If you are drunk, don't drive!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

If you are a nurse, and you drive while you are drunk; the Board of Nursing can suspend your nursing license for good!!! This is hard to believe...but it is true!!!!

Actually here in Florida that is the case. DUI's don't automatically cause a loss of license. In fact, a coworker just got a DUI, it didn't affect her job performance and as far as I know it was never reported to BON. In fact she kept it herself and didn't tell our boss. Only one or two people know. It's not mandatory to report DUI's. I think when future employers do background checks it's going to definatley be a problem for her.

Is there not a place to check on your license renewal form if you have ever been convicted of a crime?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Is there not a place to check on your license renewal form if you have ever been convicted of a crime?

A felony. DUIs here are traffic offenses and not felonies.

It might be different from state to state. As I stated before, here in Florida it doesn't mean an automatic loss of license. But I've seen policement, judges and other professions here held accountable when they've gotten DUI's. It's not just nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i agree

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A felony. DUIs here are traffic offenses and not felonies.

It might be different from state to state. As I stated before, here in Florida it doesn't mean an automatic loss of license. But I've seen policement, judges and other professions here held accountable when they've gotten DUI's. It's not just nurses.

I didn't know how it was there, so that's why I asked. Here, I don't think the first offense is considered a felony. I asked my DH about it and he said it depends on how many offenses and then it's called a felony DUI. At one time, I think if you got caught 3 times, you lost your driver's license for good...or something like that. It was called three strikes, you're out. The laws here have gotten even tougher and I haven't really kept up with it, so I don't know what they do even with the first one now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know drunk driving can be a felony sometimes. Maybe when there's an accident.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One point that we seem to be missing. Every state has it's own BON. Every state has its own laws. Because something holds true in one state does not mean it holds true in another.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, in Wisconsin the BON doesnt seem to give a rats butt about drunk driving convictions, a unit manager in a facility I used to work in was coming to work straight from jail, she was working under the HUBER LAW, convicted for repeat drunk driving. Employers knew this , yet still considered her the "sweetheart" of the unit. While on this HUBER LAW she made a devastating error that caused the death of a patient, due to her aggrogance and bad judgement.STILL the BON continues to allow her to work with just a slap on the hand.Go figure.:confused: Oh by the way, after the family sued the facility, the facility's lawyers advised administration to fire her, too much of a liability, a little too late I'd say.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

just play it safe don't drink and drive

end of problem easy solution

and it keeps you from killing innocent people

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know about other states but in CA, getting a DUI is a misdemeanour unless there is an accident w/ injury or multiple numer of DUI arrests (I don't know the number off hand).

I do know that not only are nurses at risk for losing their jobs (ie licences) but anyone in law enforcement will lose their job (or in the best case be transfered to a desk job) for getting a DUI. I also believe that firemen, EMT, and truck drives also lose their jobs if convicted of a DUI (mis. or felony)

I agree with these rules because you knew of the consequences for your actions before you drove drunk. I'm very passionate about this because I lost a dear friend because he choose to drive drunk and wound up killing himself and 3 other friends. Had they all pulled their heads out of their self absorbed butts maybe we wouldn't have had to burry them before their time.

JMO

Erin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
One point that we seem to be missing. Every state has it's own BON. Every state has its own laws. Because something holds true in one state does not mean it holds true in another.

Very true. But the point wasn't missed. I very clearly was stating how it was here, and how it contradicted with the original poster. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
just play it safe don't drink and drive

end of problem easy solution

and it keeps you from killing innocent people

'Nuff said. End of discussion. :chuckle

Sooner or later someone is going to come to this thread with a story as to how their lives have been personally changed from a drunk driver. Felony or no felony. Loss of license or not, innocent lives are devastated permanently. (revised. I see post #33 someone did post about it, I knew someone would)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I carry a concealed and loaded firearm and thus have the potential to maim and kill at will. Does that mean my licensure should be scrutinized more than someone who wants nothing to do with firearms? I don't think so.

And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China or this topic.

I own a Saturn, with which I can kill and maim, but am permitted to continue to do so because I exercise good judgement and do not break the laws. I own guns and exercise that right safely and in accordance with the law.

If I use any of these weapons inproperly, showing poor judgement and endangeing the public....I will be charged and may lose my license. Does this have to do with my abilities as a nurse. Of course not!! But it does demonstrate a lack of good sense, common courtesy and extremely poor judgement.

If you drink (smoke/toke/shootup/snort) and drive, you are in VIOLATION of the law, showing exceedingly poor judgement and endangering the public. This makes it substantially different than merely owning guns.

Please also not that most states have a "morals" clause written into the licensing - 7 of the 8 states in which I am licensed do. They state that a nurse must be "of good moral character". Thus, you can have your license pulled more breaking that - many states base their DUI/DWI policies on that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment