Past DUI?

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Does anyone know if having a DUI in the past will make getting an RN or a job in the health care field impossible or difficult?

One hears rumors, but I'm looking for information on any barriers that may come up because of a stupid mistake in my past.

Thanks.

Please Don't misunderstand. I own up to my own mistakes and decisions made leading up to them. All I am trying to say is once the mistake is made it is very hard to overcome no matter what the reason may be. The BON can be very hardened as are many nurses that work, which is very unfortunate. There are no excuses for things that happen sometimes, just as there is no excuse for the nurse that doesn't double check her meds and makes a fatal mistake. There are alot of nurses who may think that they are the "perfect" nurse. There is no such thing. As people in general we are always striving to better ourselves personally and professionally. (For most of us) Unfortunately we sometimes choose the wrong decisions and pay dearly for them. Drinking after the loss of my son is not an excuse. It was a wrong decision and it was a mistake. I had never even tasted alcohol before this happened. I was looking for something to take the pain away. I looked the wrong way. A wrong decision. If there are people who have never been in dire circumstances and made a wrong decision in whatever part of life that may be my hat is off to you. Being judgemental and putting yourself "above" someone else is something I try not to do. It seems that once I do that I end up understanding their situation by being put in their shoes or knowing someone close to me who has been.

How long do you have to pay for mistakes.....the answer is as long as it takes.

Yes, G-d forgives...but the BON is not required to.

The BON in most states is somewhat hardened. They have had to listen to excuse after excuse after excuse for illegal behavior by nurses. They hold patient safety in their hands and would have guilt on their conscious if they licensed someone who then harms a patient.

Will it affect future licensing? Yes. I had a speeding ticket in 1987 that some states will require me to report and provide references for. You will be having to provide these explanations for a very long time.

And, quite bluntly, having a loved one die in a vehicular accident, for many people, would have provided the impetus to NOT drive under the influence. How would you have felt if you had killed someone? Would it have been okay for their family members to drive under the influence and kill more people?

I am very sympathetic to the issues that led to this, as I am sure that the BON is, but you cannot use it to excuse dangerous behavior. And trust me, if the BON hears ANY excuses coming from you, no matter how valid you think that they are, they will be even less likely to allow you to regain your licensure.

This may sound harsh, but own your mistakes and resolve not to commit them again. No "everyone makes mistakes", or "everyone does it, they just don't get caught". What "everyone" does, doesn't matter...it is what you do that matters in regards to licensing.

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I am currently working at an RN and i just got A DWI it should soon be dropped to a DUI but i'm concerned about what will happen when i have to renew my liscense will they take my lisecense away?? I dont know if it is different for each state but does anyone know what new yorks policy for that is?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

questions we seem to be encountering more and more often have to do with the effects of a criminal history on nursing licensure:

  • is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a criminal history?
  • is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a mip, dui, or other related charges?
  • what happens if you are charged or convicted of a crime after licensure?
  • can i go to nursing school and/or be licensed if my record has been sealed or expunged?
  • will i be able to go to nursing school with a criminal record?
  • what can happen if i receive a mip/dui/dwi or other charge while still in school?

these are questions that the members of allnurses.com cannot answer. the only reliable source of information is your state board of nursing.

please refer to this thread for other information:

nursing licensure with a criminal history

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