I am writing this to help anyone in a similar situation. I got a DUI 2 years into my nursing career. I had a hard time finding information about the process so I want to make my story available.
I got a DUI fall 2014, BAC .13%, no property damage. I complied with the courts and completed l the classes and AA meeting required. Early on in 2015 the BRN sent me a letter asking if I wanted to participate in the diversion program, please avoid this unless you truly have an addiction problem. October 2015 I got a letter asking me to send a statement of what happened, court documents, proof of rehabilitation, and support letters from managers.
These documents will play a crucial to the BRN's decision between a fine or probation. A fine is your best outcome, the case will not be public information when someone looks up your license, and the board will take no further action. From what I've read and heard from people probation is a horrible 2-3 year process, many nurses lose their job and employers won't hire nurses on probation.
With my career at stake I hired a lawyer that had experience dealing with the BRN and knew what they expected. It was the best money I ever spent. She helped me edit my statement, and gave me guidelines to give my managers and supervisors when they wrote their letter. I got letters from my manager,supervisor, charge nurses, and coworkers. I also got a letter from the organization where I volunteered. These letters letters should demonstrate to the BRN that you are a great nurse that shows no signs of addiction with drugs or alcohol, and that the DUI was an isolated event. I got lucky that my place of work was super supportive and everyone came together and wrote me support letters.
Second, I sent them proof of completion of my DUI list offender program. Also, I sent them certificates of the many classes I took throughout the year. I have a membership with flex ed and have been taking many courses, they served to demonstrate that I am trying to continue to grow. Also proof of volunteer hours.
A few weeks later I heard from the BRN, I was blessed to come out of this ordeal with just fine. Hiring a lawyer is very important, she made my statement and letters much stronger. Also, while you wait for the BRN to reach out to you take classes and volunteer, do everything you can to demonstrate self-improvement. Also, make sure you report your DUI right away to the BRN, I think we have 2 months to report any criminal activity, if you don't it might count against your case.
BIGGEST lesson I learned is that a DUI can happen anyone, I work really hard, and I've never been in any kind of trouble, it never crossed y mind I would ever get a DUI. I had 1 drink, and thought I was fine, I didn't take into account what a lightweight drinker I am. PLEASE be smart out there, don't drink and drive. It's dangerous, irresponsible, and the consequencse are not worth it. We make enough money as nurses to uber if we are planning to drink.
We are not allowed to exchange names on this forum but if you type into google
RN DUI Sacramento the attnorney I used is the first result. He has his office in a victorian in Down town Sac. His prices were much more reasonable than any of the competition and I got sense when meeting with him that he's a good choice one of the reasons being that he does nothing but licensing law and has taken many nursing cases.
RNryder. People who had less than a .10 and received probation either were not already licensed at the time of their arrest or were involved in a collision, or they had a prior DUI. If you are already licensed, just write a letter to the BRN stating that you are very sorry and are abstaining from alcohol and you'll get a fine.
If you are not already licensed read the forums on that.
You only have to disclose a conviction within 30 days, not an arrest.
I got an $1100 fine. The attorney I used you can find by googling "DUI RN SACRAMENTO". I thought he was good, he expedited the decision for me and that made it very worth it for me not having that hanging over my head.
Based on my research you only need an attorney if you fall into the following categories:
-You are not yet licensed (research that further)
-If the DUI involved a collision, a flip, or a child was in the car
-If there are any drugs (prescription or otherwise) at all involved
-If you BAC was greater that .20
-If you it was your second DUI regardless of what the BAC in either
-You have other criminal convictions
If your BAC is .15-.20 thats kinda of a grey zone. I got an attorney to be on the safe side.
I wanted to get a little more input and direction on the matter.
I am planning on going back to school for nursing in CA. My biggest issue that I know I will have to face is that I had gotten a DUI in 2011. I had blown a .11 and had gotten convicted for DWI (driving while intoxicated) and had the DUI (driving under the influence) portion dismissed. I have gone through the DUI courses and even had a breathalizer in my car for a year (required in my county on first offense). Since then I have had a clean record. I've been reading on alot of forums about horror stories on how situations like this, where people go through years of schooling to find out they are completely hopeless and give up.
It seems like a hard road ahead of me but is it completely hopeless? I've read that there is an appeal process to take your NCLEX. I was planning on pursuing LVN and going to a bridge RN program shortly after, would I run through a similar situation?
I would love some input and hopefully some words of encouragement.
Spowers81 Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I have obtained a dui attorney and plan on obtaining a licensing attorney as well for any interaction with the brn. So were you found guilty and convicted of a dui or did the judge give you lesser charges hence just you recording a brn fine? Did you have any other aggravating circumstances when u were pulled over and was this your first dui
Spower81
4 Posts
We are not allowed to exchange names on this forum but if you type into google
RN DUI Sacramento the attnorney I used is the first result. He has his office in a victorian in Down town Sac. His prices were much more reasonable than any of the competition and I got sense when meeting with him that he's a good choice one of the reasons being that he does nothing but licensing law and has taken many nursing cases.