DUI 28 years ago, just staring RN refresher

Jolie, BSN · Jul 29, 2010

Please answer the question honestly, attaching an explanation if you think that would be helpful.

allnurses Guide · Jul 29, 2010

I believe you will have to put your DUI conviction on your application and that it will probably lead to taking longer to get your license reinstated. Was there disciplinary action against your license at the time of the DUI? The last thing you should do is try to cover it up. It WILL show up and once you lie to the BON, you can kiss any license goodbye forever. I suspect if you have been clean this long, it won't be an issue as long as you are honest.

312time · Jul 30, 2010

There was never a problem with my nursing license. I had it at the time, and for 14 years following.

I would think that the BON might feel kind of silly holding it up at this point in time.

mandyc · Jul 31, 2010

I agree, I believe they are looking for a "pattern" in your offenses...And if you have had only one and no criminal behavior/offenses since that time, you should be fine.. Along with the letter of explanation they will generally ask you for court paperwork showing the date of conviction and the out-come. This paper should also show if you were in compliance with the court requests...ie were you compliant with taking court appointed alcohol classes, going to AA meeting...and so on. This will speed up the process, most times...Good Luck and welcome back to nursing..!

baldee · Aug 7, 2010

Despite what pixies may say on this board, you have nothing to be worried about.

Get all your FBI rap sheet (nothing on it), (effected) State rap sheet, and (effected) county rap sheet (State and county will be identical). THAT IS ALL THAT IS REAL! You cannot be held to remembering details then, and you will be on the borderline of pc networking and database interface technology. But what shows up is what is real; not memories, other tidbits of faulty data on the web, or what a pixie may say. Whatever is on your rap sheets is all that matters. And arrests? Well, all that matters is what happened in court, and all that can be proven... to you anyway.

However, get your rap sheets and talk to your BON (early). Anyone sitting around with nothing better to do than to remorse over past mistakes has nothing to do period. Screwum if they can't take a joke! Not all, but most DUI's are failure to maintain lanes near the home. WHY? Because you know where every pot hole is at and you don't want to mess your front end and alignment up.

Sleep well, and don't let this paranoid propaganda blind you with pixie dust in your eyes. Be prepared with your rap sheets (takes up to a couple of months). Most people move on from this board, so you don't hear about the majority of successes. You didn't kill, rape, steal, do drugs, beat the blind, or launder money. It is not illegal to drink and drive (so they want you to believe anyway). It's a racket like anything else. REMEMBER, (some) non-critical Felonies can be nurses 12 years after released.

I hope you quit drinking anyway :-)

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 4, 2010

a. start here---faq: nursing licensure with a criminal history has info how you need to answer licensing questions.

b. check your boards of nursing regs, application statements and reinstatement.

since you previously held active license and have not had further problems, should not be an issue reinstating license over dui but may have to complete refresher course or retake nclex as some states require with inactive license over 5 years (many nurses unaware this).... your refresher course should bring you up to speed quickly.

let us know outcome.