The question regarding past felony convictions comes up in a number of situations we encounter in our daily lives, including applications for employment and applications for a rental apartment and many other situations. The right to obtain a nursing license is an area where a past felony conviction can affect a person’s chances of entering that field of work.
Whether a convicted felon can become a nurse or not will vary from state to state and will also vary with the situation of the person involved. Nursing schools across the country will handle each situation individually, depending on the time that has elapsed since the offense was committed, the kind of offense, and if restitution for the offense was ever served.
The nursing act is governed by the state board of nursing in each state, and the stipulations in the act regarding felonies vary with the state. The Arizona 1096 Senate Bill stipulates that a felon cannot apply to be a nurse until 5 years has passed after the person has completed his sentence.
If you are interested in pursuing a nursing license, you should check with the state board of nursing in your state to find out if a felony conviction prohibits you from receiving that license. In the state of Georgia, the nursing board there can legally refuse a nursing applicant from receiving a license because the individual was convicted of a felony.