Misdemeanor Mama and Suitability for Licensure and Employment as a RN or LPN

I have a family member, who I will refer to as "misdemeanor mama." 

Misdemeanor Mama has had a variety of criminal convictions over her adult life ranging from assault to disorderly conduct to public intoxication to theft to DUI. These are just the convictions, not the charges that were dropped for want of prosecution or because of other reasons. These convictions however have not prevented her from obtaining meaningful employment which is positive.

Misdemeanor Mama is considering nursing school and asked me if I thought she would be a good nurse. Misdemeanor Mama is family and I love her to death. I know she has really changed since her early days (earlier and mid twenties) and has matured alot and would probably (more likely than not) be a good nurse because she works in healthcare now and enjoys interacting with patients and their families.

I told she needs to expunge as many convictions as possible to clean up her record to the best of her ability and consider:

1. Depending on where she applies for nursing school (State), her criminal convictions may be an issue;

2. Depending on where she applies for nursing school (State), if she is accepted into the program, her criminal convictions be an issue for certain clinical sites;

3. Depending on where she applies for licensure (State) after she graduates from nursing school, suitability for licensure may be an issue; and

4. Depending on where she plans to work as a nurse, employability may be an issue with criminal convictions.

She was not happy with me and the advice I gave her, for free. She had her mother tell my mother that "I am a mean lawyer" and that "she regretted speaking with me." Her grandmother also spoke with my grandmother about the situation. I feel as if I am in preschool and I am wondering what family member will call me next.

I didn't tell her not to go to nursing school because that is not my place, I just provided her with the cold and hard facts so that she could make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Comments

[latonia]

Thank you, Jack. I just wanted her to make an informed decision and to consider all of her options before she applies. I think most assume if I am accepted into a nursing program, then a license and employment will not be an issue and this is not necessarily true.

[Jack Stem]

As Jack said in "A Few Good Men"....

SHE CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!

If she decides to enter nursing school and then DOES have the problems you warned her about, she won't be able to be ticked because you didn't tell her the truth. The straight forward truth may be unpleasant, but it's better than playing word games and trying to be politically correct. Tell your family to call me...I'll back you up!!!

See you Thursday evening!