If you are drunk, don't drive!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

If you are a nurse, and you drive while you are drunk; the Board of Nursing can suspend your nursing license for good!!! This is hard to believe...but it is true!!!!

Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
I just can't understand why this discussion is even ongoing. What part of DRINKING AND DRIVING KILLS do people not understand?

As far as I can tell, no one is arguing this.

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When one is engaging in illegal activites, then it's a public problem that needs attention, not a situationi that is one's personal business.

Yes, and the public has already provided for illegal activity via written law. Why then does the nursing profession feel it necessary or beneficial to add their own punishment to an already punishable offense? IMHO the nursing profession needs to mind their own business when it comes to the private lives of nurses.

I'd have to research it further but I don't recall reading anything in nursing law about DUI being cause for losing your license...in PA.

Those who are passionate about the issue of drunk driving would better serve society by focusing your passion at your state assemblyman and push for stricter consequences and elect judges who are tough on offenders.

Not to change the subject but there is another area where we need harsher punishment for violation of existing laws and that is the area of crimes committed with firearms. The laws are not tough enough and our judicial system is too lenient. But again, the governing bodies of nursing have no business sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

By virtue of passing the NCLEX, nurses have demonstrated the minimum requirements of licensure, which includes nursing judgement.

There is no concrete evidence to support your arguement that poor judgement in private life equates to poor judgement on the job.

Actually you are incorrect. the NCLEX is only one small part of qualifying to become a nurse. Being found guilty of most felonies, as well as lesser charges regarding "moral" rules will get you barred, quite easily. Most domestic/elder/child abuse charges or charges involving violence will get you barred from nursing. Even some check kiters and those involved with ID theft have lost licenses.

Please review PA stats for obtaining licensure. I believe that they have "morals" clause or statement in their licensure process, just as most other states do. Which broadly covers a lot of activities that can be barred.

A professional license is that a "professional" license. Professionals are involved in areas of trust are obligated more than others to uphold the LAW. And the LAW bars drinking and driving. If you don't like that requirement, there are plenty of nonprofessional jobs that you can hold. Other "professions" have many of the same rules, and will lose their license to practice if they break the laws.

For that matter, DUIs do not always lose their license. If they are willing to prove to the BON that this was a momentarily lapse and permit monitoring - as any RESPONSIBLE professional would allow, they will probably keep their license. Thus alcoholics that rehab....just as drug addicts that rehab will keep/regain licensure. But they will make you "prove" that you are trust worthy.

As a professional , you MUST obey the law. You don't like it, don't become a professional. It is a price that you pay to work in this profession. Just like MDs, PharmDs, PTs, even hairdressers in some places.

How difficult is that to understand? You do not have to like it. You do not need to agree with it. Like the word, "No" - you merely deal with it.

I personally have to wonder about how addicted to alcohol one must be to risk your career. I prefer to work with those that are not owned/controlled that much by drugs and alcohol, or for that matter other bad habits, that they would risk their very profession.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
My drinking days are far behind me.

I just never understood the enjoyment.

It was never fun for me and towards the end I was always the designated driver because I didn't like the way it made me feel, especially the next day.

But I ask this, where does the responsibility lie, when bars are competing for business by offering 2fers and other promotional gimmicks that promote ingestion of too much alcohol. It is not hard to blow a .18 when you are leaving a bar after a couple of hours of drinking.

Blowing a 0.18 after having a few at a bar is not a problem. DRIVING after ingesting any alcohol IS!!!!

Bars can offer 2fors - you do not have to take them.

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Ihave an SO that is very dear to me.

If I am out and Vince D'Onofrio offers me his bod and a hot night out and I take it - I am guilty of being unfaithful.

We are adults, not children. Just because something is offered and attractive, does not mean that it is acceptable if I take it....I am still in trouble.

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As far as I can tell, no one is arguing this.

But people are arguing whether or not it is ok for a BON to take your license away. As far as I'm concerned, since it's something that should not be done because it's illegal and stupid, I don't even understand why it's something that would be argued about.

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drinking and driving is illegal and amounts to attempted murder (in my mind) so don't do it. if you do, then be prepared to face up to the results of your actions.

the way I see it is the only people who have a problem with drinking and driving and losing their license as a result are the ones who are probably habitual offenders who deny having a problem w/ drinking and probably will never admit to any mistakes they ever make.

after all the public education out there, if you choose to drink and drive (which is not a victimless crime - if it were, I would care less if the people who did it all went off cliffs and perished) you are stupid and deserve what ever punishment you recieve.

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For the life of me I cannot understand why a DUI should impact my professional license. It has nothing to do with my job performance. Tradesmen don't loose their license for a DUI so why should nurses? IMHO, it's just plain abuse of power.

Well according to husband who is an electrcian, you can. I have no idea because i haven't looked into it, but he says any state licensed individual can lose their license over a DUI. (I'll have to look this up).

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
the way I see it is the only people who have a problem with drinking and driving and losing their license as a result are the ones who are probably habitual offenders who deny having a problem w/ drinking and probably will never admit to any mistakes they ever make.

Wow, that's a pretty broad generalization there. What's that coping mechanism people use to make something not so close to home? (ie "No, those people aren't like me and my friends. It could never happen to one of us")

I'm not excusing anyone's actions, so please don't twist my words. My friend drove drunk and hit a (parked) car. It damaged our relationship very badly because I couldn't imagine her doing something so stupid--she could have killed herself and left her 2 young children motherless, or should could have killed someone else.

But she wasn't a repeat offender, wasn't an alcoholic, this wasn't part of her general character. She was going through some serious problems at home, got drunk, and being drunk, didn't have good judgement to not screw up. She was a part of SADD in high school, and is a part of MADD now. She's usually the designated driver when her friends go out drinking.

She lost her car, my respect, and for a while, our friendship. She has not done anything like that since, nor had she done anything like that prior.

Do i think she should have lost her license? No. And she didn't. Think whatever you want about her and her sh***y mistake, but it had nothing to do with her skills as a nurse.

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solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

~~~its the nightingale pledge.....how many of you have taken it upon getting pinned and if you have taken it why is there even this disscussion.... it is written on the packets that they hand out at my school for nursing students and prenursing.I would concider drinking and driving deterionus and mischevious.....just my thought.I concider drinking a great way to relieve stress if it is "your thing"but why not do it at home...Its safe and cheaper.

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This discussion interested me, so I talked to an acquaintance who is an MSN and works in a substance abuse clinic at the hospital I work at. She also teaches a monthly Drug and Alcohol Education class for people who have been arrested for DUI but have qualified for a diversion program.

I don't know if all states have them but here, if it is a first time offense, there was no personal injury or property damage, and a list of other qualifications, the offender can apply to a diversion program. During this program, they must undergo an evaluation w/ a social worker, at which time it is determined how stringent the diversion program will be. The program lasts a year, during which the offender checks in with a diversion officer on at the very least a monthly basis, and it can be more often than that. The offenders will be tapped for random urine screens. Treatment programs may be required. At the very least, a class on drinking and driving and a victim's panel is always required.

According to my acquaintance, she said that of the offenders in the classes she teaches, in her perception, many of them "made a bad choice" and according to her, most will never make that choice again. There are a certain number in her perception that will become repeat offenders. She said that a significant number have a BAC of .08, and that at that level many people don't "feel" impaired.

A statistic she told me that surprised me was that impairment begins to occur with a BAC of .02.

One other thing about the diversion program is that if the requirements of the year-long program are not met, the diversion can be revoked, and it becomes an automatic conviction. Also, even if the diversion is completed and the conviction stays off the person's record, should the offender ever is arrested and convicted of another DUI, that first (diverted) DUI suddenly counts.

Let me tell you, this conversation (especially about impairment starting to occur at .02) really opened my eyes. Because seriously, how many people will drive after having "just one" drink. Even that one drink impairs you, though maybe not legally so.

And in our state, diversions do not need to be reported to the BON. But convictions do.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

~~~its the nightingale pledge.....how many of you have taken it upon getting pinned and if you have taken it why is there even this disscussion....

Oh please! Live my life in purity? I'm a non-religious, never-been-married single mother who likes to read erotic fiction. I get drunk sometimes. (rarely, but it happens, and no, i don't drive). I have 2 tattoos, with plans to add at least 3 more. I yell at drivers who cut me off. I curse when around people I'm comfortable with--sometimes too much. Purity? Notsomuch. :smokin:

And there have been more than a few times where I had no qualms breaking that "loyalty" to the physician because the orders were crap.

Not to mention, I'm pretty sure the Nightengale Pledge is not legally binding. :D

The world is not black and white, and THAT is why we are even having this discussion.

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to kelliny

The world indeed is not black and white, I am sorry that you felt that I was targeting you in anyway.

tatoos had little to do with this discussion,

nor your marital status.

The Nightingale pledge is not legally binding but it does reflect on one's charater. (a person is only as good as their word).

and the erotic ficition thing...well...thanks for sharing

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