A Free Bankruptcy, IVA And Simple IVA, Insolvency Advice Forum

[fionag1710]

This may seem like a silly question but im an ex bankrupt and I want to go into nursing but Im worried they will say Im not entitled to be a nurse after having been bankrupt. I know that the police force and the army take a dim view of bankrupts so Im concerned that nursing will be the same, does anyone know?

Many thanks

Fiona

[Hg]

Can't see it being a problem.

Doesn't seem like any time at all ago that you were asking questions about going bankrupt...

[fionag1710]

ha it seemed like a verrrry long year to me! yes im now discharged and unable to get even £10 credit lol but it keeps me out of trouble i suppose. and my inheritence from my fathers death is being sent to the official receiver as we speak which is quite hard to deal with - sounds awful but if id know i was going to inherit enough to pay off my debts in full just a year later i would never have gone bankrupt in the first place - but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Now im just trying to start afresh and hoping that they wont surprise me in the nursing interviews by saying that they dont accept ex bankrupts - i dont want this one year to have an impact on my career forever. Fingers crossed it will be ok.
Thanks for your reply

Fiona

[twinklywillow]

Hi To Fiona,

I did BR a year and a half ago during my training and I am still a mature student.

Here is the link to the health Professions Council. This is the body which regulates all health professions personel.
http://www.hpc-uk.org/publications/index.asp?id=38


have a look. This is the latest update.
I am a little alarmed myself as the wording is very broad in places.
I personally think the HPC would be hard-pushed to use bankruptcy as an example of conduct which would cause clients to lose confidence in the service although, they seem to be suggesting a more exhaustive list than the one they provide (which does not contain BR) can be obtained.
Frankly we are in one of the lowest paid professions and there will be many professionals seeking BR.

I personally think that if BR is considered to be a reason to question behaviour or conduct then it is the wrong profession to go into.

In any case as my CAB advisor said to me 'you will be all the more experienced and have more to offer after such an experience.

It would be interesting to hear from any one else with relevant experience.

I used to work for a very prominent org and I consulted HR about how they viewed me and they said I was very welcome to continue working for them.

I'd love to hear how you get on and how you interpret the HPC code. I am pretty sure deep down that BR is none of their beeswax but I can't say for sure.

[Alan278]

Hi Fiona in answer to your fears about nurse training and bankruptcy. I am a 3rd year nursing student after going bankrupt in 2005, you find if your honest on your application form to the university you will be fine, i declaired my bankruptcy along with points on my driving license, which some people dont see as a criminal conviction,, but they are!! not declaring it would be as you know dishonest! then you fail your entrance to university on dishonesty not bankruptcy or driving convictions...... hope this helps and good luck with your training if you decide to go ahead.

[twinklywillow]

I took my advice from the CAB who are obviously experienced financial practitioners and there are a few professions only where it is necessary to declare Br and where it would be a case of dismissal.
I am not aware that Health professions are one of them. If you feel the need to declare something unnecessarily that is obviously an individual choice.
There may be other reasons for exercising caution around this issue. One being that most people have had no exposure to the processes governing the updated BR and may still tend to make the same assumptions that were made in previous times when the person being Br was seen as deserving of scorn, contempt and what have you. I believe the term BR relates to being 'bench broke' apparently this was when it would be perfectly in order for the workers 'bench' to be broken over their head or something! I'm not saying it's as bad as this now but I would say it is sensible to protect one's dignity. If it is unnecessary to declare it I would say think carefully. where you will have to declare it will be to financial institutions, for insurances of some kinds (i.e. public liability). People will and do judge. perhaps they are right, however I doubt very much they will know the ins and outs of your life or the aims of the new BR laws -which are all about 'rehabilitation' really-getting your life back in order asap. In my view this is rather a compassionate approach as well as being very fiscally savvy.
If it is necessary to declare it to the HPC I shall do so but I shall certainly want to know that whoever I'm dealing with is dealing with me according to the new legislation-since I have been working my butt off ever since. I also know that a rather well-known company (in health care) is unfazed by my admission and has continued to employ me so I doubt that, when all is said and done, it makes one jot of difference to my output. Being an exemplary and consistent practitioner (in one of the lowest paid professions-ironic perhaps?) is what is relevant. BR is not a criminal offence. Penalty points is and I guess that's because being in charge of a metal box travelling at high speed is a danger to human survival and considered reckless.