Can A Felon Be A Nurse? Being a nurse will prove to be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. You’re doing something amazing and helping people in your community. Plus, you can save lives during your career. You want to serve the public and help people when they’re at their most vulnerable.
The only problem is that you’ve been convicted of a felony crime in the past. Is this something that is going to prevent you from becoming a nurse? Ultimately, it shouldn’t. In most cases, you can still work as a nurse even if you’ve been convicted of a felony.
However, it could. It depends on the circumstances of the conviction. More about this will be provided below.
Can You Be A Nurse With A Felony Conviction?
You’re likely worried that your criminal conviction is going to stop you from becoming a nurse. In most cases, this isn’t true. Despite having a criminal record, you can likely still get your license and begin working as a licensed nurse in your state.
However, you may need to complete certain steps before you can get a license. It depends on where you live and how long it has been since you were convicted.
For instance, you must wait five years after you’ve completed your sentence before you can get a nursing license in Texas.
Can A Felon Become A Nurse?
As mentioned above, felons can become nurses in most states. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to check the laws in your respective state since they tend to vary.
If you are patient and willing to work hard, you’ll likely be able to get a nursing license regardless of your criminal history. Can a convicted felon become a nurse? You can if you’re willing to work a bit harder than the average individual.
Can You Be A RN With A Felony?
Whether you’re trying to become an LPN or RN, you’re likely concerned that your felony conviction is going to help you back.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Even if you’ve been convicted in a court of law, you can still become a registered nurse. In all likelihood, you’ll have to wait five years after you’ve completed your sentence before you can get your license.
Remember that this includes your parole if it was part of your sentence. Once you’ve completed this period, you can get your license and begin working in your area.
Can You Have A Felony And Be A Nurse?
If you’ve been working as a nurse and get convicted of a felony, you’re likely going to find yourself in a bad situation. You’ll need to start serving your sentence as soon as possible.
Once you’ve completed the sentence and wait five years, you can likely begin working as a nurse again. Just remember that you won’t be able to work until you’ve completed both steps.
Can I become a nurse with a felony? Yes. Individuals in this situation will need to be more patient since they’ll likely have to wait five years before they can begin working once again.
Focus on completing your sentence before moving forward.
The Degree
Before someone can begin working as a nurse, they’ll have to obtain a degree. There are numerous degrees associated with this field. For instance, you can become an LPN or RN. If you weren’t working as a nurse before your conviction, you’ll need to get a degree.
Most nursing programs require participants to complete certain tasks in the classroom. They’ll also get experience in a hospital. Therefore, you can get hands-on real-world experience during the class.
There is a lot to it, so you’ll need to be ready to work hard for many years to come. Although it seems like a lot of work, it’ll prove to be well worth it. Once you’ve received your degree, you can begin working hard as a nurse, helping people, and making a great salary.
Felony Crimes Of Moral Turpitude
Most felons can indeed become nurses five years after their sentence has been served. However, this may not be the case. There is a chance that you’ve been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude.
A handful of crimes fit into this category. For instance, it could be abduction, child endangerment, murder, harming an elderly person, or burglary.
The list goes on and on. If you’ve been involved in the manufacturing, delivery, or sell of drugs, you likely can’t become a nurse either.
Remember that the state board is going to evaluate each case and determine whether the applicant is a good candidate. As a result, they’re going to conduct a background check and find out what you were convicted of.
Once they’ve done this, they’ll analyze your past and determine whether you’re qualified to become a nurse in your state.
Be Ready For The Application
Whether you have a felony conviction or not, you need to be ready for the application. You’ll have to submit a nursing school application.
It is a good idea to use this to your benefit by proving that you’re a good candidate for the job. Let the nursing board know what you’ve done to improve your life. Your criminal background check is going to hurt. However, you can show that you’ve taken steps to overcome your past mistakes.
Always be open and honest when completing the application because the board is going to find out anyway. Therefore, you should tell the truth.
If you’ve managed to get the conviction expunged, you should tell the board about it. Although the expunged conviction may not show up, it could. It is wise to be truthful about it.
Try Background Checking Yourself
You’ll also want to find out what the board is going to find out about you. The best way to do that is by performing a background check on yourself.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll know what is going to show up on your background check. For instance, you might find that your expunged conviction is going to show up anyway. Once you’ve received the report, you’ll know what they’re going to see.
Then, you can begin taking steps to explain these convictions. Remember that the board is going to conduct an FBI background check.
You should do the same. Submit your fingerprints to the FBI so you can find out what is going to show up on your criminal record.
Be Ready For Other Steps
Finally, you need to be ready for a handful of other steps. Besides completing the course, you’ll also need to pass the nursing exam. It won’t be easy, but you can do it. Once you’ve received your license, you can begin applying for nursing jobs in your area.
Again, you’ll have to prove that you’re a good candidate. When applying, be truthful. Be ready to explain your past when completing the application. You’ll also need to explain yourself during the job interview.
Summary
Even if you’ve been convicted of a felony crime, you might be able to get your nursing license. It depends on your state and how long it has been since you completed your sentence.
Once you’ve finished your sentence, it is pertinent to remain out of trouble. Getting in more trouble will prevent you from becoming a nurse. Wait five years and you should be able to work in this field.
FAQs
What Disqualified You From Being A Nurse?
A handful of things can disqualify you from becoming a nurse. First and foremost, you cannot become a nurse if you are a registered sex offender.
Multiple drunk driving convictions in the past three years will also stop you from becoming a nurse. Finally, a felony conviction could. However, the latter may not.
What Does A Nursing Background Check Include?
These background checks are specifically designed to ensure that individuals are qualified to become nurses. The background check tries to identify anything that would make the individual unqualified to become a nurse.
A nursing background check will involve several types of background checks. For instance, it will check your criminal record and educational history.
What Career Can I Have With A Felony?
Even if you have a felony conviction, you can begin working in many fields. Five years after your felony convictions, you can begin working as a nurse.
Alternatively, you can work as a truck driver, food service worker, stocker, counselor, and more. Check the laws in your state to find out what you can and cannot do.
