I attended nursing school for 2 years & am on the wait list for clinicals. Three years ago, did a dumb favor for someone that I thought was my friend. I am now a felon for possession w/ intent to distribute heroin. I received 4 years probation, but will receive an early discharge next July. I have recently completed a medical assistant program & am wondering if I'll be able to get licensed in Wisconsin as an RN. I am having a hard time finding a job as a MA. Does anyone know if Wisconsin will grant me a license? I have worked with someone before that was a felon with a drug case, she was a LPN & going back to school to obtain her RN. I have lost contact with her, so I'm unaware of the outcome. If anyone has info please let me know.
Thanks
Sandy
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November 13th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
you should look for another field. you have at best a very uphill battle. In most cases you will not be allowed to sit for the boards. Felonies that are decades old that do not involve drugs….maybe. Your offense is very recent and involves intent to distribute Heroin!!???!!!
I would not want you working under my license. No one else will either.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Heroin. Are you kidding? This is a joke question, right?
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Heroin- pretty serious, but maybe there is a way………….I was a very successful nurse for over 20 yrs. Until 2003/2004 misdemeanor unlawful possession/drug diversion charges/plead guilty & entered drug rehab/finished, still in treatment (case not final until 2005). My employer kept me (new job/not where diverted drugs)- but after 4.5 yrs. & 2 work injuries which went on forever & I tried to keep working for almost 1 yr, but eventually forced to quit. It is true- only the strong survive. Employers do not want any injured employees.
I still have RN probation to complete, but no one will hire me- even w/perfect record/neg. drug tests for 5 yrs/excellent reviews/
references/treatment provider records, etc.
All employers do a credit check & a background check. I have awful credit due to divorce/IRS issues still pending & the misdemeanor charges are there. Employers tell me can not hire due to “criminal record” (I always disclose this up front). The credit report & number DO MATTER- it can mean yes or no to a job.
I still don’t know why employers legally can ask for this- but they won’t accept an application without authorizing permission to obtain one.
It feels like a huge invasion of privacy to me.
The one way……………maybe……………
My State probation officer told me after 5 yrs from date of state probation finished I can write to State Mayor and ask to have criminal record expunged( a pardon). Must have a compelling reason, like why can’t get a job & show how improved self/references/volunteer work, etc. which I plan to do when my 5 yrs is up.
Maybe you can try the same if you were young, stupid, made one mistake & can show you are serious about being a nurse & show what you have done to improve self/education/volunteer work- Stay in college or find a different job in the meantime.
I don’t know if felony charges are too serious to ask for a pardon, but it sounds like you are young- so maybe you have a chance.
Everyone makes one big mistake in their lives & should be given a second chance, especially if they have earned and deserve it.
I have found that nurses are not very forgiving and do not seem to care/help out their fellow professional. Nurses seem to be held to a higher level of expectation and are expected to be perfect- Doctors & Pharmacists are treated differently by the public are more willing to help each other.
Good luck to you.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I suggest that you contact Wisconsin’s State Board of Nursing. Being a former nursing instructor I do know that some school ask on the application if you have ever been convicted of a felony and/or misdemeanor and if you answer yes, you must explain and then it is left up to the staff if you will be accepted into the program. I also know that the state boards of nursing also require a background check as part of your NCLEX application requirements so your history will show up and you have to explain again and they will decide if you can test. So my suggestion is to contact the board of nursing and discuss this matter with them before you go through nursing school and then cannot test. I hope this was helpful and I hope everything works out for you. GOOD LUCK!
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:42 pm
My friend is prepared to enter a Fl. Nursing program after completed her A.A. and Nursing prerequisites.
She was run off the road by aggressive drivers coming home from class. Feeling very afraid she just reached down to make sure her concealed gun was in the ready if this was a malicious attack.
These people passed her again and saw her holding it while checking the gun only.
They drove off and reported this. She was arrested for assault. The Judge on the case actually said this was an injustice but had to give her a felony. Will schools hear the details of a situation and still allow a student to go through nursing?
January 11th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Yes you can get a nursing license in the state of wi with felonies. Pennsylvania automatically bars licensure, it is stated on the nsbn website. I am going through the process now. About 10 percent of nurses have a drug problem and the states cannot afford to loose that many nurses. What my saving grace was us that I didn’t steal from work or endanger patients and secondly I immediately sought treatment after jail and stayed in treatment ever since so I have nothing to worry about