Being a navy nurse and prior drug use, crimes.

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Ok so i'm 20 years old and going to school for my bachelors in nursing. I want nothing more in life than to be a navy nurse. It is my dream job. I don't have any medical problems. I want to join the navy nurse corps, and be an officer nurse. I've spoken to a recruiter and he said that any past crimes could affect my being accepted. When i was 16 i was stupid and got caught shop lifting around $40 worth of stuff. They called the police, but i didn't have my fingerprints taken, or any mug shots. I didn't go to court, i went through a diversion program and that was it. I have tried marijuana 3 times to be exact and i would never do it again or break the law again. It makes me feel so depressed that my whole dream could be ended because of my dumb choices as a dumb teen. I still have until next summer before i join. I need to lose weight and better my fitness before i talk to a recruiter. This isn't a problem because i have already set my mind to getting into shape and nothing will stop me. The real problems are the ones that i mentioned. Did anyone else have any similar problems, and become an officer? if any recruiters could help, that would mean so much. I want to serve my country, i know what I've done is wrong and I 100% own up to it. What do you guys think? Am i a lost cause?

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You need to contact your nursing board. You may not get a nursing license

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Ok so i'm 20 years old and going to school for my bachelors in nursing. I want nothing more in life than to be a navy nurse. It is my dream job. I don't have any medical problems. I want to join the navy nurse corps and be an officer nurse. I've spoken to a recruiter and he said that any past crimes could affect my being accepted. When i was 16 i was stupid and got caught shop lifting around $40 worth of stuff. They called the police, but i didn't have my fingerprints taken, or any mug shots. I didn't go to court, i went through a diversion program and that was it. I have tried marijuana 3 times to be exact and i would never do it again or break the law again. It makes me feel so depressed that my whole dream could be ended because of my dumb choices as a dumb teen. I still have until next summer before i join. I need to lose weight and better my fitness before i talk to a recruiter. This isn't a problem because i have already set my mind to getting into shape and nothing will stop me. The real problems are the ones that i mentioned. Did anyone else have any similar problems, and become an officer? if any recruiters could help, that would mean so much. I want to serve my country, i know what I've done is wrong and I 100% own up to it. What do you guys think? Am i a lost cause?[/quote']

Check with a lawyer. Youth records are usually sealed. I would not ask the BON first.

The military allowed marijuana use at one time and admitting to using it but I'm not sure about it right now.

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Specializes in Field Medical Trauma.

I wouldn't even mention the marijuana usage to anyone associated with the military, not a recruiter, not anyone if it was only a few times. Like morificeko said, they allowed it at one point but with the draw down of troop numbers and the ever increasing criteria to become a Nurse Corps Officer I wouldn't bet on them accepting that.

If there is a record of you shoplifting your going to have to fess up to that one. It would be better to tell the truth and try and make a case that you were underage when it happened, your an adult now and know better. If you try to lie your way out of an offense that you were arrested for in the past and they find out then its game over.

Someone might be able to provide a better answer for you but if it was me in your shoes I would say no about the drug usage and fess up to the shoplifting. Besides, you were 16 when you did it and they may just overlook that little tid bit of your past :saint:

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Really you wouldn't mention it at all? I don't know about that. I would hate to lie. It's like doing something dishonorable in the start of something honorable. I've read I could qualify for and experimental marijuana waiver, but since it's so competitive I don't know. I would without a doubt mention that charge. No way around that one. So you think mentioning the past drug use is just a no? Sorry I'm rambling lol

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Also if they ask if you ever get headaches, what will you say? A yes use to be a failed medical exam with a 6 month re-eval. Recruiter told us to say no. Most everyone gets a headache but not if you want to join the service.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Really you wouldn't mention it at all? I don't know about that. I would hate to lie. It's like doing something dishonorable in the start of something honorable. I've read I could qualify for and experimental marijuana waiver but since it's so competitive I don't know. I would without a doubt mention that charge. No way around that one. So you think mentioning the past drug use is just a no? Sorry I'm rambling lol[/quote']

Were you convicted? Was it expunged after you completed community service? If it was, then you can answer the question based on the criteria. Felony conviction? No. Jail sentence? No.

The best advice with some of these questions is to not give more info than what is being asked. Yes/no answers. Never a no but I did...........

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Were you convicted? Was it expunged after you completed community service? If it was, then you can answer the question based on the criteria. Felony conviction? No. Jail sentence? No.

The best advice with some of these questions is to not give more info than what is being asked. Yes/no answers. Never a no but I did...........

Even expunged crimes can be seen by the military, their people are sometimes all seeing and all-knowing and it doesn't matter if it was wiped clean he/she was still charged. I won't tell this kid to lie but any marijuana use but prob DQ you right now.

Try and hope for the best but remember it is very hard to break into the military world right now.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Even expunged crimes can be seen by the military, their people are sometimes all seeing and all-knowing and it doesn't matter if it was wiped clean he/she was still charged. I won't tell this kid to lie but any marijuana use but prob DQ you right now.

Try and hope for the best but remember it is very hard to break into the military world right now.

I'm just going off of his statement. Sounded like he wasn't really charged. No arrest, no court. So what record does he really have. If he went to court and they gave him the choice between this or that, then that makes more sense. Sounds like they wanted to scare him straight.

If the navy fails you then there is always the Army. They usually need good nurses and they have always had the best bonuses.

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I'm just going off of his statement. Sounded like he wasn't really charged. No arrest, no court. So what record does he really have. If he went to court and they gave him the choice between this or that, then that makes more sense. Sounds like they wanted to scare him straight.

If the navy fails you then there is always the Army. They usually need good nurses and they have always had the best bonuses.

That's true, I doubt there would be a paper trail but for your second statement....

The Army is completely full on new nurses and arguably is tougher than the AF/Navy for direct commissions at this point. A bonus? Ha ha....maybe 5 years ago. Unless you are a psych NP or CRNA you aren't getting anything besides some loan payback.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

That's true, I doubt there would be a paper trail but for your second statement....

The Army is completely full on new nurses and arguably is tougher than the AF/Navy for direct commissions at this point. A bonus? Ha ha....maybe 5 years ago. Unless you are a psych NP or CRNA you aren't getting anything besides some loan payback.

They were doing them 2-3 yrs ago but I haven't looked lately. Loan repayment can be just as nice. Not sure how much they give. Then again I'm not a recruiter so what could I really know.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If the navy fails you then there is always the Army. They usually need good nurses and they have always had the best bonuses.

Navy is taking far more than the Army these days. For direct commission, the Army wants a nurse to have two years of experience before applying. Even ROTC doesn't guarantee an active duty slot. It's a different climate these days. But yes, the Army is awesome. :D lol

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