I got a DUI

Nurses General Nursing

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I was so stupid the other night, I had two drinks, got pulled over and failed the breathalyzer. Will this affect my AL RN liscence when we renew next year

Before that I had a clean record, not even a ticket. I am no alcoholic just did something very stupid that I will never never do again

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Can't answer that for sure, but the one person i know that had a similar situation in Ohio had to appear before the State Nursing Board.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

If you do nothing else, be sure you notify the board of nursing---it would probably cost you your license if they find out about it first. That said, please don't deny the possibility that ETOH is causing problems in your life---a DUI is a fairly reliable indicator that one is NOT handling it well. I don't know you well enough to judge whether you're an alcoholic or not, of course, but I AM one (sober almost 12 years now), and I know denial when I hear it.

Your best bet would be to see if you can enter some sort of diversion program that would provide some education at the same time as helping you decide whether or not alcohol is a problem for you. These programs cost money, but usually you can save your driver's license and reduce the severity of the charges against you by agreeing to go through such a course.

Let us know how things go. I'm sorry to hear about the DUI, but in a way, it might be the best thing that ever happened to you. You haven't killed anyone yet. You haven't ruined any lives (including your own) yet. You haven't even harmed yourself beyond repair yet. Count yourself very fortunate to have been caught before anything truly terrible happens, and then resolve to never, EVER drive again if you've had so much as one beer.

Good luck to you.

WOW mjlrn97 let's be a little hasty in judging someone why don't we. If someone tells me this is the first time they have had any troubles maybe they are telling the truth. Your tone was a little harsh. I realize some people need wake up calls but sometimes they are being honest. Some of your advice was good.

Do report it to the board of nursing and do offer to take a class if the board wants you to have reeducation. Try to be humble and be open to whatever the board suggests. The worst thing you can do is be on the defensive. Admit your screw up and take responsibility for your actions. Then go on and be a great nurse. You now know unfortunetly what is like to be on the other side of the law and can have better empathy for those who do screw up. After all we are all human. Goodluck to you and let us know how things work out for you. You are in my prayers.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Here in FL the nursing board gets involved with licensed professionals who get DUI's. Because of the high risk of persons who get DUI's and alcoholism, they must get evaluated, attend meetings, get urine tested, etc. Usually for a year or two.

I know you're not an alcoholic, but unfortunately the overwhelming majority of persons who get DUI's are. So the state can't take the risk that you're unsafe.

If you toe the line, do exactly what they tell you do, they give you a chance, you get to keep your license and keep working. You're employer is probably going to find out and they might have policies of their own.

It's a tremendous mistake, one which you will pay and pay and pay for in so many ways.

Specializes in Everything except surgery.

I'm sorry I have to agree with mj! Everyone knows that you shouldn't drink and drive, so why would you do it??? Also I'm wondering what made the officer pull the person over? Were you weaving on the road??? If you made the decision to drive, to me it's evident you weren't thinking clearly enough to know you were impaired, and shouldn't have been behind the wheel!

Hopefully this incident won't cost you your license to drive, or your license to work.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Gosh - I'm sorry that you made such an error in judgement...but like others - you need an evaluation to see how your drinking is affecting your life!

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I give you credit for posting this topic here as previous posters have suffered from a variety of comments from the members. Good luck and be careful and learn from this. WE all make mistakes.

renerian

Wow, this is tough! I'd call the BON as soon as possible.

Just an interesting side note, breathalyzers were designed for male lungs so women who are tested consistantly produce falsely higher readings.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I'd call the BON too.

And a sidenote...don't be quick to judge. My SIL had 2 drinks at a shower and got pulled over and got a DUI. She is far from an alcoholic...she had 2 mixed drinks. I was there, and she wasn't stumbling drunk, she just made an error in judgement.

A DUI after 2 drinks?

I would fight it in court.

-Russell

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Depends on how strong the drinks are.

If you know the person that mixed them, they'll sometimes be nice and make them stronger. Learned that one the hard way, after getting sick after 2 tall 10 oz. White Russians. Turned out they had more vodka, and they'd used half and half instead of milk, which is why i didn't notice a difference. Didn't drive though.

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