voting in most places and owning a firearm in all places.... and prevents one from getting many professional licenses...in many states Lawyer, policeman etc... why should nursing be different?

LawyerRN again...

I forgot to add - yeh, health care fraud will probably bar you from licensing! But check anyway....

What's with all the anonymity, the first thing, be true to who you are and then take steps from there...... I don't know if you could get in but I would give it a shot.  I would definately check in my state.  If you have to list it on the RNCLEX test, you cannot take it.  I have had many students that ran into that and at the end could not even take the test....  As for someone saying to go for Rad Tech, Pharm Tech, same premise at least here in TX

Yeah, I did it to be a smart butt.  And WHAT!!!!!!

Anonymous says ...

Yeah you probably can't be a nurse. But you should be imminently qualified to be a health insurance administrator. Or hospital CEO.

 

Now that is funny. I wish I had thought of it.

Wel well well.......I have seen people say some pretty mena and hateful things here before but this takes the cake. You dont know the situation of the poster or what the exact crime was and yet you condemn them. Lawyer RN said it right, 10 years ago someone passed one bad check and you are f%*& for life. I know I know not exact words. But really people, before you cast stones, think about what the heck you are saying! I saw a bunch of mena heartless people here on this thread today. Reminds me of a lifetime movie I once saw.

Jenn

I have a question for lawyerRN:  Is the reason most hospitals and clinics won't hire nurses with felonies because of their Medicare guidelines?   I am an RN with a recent felony conviction.  I have great experience and interview well.  But when they find out I have a felony they won't hire me.  Where else should I seek employment????? Thanks

All nurses should be aware of the trends in legal statutes and nursing board requirements in the US, particularly the recent passage of the Florida State Senate Bill 1986 which bars anyone from obtaining a license as a healthcare professional in Florida until fifteen years after completing any probationary period related to any drug related offense.  With all due respect to those who feel one should know when they are doing something wrong, the fact is that several students have become caught up regarding the passage of this bill as they had a possession or similar charge in high school and found after completing educational requirements for licensure that they were unable to sit for the boards.  While what is applicable as far as law varies widely state to state, the trend is clear, especially with the recent GAO report on Medicaid Fraud Related to Diversion of Controlled Substances, that there will no doubt be heightened scrutiny and requirements, as well as more vigorous prosecution, as per this report's recommendations.  Paula Davies Scimeca, RN, MS