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danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 06:34 AM

Okay so to make this short and simple...

I am 18 years old... Right after high school I went to nursing school, I did excellent, made deans list and everthig... I pass my 1st year

That summer I did something VERY STUPID! I tried to shoplift a pair of shorts.. I was caught and now it says "retail theft" on my record.

I started my 2nd year of nursing school.. still going great.. etc

Thing is.. this May I graduate and I can sit for my boards to become an R.N.
Sounds great and everything but I still have "retail theft" on my record! And one lawyer said I can not exsponge it for at least 5 yearssss.

Can someone help/tell me if I am even going to be able to SIT and take my boards this summer? Let alone.. even get a nursing job. I applied to a few places to get a nurses aide job and I got refused every time because of this stupid thing I did on my record. I learned so much after having this happened to me.. Im deeply sorry for what I did and I am willing to spend anything to correct this situation.
Oh by the way... I live in PA

Please someone give me any kind of information if you have gone though this expeirence... or know someone this has happened too.

Thanksss

Fr_Chuck · Jan 12, 2011, 07:22 AM

Good and bad news

1. one when you were arrested you needed an attorney to help you get a first offender program ( almost every place has one) so that after you did your probation, it dropped from your record. ** that is the bad news unless you did that and did not tell us

2. good news, yes you should be able to sit and hopefully pass the test and become a nurse.

3. so/so news, you will be applying for jobs against dozens of others who may or may not have a misdemeanor on their records. So.
a. how is your other work hisotry on part jobs while in school or other jobs before you went to school
b. what type of other references will you have

So you may not get into the best paying position, you may have to go to work at a place that is harder to work for, plays less and has worst benefits, at least till you get some experience.

On the other side, do you have any contacts, people you know, family who work in the medical field, that can help you with a job

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 07:37 AM

If I was arrested and already pled guilty to the charges... can I still do the 1st offender program? I never heard of it.. I def want to look into it!

Yeah that's my goal right now, at least sitting for my boards... I have a very good GPA... good clinical experience... and I don't want to know I just wasted 50,000 dollars in schooling for the past two years and I can't even become a nurse.

My one aunt is a O.R. nurse... but that's it, nobody in my family has any other medical field anything, so it sucks. I really just want to get this off my record. I really am honestly a good person, I'm responsible, dependable, and a hardworker.. I was just with the wrong person at the time when I chose to steal the shorts.. I now don't associate with that person, but its still on my record and it looks horrible.

Thank You for your help

J_9 · Jan 12, 2011, 07:41 AM

As Chuck said, most likely you will be able to sit for your boards since this is a mere misdemeanor that has nothing to do with drugs, abuse or violence. However, it does have to do with theft, so that is not going to sit well for your character when you apply for a job.

All nursing positions I know of, and I am an RN, are required to go through a background check prior to hiring. This is where you are going to get hurt as so many students have pristine records and will be hired before someone with a tarnished record.

Do you have an attorney? Have you been to court and been sentenced?

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 07:50 AM

I am currently a nursing student

Last June, June2010.. I tried to steal a pair of shorts from Khols department store.. I was caught...
The cops were called.. arrested... in a holding cell for a few hours.. fingerprinted... and had to pay fines.

That was like 7ish months ago... but this May I am graduating from my nursing program.. and This summer I can sit for my Boards (Ill be 20 years old).. I can get my R.N. (I live in PA)

A few questions:
1. How can I get this off my record "retail theft" before 5 years? - *This is my big question*
2. Will I be able to sit for my boards this summer to get my nursing license?
3. Even if I get my license... Able I going to be able to get a nursing job?

Please someone help, I'm desperate!. I really am passionate about being a nurse and I do not want this to ruin my future as a nurse... I have NEVER done anything else, not even had a detention in high school.

I do not know anything about the law, or the whole court system or anything. So any kind of information helps

Thankss<3

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 07:51 AM

No I do not have an attorney, and I have not been to court for this..

Fr_Chuck · Jan 12, 2011, 07:53 AM

Please do not start new threads for same question, merely answer the question ( not using comment feature) to add more info.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 12, 2011, 07:55 AM

Since you have not been to court yet, hire an attorney, have them try to work out a deal, to allow this to be dismissed if you do certain things.

That is assuming you have not been to court, have not plead guilty or have not taken some deal already.

If you are already sentenced, there is nothing you can do to get it off the record now.

It is not going to destroy your career only make it harder to get a good start.

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 08:02 AM

I did pled quilty to the charge back in July2010, but I did not have to go to court for it

J_9 · Jan 12, 2011, 08:05 AM

Remember, it's better to scroll down to the Answer box rather than using the comment feature.

Have you been sentenced? Did you have to pay restitution?

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 08:13 AM

Haha sorry guys I'm new to this whole thread thingy.

Yeah I pled quilty and on my record it says "Retail theft"
I had to pay fines... like 700 bucks.. I pay them all.

JudyKayTee · Jan 12, 2011, 08:54 AM

This site says it's a case by case basis and advises that you contact the State Board of Nursing - Start here---FAQ: Nursing Licensure With A Criminal History - Nursing for Nurses.

And the advice to contact an Attorney is solid advice, although it may be too late to correct/change anything. You say that "one lawyer" said the arrest cannot be expunged for a period. Who was this lawyer? Your Attorney? Somebody else?

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 09:07 AM

Yeah it was my dads lawyer or his girlfirned lawyer. Idk I think I need to look into it more.

Yeah ill go on that site and maybe call or send them an email

adthern · Jan 12, 2011, 03:42 PM

So long as it was a misdemeanor (which it sounds like it), you can at worst wait till the 5 years is up and have it expunged/sealed. I think taking the boards will be fine, the job part is the part you will have trouble with (as stated above). Though, there will be some jobs that others will not want (you probably won't either) but they will be open to you (nursing home, doctors office, etc.. ).

Likely in 5-10 years no one will care about an old shoplifting beef. So, don't get too down about it. Another option that might be open, I am honestly not sure... is when you finish your education, you could go on for a BSN and join one of the armed forces, they tend to be OK with minor and sealed records (its a thought).

danadee · Jan 12, 2011, 05:46 PM

Yeah that's true.. 5-10 year is a long time and people grow up and learn (which I DEF have learned and matured alot)
And yes I am going for my BSN so after that is over and I have my BSN... it will be 4 years since it happened

JudyKayTee · Jan 12, 2011, 06:14 PM

Without a nursing license - which I think is the question - OP cannot be employed as an RN, no matter where she chooses to work. She needs to resolve the licensing question.

adthern · Jan 13, 2011, 11:16 AM

Judy, licensing should not be a problem with simply a misdemeanor (so long as the OP doesn't lie about it), it's the felony convictions that are the preclusion for licensing (generally speaking, though it varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction).

JudyKayTee · Jan 13, 2011, 01:03 PM

In NY (where I am) it's a problem. Perhaps your experience is different. At any rate, OP needs to check with the Nursing Licensing Board as it's on a case by case basis. She has already been refused jobs because of her record.

I've done some of these background checks and the misdemeanor was a problem. Perhaps that is not the case in Mass (where you are). Unfortunately Pa says "case by case" so unless OP comes back, we'll never know.