I know it's not going to happen

Published

Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

I just got my med record fax of the dr. appt that got me a medical discharge from the navy reserves. i faxed it to my recruiter so she can send it to the waiver board. After reading it, I now feel that there is no hope of getting back in. I got a d/c for anxiety & no longer deal w/ it. I know I'm fine & everyone around me knows the same but I know the docs aren't going to see it that way, even if I get another doc eval that says I'm fine. Obviously, I'm still going to have my recruiter submit the paper work. I'm really bummed.

have any of you heard of someone getting a medical waiver despite all odds?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

HI,

Sorry to hear of your situation. I did not get a "medical waiver", but I did get another waiver, which I did not think had a chance in heck of getting through. Neither did most recruiters. But one did.... and he worked diligently for me.

Ultimately, it came down to the fact that " today is today, and lets let bygones be gone".

Or, maybe more realistically, I knew that if the army was "truely" in need of critical care nurses, then they would accept me.

And they did........rather rapidly too :)

Don't lose hope, it is all we have....

cb

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Crazylilkelly:

Listen, I think I must be the "queen" of obtaining waivers. First, I needed a waiver for my age just to submit my request for an application to get into the Reserves. I received the okay from BG Pollock herself!

Secondly, I needed a waiver for my hearing. Once I obtained the second waiver I then needed an ortho waiver, my third waiver.

In regards to your prior Hx, as OTD2 said, [with paraphrasing from me] "that was then, this is now" There is a major critical shortage of experienced, critical care nurses in both worlds (civilian and military) and you have a skill that the military needs. Hold your head up high, you are not the same person you were two months ago, much less years ago - none of us are, if you think about it. Life situations, day-to-day living impacts us more than we would like to think. It affects the way we deal with others, how we deal with ourselves; we humans carry around baggage, some more than others.

We also are constantly judging our surroundings, other people. We make oftentimes "snap" judgments and observations about this individual or that one. I guess you could call it instinct. But rest assured your recruiter was observing you just like any other person who would be interviewing you for a position. That is their job. Yeah, I know, their job is to fill the holes each month. But they are not going to waste their time, to put it bluntly, on someone who doesn't have a chance in Hades.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

Please keep us informed on how the process is going for you. That is what this forum, this community is all about: support.

athena

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

RIGHT ON ATHENA !!!!!!!

Those are fabulous words for today----everyday :)

p.s. crazylilkelly, if the first attempt doesn't work---keep trying!!!

cb

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg/tele/ortho w/ICU,NI,Trauma.

Hey Kelly,

Age waiver, poor color perception (no waiver needed for RN), glaucoma, Planning on ANC OBLC in October.

Never Give Up!

Brian

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

I just talked to my recruiter. She has yet to get to the office & read my psych evaluation but I did tell her that it was bad & I don't know if they will give me a waiver. She told me to hang in there b/c of course it's going to be bad since it's what gave me a medical discharge. She also said ppl change & they'll look at that. If they allow me to have another evaluation that says I'm fine then that's what will help me. Also, I don't want to leave for ODS til around March of 2009. She said more time passing will help out too. If I don't get one this summer then I'll try again in 2009. Honestly, I think the one big thing I have going for me right now is that I have a great & committed recruiter!

Thanks so much for all your support & stories! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in C-EFM, L&D/Postpartum/AP/PACU.

I have seen some people get some pretty amazing medical waivers. Psych waivers are easier than you might think, especially for what I have heard psychiatrists describe as "garden variety depression and anxiety."

Every service has a governing regulation about medical conditions that are regulated at entry, retention, reentry, and discharge. The anxiety may technically be a disqualifier, but the doc can determine you are good to go. I can tell you that you will have to speak to a psychiatrist provided by the Military Entrance Processing Station. Likely that psychiatrist will want to see all of the medical documentation related to your diagnosis and treatment for the condition. He or she will ask you a lot of questions, specifically how you feel the circumstances have changed. Then, he or she will make a recommendation to the Chief Medical Officer at the MEPS who will either recommend or not recommend you get a waiver for entering the service.

Remember that there will be places where you may get a negative answer, but it doesn't mean it's over. If the psych tells the CMO he doesn't recommend you, the CMO can still recommend waiver. If the CMO doesn't recommend you, it could be that the governing regulation prohibits waivers for a certain time frame for that condition and you can simply wait and return later, or if there is no time restriction, you can still request a waiver from the surgeon for the service you want to enter. It's not over until its over, so don't give up until then.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

Wow LLL,

That was a great post!!! I wish I knew about Allnurses.com when I was going through the "waiver process" !!!

cb

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Cardiac.
I have seen some people get some pretty amazing medical waivers. Psych waivers are easier than you might think, especially for what I have heard psychiatrists describe as "garden variety depression and anxiety."

Every service has a governing regulation about medical conditions that are regulated at entry, retention, reentry, and discharge. The anxiety may technically be a disqualifier, but the doc can determine you are good to go. I can tell you that you will have to speak to a psychiatrist provided by the Military Entrance Processing Station. Likely that psychiatrist will want to see all of the medical documentation related to your diagnosis and treatment for the condition. He or she will ask you a lot of questions, specifically how you feel the circumstances have changed. Then, he or she will make a recommendation to the Chief Medical Officer at the MEPS who will either recommend or not recommend you get a waiver for entering the service.

Remember that there will be places where you may get a negative answer, but it doesn't mean it's over. If the psych tells the CMO he doesn't recommend you, the CMO can still recommend waiver. If the CMO doesn't recommend you, it could be that the governing regulation prohibits waivers for a certain time frame for that condition and you can simply wait and return later, or if there is no time restriction, you can still request a waiver from the surgeon for the service you want to enter. It's not over until its over, so don't give up until then.

Thanks! I have come to a point where I feel I need to put the situation in God's hands & not worry about it.

Yesterday, I decided to write a letter (which totaled 4 pgs!) giving various social situations over the past 2yrs in which I did not experience anxiety. Some situations were related to school & others I volunteered for. If anything, they'll realize how committed I am!!! I already sent them a personal statement describing my situation & how I have changed. AND I had 3 instructors & 1 friend write letters on behalf of my character & how they never see me anxious. Ya, so @ least they'll know I'm steadfast!!! They might just realize, "hey, this girl isn't going to leave us alone! just give it to her!" :chuckle

Thank you all for your words of wisdom & support! It means more than you know!:icon_hug:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics: Neuro/Ortho/Trauma, Now ER.

Have faith! I've heard they'll give waivers for all sorts of stuff for nurses, since they're needed so badly. I'm 90% done with my Navy application and need 2 waivers. One for depression and one for vision, being blind as a bat without contact lenses. The doc at MEPS said it's not a big deal and wrote "APPLICANT IS A NURSE (RN)" in big letters on his eval. lol... So being a nurse must mean something in terms of waivers.

Your references, interview, and personal statement will definitely work in your favor. Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

I totally agree!!! In my life, I have waited until the bar is low ("or the need is high"), then I crawl over ! It has worked well for me. :)

And this is a great time to be a NURSE !!

a.k.a. "the opportunist"

cb

P.S. Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

I like your opportunistic way of thinking!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion