I got a DUI

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was so stupid the other night, I had two drinks, got pulled over and failed the breathalyzer. Will this affect my AL RN liscence when we renew next year

Before that I had a clean record, not even a ticket. I am no alcoholic just did something very stupid that I will never never do again

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by Todd SPN

Some people are saying snoop should turn herself into the BON. Can someone explain exactly why?

Because, at least here in Florida, getting a DUI is against the nurse practice act. I even think there is a computer program that sends all DUIs through the board of regulation that monitors all state licensed people, including nurses, not sure, but I think I've heard this.

I'm not judging this person, but as I said above and someone else said, for the BON it's a red flag. Not this person, but the overwhelming majority of persons who get DUI's have a drinking problem.

With patient safety foremost the concern, the BON can't take any chances and needs to screen every DUI.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Letting the BON (what does BON stand for anyway, i know what DON is?) know what happened instead of he/she finding out on their own shows honesty.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

Letting the BON (what does BON stand for anyway, i know what DON is?) know what happened instead of he/she finding out on their own shows honesty.

BON = Board of Nursing

"getting a DUI is against the nurse practice act"

Please show me where it says this in the nurse prectice act.

Shame on you guys...

He/she has not yet even been convicted of the crime. I disagree with calling the BON and turning herself/himself in.

Hire an attorney and if you are convicted then call the BON to report your situation.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

In Oregon, we have to report ANY arrest/criminal charges, except of course for traffic infractions, to the BON. It doesn't matter if you're eventually convicted or not, they ask you on your license renewal form every 2 yrs. if you have been arrested, charged with, or convicted of any felony or misdemeanor since your last renewal. I suppose it could wait until it's time for snoop to renew his/her license, it may be different elsewhere; at any rate snoop will need to check his/her own state Nurse Practice Act.

As for 2 drinks not making a person an alcoholic: that may very well be true, but if I had a dollar for every time I've heard (or said) "I only had two drinks" I'd be a rich woman. Cops tend to be similarly cynical, and often will automatically assume the person in question has had at least twice that amount and probably more. I don't know if snoop really had only two drinks or not, but you can't blame people for being suspicious.

I would get a good lawyer before doing anything. Your life and livelihood are at stake.

Originally posted by mjlrn97

In Oregon, we have to report ANY arrest/criminal charges, except of course for traffic infractions, to the BON. It doesn't matter if you're eventually convicted or not, they ask you on your license renewal form every 2 yrs. if you have been arrested, charged with, or convicted of any felony or misdemeanor since your last renewal.

I find that most disturbing. Charges that are dropped or one is found innocent of should have no bearing on ones license. But then again, you live in OR. Isin't that the state that was throwing parents in jail because their children had excessive absences in school? I still see no reason to run to the phone and tattle on myself, especially until after running this through the courts.

FYI, my state, WA, is now looking at some DUI tickets because the breathalyzers have not been checked for proper calibration for years. If you are going to charge someone with a serious offense such as this, you darn well better make sure the readings are correct.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

These days, to drive even after ONE drink is really taking chances. Why would anyone do this when cabs, friends, etc could do this for us??? I think it's high time we used some sense here.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

ITA, Todd........I don't think it's right to hold an arrest against a person, innocent people are arrested everyday. (Convictions are another matter.) But that's the way my state's laws are written, and I wasn't happy when I had to disclose a long-ago arrest and misdemeanor conviction arising out of, of all things, a couple of traffic tickets I couldn't afford to pay. The state board didn't have a problem with it, though--I just explained the circumstances, and I received my license w/o further issues.

A recent DUI is another matter, however, and snoop's state BON will probably want reassurance that such a thing won't happen again, and even more, that he or she will be responsible around controlled substances. What I've been trying to point out is, it's best to be honest; two years before I even started my nursing program, I asked the state BON if my history of alcoholism precluded me from being a nurse---figured I shouldn't waste my time or money if I was going to be denied a license in the end. The woman I spoke with asked me how long I'd been sober; at that time it was just over two years. She told me, "As long as that holds true, it will NEVER be an issue with us" and thanked me for being upfront about it.

I should point out that I am NOT saying snoop is an alcoholic---only that he/she should carefully assess what has happened, and when the time comes to apply for a nursing license, he/she should be truthful about the DUI because they WILL find out about it. (Unless Oregon is the only state that does criminal background checks......)

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

These days, to drive even after ONE drink is really taking chances. Why would anyone do this when cabs, friends, etc could do this for us??? I think it's high time we used some sense here.

I learned in class that alcohol does something to the CNS which might have some bearing on it.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm an ER nurse and I also volunteer pre-hospital...drinking ANYTHING in ANY amount doesn't mix with driving. I too have problems with people that drink and drive. Personally, I don't care if you have a drinking problem or not, but if you use such poor judgement in your personal life, what about your professional life? I'm not being judgemental here at all, but a car in a drunk's hands is a weapon - fully 75% of our traumas are ETOH related. Good luck...maybe you should quit drinking??

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

CNS involvement???? hmmm ok....welp...

So this is what ya do:

You plan to go have a drink or two or three (or a keg for all I know)..... BUT BEFORE YA GO---- YOU MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A RIDE HOME or a PLACE TO STAY or ya plan to walk, whatever it takes to avoid being behind the wheel with ANY alcohol in your system. I know a person who was busted on an Air Force base with having had only a single DRINK. (she was petite and likely had an empty stomach but felt "no impairment"). Never the less, it messed up her career ---it's a shame. But, you can't say from one day to the next how you will metabolize and tolerate certain beverages. So you don't take chances......

What you DO do is, you make these decisions before the CNS is impaired!!!! How simple is that?

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