Spotty work history for new nurse-problem?

[jaky_speaks]

I am a new LPN, with no experience. I am really interested in working in corrections in my city. I did a semester of externship there and I think I would like to work there. Here is my concern, and perhaps someone might have some good advice for me (DON, ADON's out there?):

My history:

I graduated high school in 1998 and worked at 2-3 jobs at a time for about five years. I kept one of those jobs for 2 years and one of those jobs for almost 5 years. (interlacing other jobs on top of them).

Then, my mother got sick and I quit everything to go to Guatemala for her surgery. (Unemployment and bad credit happened within a few months).

I had a couple of jobs for a couple of years after that.

I then got married, and he said, go to school. So I tried to get a flexable job (i tried 2 times and both times they turned out not-so-flexable). Then I went to school for almost 2 years and remained unemployed for the entire time.

The applications for corrections facilities are very specific, like: " make sure you list your employment dates for each job, each position at each job, seperately with complete XX-XX-XXXX dates" and I simply don't have that kind of information.

I wrote to the social security administration to get my entire employment history for the past ten years, but I don't know how long this will take, should I apply with "approximate" dates or wait for a reply from the social security administration?

Should I even bother? I wouldn't hire me with that kind of work history, and the irony is that I want a career- you know, work my way up the ranks at the same facility. ***sigh*** thanks for your replys in advance.