As I got further into picking this career, researching schools and just about to register and begin. I found out the strikes that are against me, most advice is to forget it. I have a record that includes drug possesion, misdemeanors that led to diversion, a wet wreckless (which is a lower dui charge), and a vandalism charge. Firt off this is embarrassing to admit, but I figured I had to suck it up and get some opinions. I understand that the burden of proof is up to the person. The more I read threads people all seemed to say as long as you didn't have a drug charge you should be able to take the licensing exam. I went through period in my life where my illness as an undiagonosed bipolar got the best of me. I found myself in some situations (yes all my fault) where I tried somethings that were inapropriate and disgusting. self medicating with alcohol, I tried methamphetamine, it was in my system a terrible horrifying memory where I was later arrested for an outburst in public and it was found in my system. I did diversion for 15 weeks and never did it again. MY other charge was a 1 gram marijuana possession. The vandalism charge was from a car that almost turned to hit me and I smacked it. On paper I can see everyone saying this man would make a unstable nurse he should forget it. In the last two years I got my illness diagnosed and have been as stable as ever. With proper meds and AA I am functioning perfectly. It probably is to little to late. The main thing is I would of never picked this career if it wasn't for my direct experience with how much nurses had touched me in hospitalizations. I love working with people, used to be a successful personal trainer. Yes I had to start my life over but still missed that personal contact a job like nursing offers. I am by no means use drugs, made a few bad decisions when I wasn't functioning on all cylinders and now that I want to restart my life and give back what I have learned, and with even greater compassion and appreciation its probably to late. I want to know if anyone knows of anyone turned down for the test? Do all these strikes against me mean turn and run from this career? Or is there some small chance I could actually explain myself in the burden of proof colum to the board. Thanks for anyone that took the time to read this. I doubt it is anything you all have experienced before defenitely not the intended course I planned. thanks
