I'm just replying b/c I'm about to be in the same boat as you! I'm not a nurse yet, but I just turned 20, and I'm getting ready to start nursing school. I was stupid when I was 19, and stole some stuff, and now I'm probably going to have a felony conviction. So I'm actually at the point right now where I don't know if I should start all this nursing school stuff if I'm not even going to be able to get a decent job!! So i'm wondering if I should defer my admission for another semester, and then I can decide whether or not I need to change my major.

I mean I know we don't have the same story, but it is really really frustrating. Not all people with felony convictions are horrible people. I have a great heart, and have done some great things in my life. Just sometimes good people get mixed up with bad crowds, and mistakes are made. But I mean I didn't hurt anyone or rob a bank or anything...I did something as dumb as to steal, not knowing the seriousness of the consequences....and now it could prevent me from doing what I wanted to spend my life doing!

So alls I can say if don't get your hopes down. I know it seems really hard, but believe it or not, there's someone out there who gives 2nd chances. So I guess just keep looking. Letters of recommendation couldn't hurt either, expecially ifthey came from medical professionals that you've previously worked for.

Best of Luck!!