Our office handles many cases from clients whose professional careers in healthcare are under threat. If your intended line of work requires licensing of some kind, as most medical jobs do, it is probable that you might need to report a conviction to obtain that license in Pennsylvania.
However, that does not necessarily mean that you must have a perfect record. Nurses practice with imperfect pasts, such as DUI or drug offense convictions. Please do not give up on your career before you know all of the facts.
Criminal records
As you may know, many people could search your record in various situations. Applying for a job, a loan or a professional license are just a few examples.
If you do not have a spotless criminal record, reporting crimes and showing your level of rehabilitation could be your responsibility. The Professional Nursing Law states that you have to demonstrate you are safe to practice as a nurse. Evidence that could help in that regard might include:
- A written explanation
- Relevant documents
- Orders, agreements and so on
- Mitigating evidence
Please ensure your information is as complete as possible. That said, the final item — mitigating evidence or proof of rehabilitation — is often the most challenging when dealing with the board.
Second chances
We help our clients with each step of the conviction reporting process. We also handle other remedies, such as expungement. This is a complicated matter, and common sense does not always apply. Specifically, you should probably focus on the evidence that is most likely to convince the board that you do not pose a threat to the health or safety of others.
As a licensed worker, you are a skilled, experienced and valuable member of the workforce. Please do not let a single mistake stop you from contributing everything you can to society. Be proactive and thorough when doing your duty of reporting any convictions to your licensing board.
