DUI.... Any chance at being a RN?

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Let me clear the air before I get lectured on, this is NOT me, this is for a friend of mine.

So my friend goes out and has a drink, she ends up getting a DUI, but I realized she wanted to be a nurse, does anyone know if the DUI will conflict with her future? I know most jobs perform background checks but does that count?

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Your friend needs to contact the Board of Nursing for his/her state ASAP. We cannot provide this information on our forum, only provide moral support. Some good advice here: https://allnurses.com/nursing-licensure-criminal/start-here-faq-163600.html

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I dont think there is any correct way to have a good solution to this post. YES it is an INSANELY criminal offense if someone gets hurt...there is no excuse for that...and it is a selfish motive. But all I was saying is its definetely a gray area when someone makes a one time mistake, no one is injured, etc.....That mistake doesnt judge their performance of being a wonderful nurse. Either way...best of luck to everyone.

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Wow, thanks for all the responses, yea I will definitely forward the messages to her. Thanks everyone. Honestly I saw it as a somewhat serious crime. They do put strict regulations for a reason, but hey then again we all do have our moments?

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Forums are absolutely the worst place to seek legal advice. The question whether a nursing school candidate becoming a RN with a dui is best reserved for a licensed nurse attorney. That being said...I know a doctor who had 5 dui's and have been in rehab 49 times and he is still practicing medicine and is now a world renowned addictionologist. He is even playing a role in rewriting some of my state's drunk driving laws! So believe me, anything's possible but consult with an attorney.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

many states ask about dui/dwi or other offenses by name. others simply ask that you disclose "anything other than minor driving offenses" while others identify specific ones.

dui/dwi and many other vehicular offenses are not minor driving offenses.

dui/dwi and many other vehicular offenses are misdemeanor or felony crimes.

they need to be disclosed as such, according to the bon rules, even if they are not specifically identified on the application.

from: pa sbon winter 2005/2006 newsletter:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/...nurse_2005.pdf

the effects of a dui charge in regards to licensure

by kevin knipe, director of the professional health monitoring program

the professional health monitoring programs' (phmp), voluntary recovery program (vrp) of the bureau of professional and occupational affairs (bpoa) offers confidential, voluntary treatment and monitoring of commonwealth-licensed health care professionals suffering from mental or physical impairments, including chemical dependency.

the primary responsibility of the phmp is to protect the citizens of the commonwealth from unsafe practice by impaired licensees. this responsibility is fulfilled through the identification and referral to appropriate treatment of such licensed professionals, and the case management and monitoring of their progress in recovery.

the majority of nurses that are referred to the vrp are done so through hospitals or health care facilities, peers orcolleagues reporting licensees that are suspected of suffering from an impairment and/or involved in the diversion of controlled substances. in the nurse board's continued effort to identify nurses that may be suffering from an impairment that may affect their ability to safely practice, a procedure was developed for board staff to automatically forward all renewal applications to the vrp whereby licensees have reported having had a dui/dwi or underage drinking arrest and/or conviction. the rationale for referring licensees to the vrp who have had a substance-related legal problem is based on the fact that frequently incidents of this nature indicate that a person may be suffering from a substance-related disorder....

fla:

from fl nursing assoc:

legislative alert: (posted 8/11/09)

it is important for nurses and those considering entering nursing school to be aware of the implementation of sb 1986 which is a 160 page medicaid fraud bill which was passed in the last moments of session. it contains provisions which got past everyone concerning the licensure of healthcare providers convicted of certain felonies. if a provider or applicant has a history of a conviction for any felony relating to medical fraud, non-medical fraud or controlled substances, they may not be issued a license for 15 years after their probation has ended. the new law also requires that providers who have these convictions may not be issued a renewal license. this law is going to present serious problems for a number of providers and those who want to be providers. for example, a recent graduate of a nursing program was denied a license because as a freshman in college she had an issue with possession of marijuana. she has been through drug treatment and has successfully completed nursing school. now she cannot get a florida license due to this new law. there were a number of cases like this during the last board of nursing meeting.

