Calling all RN's for advice

[Riley21]

So first off I got a ticket for drug paraphernalia(weed residue) NOT DRUG POSSESSION on Feb. 15 this year and got a YEAR of plea of abeyance in my pre-trial appearance on April 19th. So I was thinking of requesting it to be expunged april 19th, 2012. i know the attorney has to send a petition to a court and then they decide to expunge it or not.

I was wondering if the dept. of Nursing or Clinics that I might have to work at during the nursing program at my community college (In Utah), can they see if that misdemeanor B has been expunged or not? I heard that after expungement it doesnt even show on criminal background checks. but i've also heard that Clinics do like FBI checks where they can see EVERYTHING. so is it worth paying $690 to petition to get it expunged or should i leave it. it'll say Dismissed cuz right now its status is Pending until April 19th 2012.

I know it was dumb of me to have something like drug paraphernalia in my car. but i definately had stopped associating with anything to do w/ drugs or ppl who use them. Please dont give me answers like you shouldnt have done it in the 1st place. I just want to move on with my life. I feel so depressed cause I really want to be a Nurse. and my parents don't know that I have the ticket for paraphernalia. I also have a petty theft ticket back in dec. 2008 right when i turned 18. so i think that makes it even worse even though im about to turn 21 this august.

So right now i have my 2 years college completed(including the prerequistes for the nursing program @my community college) I am in CNA classes to get some experience in the field. The program is 2 weeks long. 1st week is classroom stuff, 2nd week is working at clinics. but its kinda confusing cuz i have that paraphernalia charge but the CNA directors said that I will be able to take the class as long as I'm over 16, have no felonies and pay $400. the waiting list for my college's Nursing program is about 2-2 1/2 years(i'll be like 23 or 24 by then). then i'd be doing the program which involves me workin at clinics and I'm not sure if they will accept me. if they dont then i think its over

My Biggest question is i dont want to continue pursuing a Registered Nursing degree if I can't even work at clinics. i'd be wasting so much time and money which i dont have. I have also talked to the HR ppl at some hospitals and they said ppl have had worse charges(like felonies or child/adult abuse) and have still been able to work there. But thats not everyones case... sorry for my life story