another CA BRN DUI success story

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Hello everyone! I know how agonizing it is for those of us with a prior DUI to continue on through nursing school only to wonder and hope the BRN will allow us to be licensed. This was the only site I was able to turn to for much needed information about how to deal with the situation in applying to the BRN in the most effective manner possible. Without the posts from others outlining what they did I would have had a much harder time of it and had no hope. Today I got the letter telling me that no action against me will be taken and I could proceed on to test and get my license. Phew! So now I want to share with others what I did.

  • Aug 2 put in application along with the following:

  • letter of explanation about DUI (dui was 13 years ago)
    certified copy of court paper (1 page only because $25 per page)
    copy of my 2010 expungement
    copy of my probation completion
    copy of my MADD completion
    copy of my diversion class completion
    police form showing my arrest record was purged 5 years prior
    Live scan forms
    Aug 27 my BRN payment was processed


    Aug 30 Sent BRN a letter from my primary doctor saying my medical records and labs over the last 5 years do not indicate any signs of symptoms of alcohol or drug dependency

    Sep 3 sent BRN an evaluation report from an alcohol and drug assessment counselor ($200)

    Oct 25 recieved letter from BRN telling me they need my transcripts, school roster, and that my file would be deferred to enforcement for the DUI.

    Nov 1 graduated from nursing school

    November 3 BRN issued letter stating I am free to move forward!

    Today I am still waiting for them to release my ATT...but knowing I am allowed to take it is such a relief!!

    One thing I expected to do and dreaded was telling my Dean and instructors about my DUI since I believed I would need to get letters from them to the BRN to attest to my character. I fully expected to do this but thought I would get to that after my file went to enforcement and was denied. Fortunately I do not have to do that extra step and I can move on with my license and my life.

    I have spent many hours pouring over other posts and sweating it wondering what would happen. This is such a relief! I hope this post can alieve some of the anxiety others with prior DUIs may be going through. It would help if the BRN had better information and guidelines about what will happen and what one needs to do to rectify the situation, but unfortunately they leave you hanging.

    I don't know if there was anything in the docs I posted that tipped the scale in my favor. I think I wrote a very heartfelt letter atoning for my DUI and letting them know what had changed in my life and that it would never happen again. The dependency assessment may have been a good thing or maybe a total waste of money. Just try to throw as much evidence as you can at them.

    Good luck!

    Oh yeah, one other little thing I want to mention. Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine. He said 8 months ago he got in a fender bender. The police gave him a breathalyzer and he blew a 0.04...under the legal limit...but he still got charged with a DUI!!! He still did all the diversion classes, fines, and everything else. I felt like this was a warning to me not to even have a drop of alcohol unless I am not driving that day. I rarely drink anyway but just in case I ever want wine with dinner in a restaurant...well I won't.


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Hey, your story really gives me inspiration to keep on moving forward! Do you mind if I can get a copy of your letter of explanation to the BRN? My email is [email protected]. Thank you so much!

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skeleton, I'll just post it here for the benefit of you and others. I hope it will help guide you in writing your own. Of course make sure to personalize yours to your own situation and to show lots of remorse and atonement for your legal blunder. Remember they want to verify that you are going to be safe and competent and will use good judgement in all your decision-making at and outside of work...so convey that to them to give them every reason to approve you to move forward. Good luck :)

Dear BRN Licensing Unit:

This letter is in explanation of my misdemeanor DUI from 13 years prior. On Dec 27, 2001 I made a severe error in judgment for which I deeply regret to this day. I was attending a holiday event and had a drink. I was over the legal limit when I regrettably made the poor decision to drive home. I was pulled over and arrested for DUI. I know that I greatly erred that night and I am thankful that no one was injured and that I did not hurt anyone’s property. I cannot blame anyone or anything for this stupid mistake but myself. I realized after this event that I had a low tolerance for alcohol since I had little experience with alcohol up to that point and I immediately decided to never allow myself to do anything like that again. I resolved to never repeat that horrible blunder and was eager to face the consequences. I have never had any issues related to alcohol or substance abuse before or since. I own my mistake, I have made all restitution, I am very remorseful, and I will do everything within my power to be safe and competent.