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important notice for initial licensure applicants and renewals:

during the 2009 florida legislative session, senate bill [color=#1111cc]sb 1986 was passed changing florida statute (fs),

section 546.0635. this change in law became effective july 1, 2009. the new law requires the florida

department of health or the florida board of respiratory care to refuse to issue a license if the applicant

has been:

1. convicted, plead guilty or plead nolo contendre ('no contest'), regardless of settlement, to a

felony violation of fraud of social and economic assistance (fs chapter 409), felony violation of

general false pretenses or fraud (fs chapter 817), or felony violation of drug abuse (fs chapter

893); or felony violation of drug abuse prevention and control (21 u.s.c. ss. 801-970); or

felony prohibition against any federal interference of the health insurance for the aged act or

the grants to states for medical assistance programs (42 u.s.c. ss 1395-1396), unless the

sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application.

2. terminated for cause from florida medicaid program (unless the applicant has been in good

standing for the most recent 5 years).

3. terminated for cause by any other state medicaid program or the medicare program (unless the

termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in

good standing with the program for the most recent 5 years).

http://www.fsrc.org/fsrcstatement/fsrcstatement_sb%201986_10-21-2009.pdf

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If this is your friends first and only offense than she probably can get into Nursing School but an employer would be a whole different thing. Can she ever get the DUI off her record? If she can than she should go to school and get the DUI of her record and not repeat the mistake. Oregon State probably would license her as long as it was her first and only and she didn't have any other convictions. But like other people said she should talk to the schools she planning to go to and the state board of nursing where she wants to practice.

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Specializes in almost everything.

I went to nursing school with someone who had 2 DUIs. She had to go in front of the state board of nursing before she could take her boards. They allowed her to take her boards, she passed, and has been an RN for a couple of years. Oh, she has also remained sober. She will probably have to go in front of the state board of nursing but since it is her first offense, hopefully they will let her go to nursing school. Even after she completes nursing school, she may have to go in front of the board before she can take her boards. I wish your friend good luck. I also hope she learned from this mistake. That is what is important, we all make mistakes, but learning from them are key.

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I dont know, doing something as foolish and selfish as driving drunk I would say shows character. How many people die bc of some moron who decides to drive drunk. You can be book smart and still have poor judgement. Some professions need to have high standards and this is one of them. Right now HR can pick from the cream of the crop since everyone is going back to school to enter the health care world. Even if they couldnt I dunno...

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac.

I just graduated with my RN a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I have not one but 2 DUI's on my record (Yea, I know... I'm an idiot) I graduated in Iowa and called the Iowa board of nursing to make sure this wouldn't be a problem. I knew that I'd be able to get licensed but I was worried that my license would be on some sort of probation because of my past offenses. The woman I talked to told me "not necessarily," I'm sending all of my information in the take the NCLEX exam and I'm hoping that there won't be a problem. I don't know, I guess it depends on the state your friends in and the school they're planning on attending. A quick phone call to your states board of nursing should clear it. I'm sure it varies from place to place. If your friend really wants to be a nurse and isn't able to in your state then just tell them to move to Iowa!

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac.

One more thing...

Everyone needs to get off of their high freaking horse. Stuff happens, it doesn't necessarily make someone a bad person, or a bad nurse, a DUI on someones record should preclude them from going after their dreams. I graduated at the top of my class from an excellent nursing program and whether you bleeding hearts like it or not i'm going to be an excellent nurse.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

21 posts later.....the consensus is that we can't provide legal advice which is basically what you are asking.

As NrsKarenRN quoted from the FL BON: you aren't going to get licensed until 15 years AFTER your probation if you are convicted of certain felonies.

It is always best to get the advice of an attorney prior to making the decision to go to nursing school.

As to "getting off one's high horse", well all I can say is one time its a mistake, twice is a pattern and nursing boards and employers don't like patterns.

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Specializes in Infusion.

How desperate is your future employer? That's the only question that is relevant. The state's board of nursing will let you know if you can be licensed with a DUI.

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