DUI's & Licensure

Nurses General Nursing

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OK Here goes. Ten years ago I got two DUI's. Now I'm pretty sure that those two won't affect me with licensure as long as I petition the boards effectively.

Just yesterday I found out that I was accepted to a ADN Nursing School.

New problem on July 4th I got a DUI again. This legally only counts as my 1st DUI but I know the boards will see it as my third and most recent and at the time I would potentially take the NCLEX this DUI will only be 18 months old. This new DUI will not affect me getting into school because they don't know about it and I don't think I should tell them until it gets close to the end.

I have been waiting for three years to get into this school and I think I may have just screwed myself. Does anyone think I have a chance of taking the NCLEX and working? I don't want to waste the money if there is no chance. I haven't heard of anyone in my shoes and I just need some advice so I can go on with my life RN or not.

Patients I have personally cared for in ICU who were there as a result of a drunk driver:

An 18 year old male - -his mother's only child - - brain dead

A 16 year old female -her parents only daughter - - brain dead-

the car in which she was a passenger was rear ended by a drunk, at one in the afternoon.

Three teen males who were sideswiped/run off the road - at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The drunk survived, the teens did not.

A couple in their early thirties, pedestrians - ran down in the crosswalk by a

drunk driver, "blind drunk", he never saw them. They died.

Three daughters from one family- - killed at 10 a.m., by a woman who was on her way to a funeral, the driver had had a few drinks to "get me going."

A 16 month old boy, killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light and broadsided the family car.

Two teen sisters who died in our ICU. I refused to allow the drunk driver to be admitted to our unit or floor. He was taken to a step-down ICU. He said it was their fault, "they shouldn't have been in my way." His BAL 0.21. He survived to get another DUI.

There's a dozen more I personally know of. The wails & cries; the shock and disbelief of the parents and families of these victims are burned in my memory.

The original poster ..... she is NOT going to stop drinking. A couple of her posts are almost poetic, almost prose in her

perception of drinking/quitting.

She goes out to get drunk...hence, taking cabs.

She isn't assuming responsibility, now or next year or the next.

Reread her posts.

Take my word for it. She is not quitting.

Once she is out of court and knows how this DUI will be resolved, the

pressure will be off....and it's time to "relax" with a drink.

A friend of mine had a DWI before nursing school, and then got another one while in nursing school. After she graduated, she got a license -- but then the board found out, and took it away. She got a lawyer, tried to petition it.... but to no avail. She took an ethics class, mandated by the board of nursing (and performed well). This happened several years ago, and she has still not obtained it yet. This led to a serious depression for her!

It is considered a violation of public safety.

All the above is in NC.:o

Wow, that's pretty sad. I am not sure that California will be so understanding as to let the 3rd violation go by with a fine, some classes, etc. I know the laws here in Texas are tougher but there are still some who slip through the cracks. I can understand that you have a problem with addiction. And I read your post about how this is the last time and you will never drink again it was just a slip and so forth. But, the 3rd violation was on July 4th??? Today is the 11th. That's 7 days since the DUI. A week does not a changed person make.

I truly hope you are sincere about making a change and sticking with it. Getting not only counseling but a sponsor who will keep you straight when having a family hasn't done it for you. Is a DUI simply drinking and driving? I was under the impression that DUI meant Driving under the influence which included alcohol or drugs (legal/illegal) which impaired your judgement. From my understanding, a DWI is driving while intoxicated and a DUI is driving under the influence. I'm not sure how other states differentiate. Either way it's still wrong and dangerous.

I wish you the best but I hope you take some off from going into nursing school. You need to get your life back in order. Also, jumping through the hoops, as you stated in a previous post, is the least you can do to get it together. You should be more concerned with fixing yourself instead of just fixing your situation to convince the BON and the school to let you in.

You're in my prayers. I hope you are led to make the right decision.

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.
Originally posted by txsugarlvn

And I read your post about how this is the last time and you will never drink again it was just a slip and so forth. But, the 3rd violation was on July 4th??? Today is the 11th. That's 7 days since the DUI. A week does not a changed person make.

decision.

I totally agree.

Not trying to be a flamer, but now that I've read more of this thread, it seems like the original poster is trying to minimize her problem.

Even if your previous offenses were 7 years ago, they were still serious legal matters. How many other times have you drove drunk and not got caught? I'm not trying to flame you here, but you need to take a hard look at your life and make some serious decisions.

I know from personal experience that it is hard to break a "relationship" with alcohol. But if nursing is your passion, you have to. For the sake of your future career and future patients, please get some counseling, and decide what is best for you.

These cases I described are unforgettable and needless deaths.

Most people are aware that there are more than 53,000 motor vehicle deaths every year in the U.S.

A large percentage are related to alcohol abuse.

It is mind boggling for me to attempt to think in terms of 53,000 families every year experiencing the pain, suffering, and sorrow that I witnessed in these families.

If anyone thinks the OP doesn't have a real problem, I would suggest thinking of it in terms of every 15 minutes someone in America dies in a car crash....most likely alcohol is involved.

Nearly all survivor famililies express the same outlook:

"I've read about people being killed by drunk drivers and seen it on television, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN TO US."

All alcohol crashes/deaths and injuries are PREVENTABLE.

It is so simple. Do not drink , then drive.

Do not ride with a driver who has drank.

As I type this, I am in awe how some think that it is "cool" that your first 2 DUI's will not count. I had surgery on monday, to internally fixate a serious fracture I rec'd in a car wreck after a driver who was IMPAIRED hit me. I am unable to work, or drive or cook, or apply makeup , or NURSE. I don't think that you should ever be able to drive again. I don't care how far apart the charges are. That may sound harsh, but oh well. So you got "caught 3 times. How many times have you done this?

I can empathise w/ alcoholism. I cannot however, feel sorry for you in this predicament. You are a grown woman who is very lucky that she did not kill anyone. You seem to want sympathy. And you rec'd some. If you cannot learn to be responsible for yourself, how can you take responsibility of others lives? I agree w/ Rebel's assessment. GET SOBER FIRST ! Then , maybe you will be an asset to the nursing profession.

NurseNoelle,

I am very sorry for what has happened to you and hope that you will make a speedy recovery and amen to your other comments.

Once again:

Life is full of choices everyday. Getting behind a vehicle after drinking and possibly causing an accident, injuring/killing others and/or yourself, getting arrested for a DUI is a no brainer. If you can't even make make the correct decision on something as simple as that, how can anyone think that you are capable of making a much more important decision?

Thanks Colleen.

This is getting way too wierd for me. I won't be posting anymore but I just have a couple questions for all you who asume that I am some kind of monster because I got a 3rd DUI in ten years. Do any of you smoke? Do you know the statistics on that? Do you come down this hard on people who do?

Peace

I don't assume that you are a monster- just irresponsible. Sorry if that hurt your feelings, that was not the intent. You don't need hugs, you need to get it together.

I do not smoke but I don't come down hard on people who do, mainly because they are not hopped up sitting behind a 1 ton steel automobile that can go up to 120 mph. Yes, second hand smoke can hurt others health but, if I am sitting in a restaurant and I smell smoke I have the option to either ask the person to put it out or move else where. A luxury a person sharing the road with a drunk does not.

and to add: There is a big difference between support and enabling. Many of the harsh responses that you rec'd where from ppl ., nurses, who have been affected by drinking and driving. The best advice offered to you was to maintain sobriety prior to getting into nursing. One day at a time,etc., etc,. That is the cold hard truth. Not a flame.

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