License Questions-How to Answer

What do you answer when asked by the Board of Nursing:

Have you ever been arrested?
Have you ever been convicted?
Has another licensing agency taken disciplinary action?
Have you ever....

If the answer is YES, then please answer YES. Do not assume that the BON will not find out. I have seen the Board find incidents that other background checks ignored. It also does not matter how long it has been, you must answer YES if the answer is YES. Do not make the mistake of assuming that your case has been expunged or sealed unless you have a court document in your hand that states that it has been expunged or sealed. Many nurses answer NO because they were told that since their case was a deferred adjudication, they can answer NO. This is faulty and dangerous advice.

If a nurse fails to answer correctly, the nurse will be subject to disciplinary action. No one wants to start their career off with a disciplinary action. If you are not sure how to answer a question. Do not ask your criminal attorney or family friend or instructor; ask an administrative lawyer that practices before the Board. There are more hints if you are facing a current criminal action on my firm's website.