I have learned from my mistake. The result of my poor judgment that night was to face the humiliation of spending the night in jail and going to court, paying over $10,000 in fines and legal bills, attend AA meetings, complete MADD program on 4/9/2002, attend court ordered DUI classes completed on 10/7/02, and be on probation completed on 9/25/02. The horrible experience served to teach me never to make such a stupid and dangerous mistake again. Again, I was and am very relieved that no one was hurt that night. I will never put anyone at risk again.

Since that time I completed all related requirements and my probation was closed in good standing on 9/25/02. I applied for and was granted an expungement for the DUI offense on 5/21/10. I have enclosed all related certificates of completion, court order, expungement, DMV and probation compliance. The arrest record was purged by the ***[location removed]*** police department as they do not keep records prior to 2004; I have enclosed a **PD proof of purging.

My life is quite different today than it was 13 years ago the night I got the DUI. I have since married and have children who depend on me. I do not have the time or inclination to drink or even go out socially. I understand my responsibilities to society, my family and my future profession as an R.N. require me to not drink and drive. In fact, though I am not a teetotaler, I have a social drink so infrequently that I cannot even remember the last time I consumed alcohol – I believe it was over 2 years ago. If I do happen to have an occasion to have a drink, such as at a wedding, I only have one or less and I do not drive under any circumstance. I will never take that risk again and I have too much on the line to ever consider it. I now am acutely aware that it is so much safer and less expensive to hire a cab if necessary.

My issue was a one time aberration and was not part of a pattern of abuse. Because I do not have an alcohol dependency or addiction problem I did not need to continue with AA or substance counseling after my release from probation. Because I am not involved in those efforts and have no way of providing letters from those organizations I have taken it upon myself to obtain an alcohol and drug assessment from an expert approved by the state of California to allay any concerns the BRN may have as to my sobriety and fitness for the duties of an R.N.

I will graduate from nursing school with a BSN. I have been the top student in my cohort having had the highest GPA in our program which is currently a 3.71. I have served as the President of our school’s chapter of the National Association for Student Nurses for over 1 year. I have received recommendations from several of our administrators including the Dean of Nursing. My professors also know me to be a responsible and caring individual and they trust me. All letters will also be sent directly to the BRN licensing unit by their authors.

I am not currently working at a job that is supervised by others so I regret that I cannot provide any work evaluations.

I understand the Board considers criminal history, mitigating or aggravating circumstances, evidence of rehabilitation and other criteria to evaluate an applicant's fitness and eligibility for licensing. I assure you that my DUI 13 years ago was a one time aberration of poor judgment that I profoundly regret and will never repeat again. I will not risk the safety and health of others or myself for any reason. I take seriously my responsibility to the safety and the care of others and myself. I have done everything that was asked of me by the state to amend for my DUI. I have done everything necessary to prevent a reoccurrence and I most sincerely mean it when I state that I will never do it again.

Enclosed is the documentation requested by the BRN in their application instructions.

Thank you for giving this matter your highest consideration.

Sincerely,

***my name removed***

Enclosures. Assessment, Court transcripts, Purged police report proof, Court Expungement, MADD Certificate, DMV Probation Completion, Recommendation Letters, Criminal Complaint

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Hi ooops, as a nursing student did you have any trouble with placement during your clinical rotations? I was accepted into a nursing program in San Diego, but I am worried about clinicals because of a DUI that I got 2 years ago. I know ive to submit a background check and my DUI will show, but I don't know if that is means for disqualification. What was your experience? Any ideas of what I can do?

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seriously, thank you for this! I don't think I would have written such a quality letter with out your help. Thank you!

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Hi ooops, as a nursing student did you have any trouble with placement during your clinical rotations? I was accepted into a nursing program in San Diego, but I am worried about clinicals because of a DUI that I got 2 years ago. I know ive to submit a background check and my DUI will show, but I don't know if that is means for disqualification. What was your experience? Any ideas of what I can do?

How did placement for clinicals go for you?

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