I got a DUI

MandyInMS · Sep 9, 2003

No judgements here..you made a mistake..now it's time to own it and make it right..contact your State Board..better you than someone else..notifying them would show that you realize your mistake and are willing to take the reqired steps to fix the problem...best of luck to ya.

debyan · Sep 9, 2003

Sometimes, if the test is right after the person has had the drink, it is falsely high. An officer, state patrol, I know, will ask and wait about 15 min (if you have the time) and retest. he takes the second. It has to do with the alcohol residue in your mouth which hasn't made it into your system. You should get a good lawyer , who will most likely have you go to be evaluated for having a problem with alcohol. I have 2 young sons 25 and 26 and know a lot of their friends from high school to now, this where I get my knowledge. It is a prime concern for a lot of parents out there. A DUI can mess up a young life, even when you have preached from birth not to drink and drive. I know my sons couldn't live with themselves if they hurt another person in an accident because of drinking . After a few drinks your judgement is impaired so you're are more likely to screw up, having a designated driver jor extra money for a taxi is so important if you are even considering going to a party serving alcohol. deb

New CCU RN · Sep 9, 2003

I took care of a patient last night s/p MVA who was a mother with chidlren in the car struck by a drunk driver. One of the kids is fighting for their lives, the mother and another kid on the vent with many complications.......

I'm not judging you but I don't feel bad either.

passing thru · Sep 9, 2003

Two drinks - - means you slugged them down in less than an hour, and took off . It takes an hour to metabolize one drink - to keep the #'s below 0.08 or 0.10 .

So, you obviously slurped quickly and out the door.

What a mess !

You'll manage this and get thru it okay.

Vow to never drink and get behind the wheel again.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 9, 2003

I second the opinion that you need to contact your state Board of Nursing ASAP. I do NOT agree with those that automatically assume you have a drinking problem. A lapse in judgment, no doubt. But you know that. But I don't know you well enough to say you have a problem with alcohol.

No doubt you regret this incident. You may have to jump through some serious hoops to maintain licensure. Be prepared to do what the Board requests for you to remain an RN.

I wish you the best. We all make mistakes, DUI's are huge ones, but not insurmoutable. Be REALLY thankful you did not hurt yourself or anyone else in your lapse in judgment. That cop saved some lives, possibly, by stopping you. Think about THAT when you consider how bad the situation COULD have been. Take care!

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 9, 2003

Originally posted by Rustyhammer
A DUI after 2 drinks?
I would fight it in court.
-Russell

I no doubt think YOU may be able to handle "two drinks" but ME??? No way, put me under the table Each metabolizes alcohol in his/her own way and WHAT may have been in the drinks can vary the concentration of alcohol wildly. I would not be too quick to fight it -----failing breath analyzer tests indicate there WAS likely impairment. Best to face the music and deal with the fact one was likely impaired, take corrective action, and not endanger others' lives by risking it again!

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 9, 2003

Originally posted by mjlrn97
usually you can save your driver's license and reduce the severity of the charges against you by agreeing to go through such a course.

I agree with the above.

I too am a recovering alcoholic and a DUI/OUI is definitely a red flag. So, a person could accomplish FOUR things by doing the above. Get a more lenient sentence, positively affect driver's license, prevent damage to one's career, AND get more information about oneself. The fourth is MOST valuable.

I am VERY surprised that two drinks would result in a failed breath test. However, they did, so take the best route possible; show that you own up to the mistake by doing the responsible thing and it can't help but benefit you.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 9, 2003

Originally posted by RNFROG3
You now know unfortunetly what is like to be on the other side of the law and can have better empathy for those who do screw up. After all we are all human.

Yes, these really horrible things often do have a wonderful upside. Thanks for pointing out how, in this instance!

Eddye · Sep 9, 2003

"If you have problems in your life that involve alcohol, i.e. dui/dwi, showing up hungover to work, relationship problems such as fighting or spousal abuse esp. when you are/have been drinking, or a thousand other things that can happen as a result of alcohol USE, then alcohol IS a problem in your life." That was from a mandatory AA meeting after my incident.

When I was living in Italy, I had too much to drink at a work christmas party and then drove home. My car died 2 miles from my house after I had driven 19 miles with only one front tire because I struck a huge concrete column about 4 blocks from the hotel where the party had been. I got picked up about 300 yards from my car, walking home. I was too intoxicated to realize that it wouldnt have hurt my career at that point to lie to the military police who then arrested me after I truthfully told them what had happened. A blood test four hours after my initial arrest revealed my BAC to be 0.193. It was by far one of the worst things that could have happened to my career and thankfully has been the worst so far. (Though it could be argued that it was one of the best things to happen to me personally.) However, I owned up to the mistake right away, believing that I would get through it that much quicker if I admitted to myself and everyone that I was wrong. I got demoted at work (military), had wages garnished, had my international drivers license suspended (merely an inconvenience), had to GIVE classes about alcohol abuse and what it can cause, but the biggest factor that led to the ensuing 2 year depression was the contempt with which I was viewed by my coworkers (who had driven home from the same party after drinking as well). They treated me literally like I had the plague. The ones who actually HAD to speak TO me, instead of about me behind my back, were condescending and judgemental because "How could you DO such a thing?! Shame on you!" This December will be four years since and I still deal with things that come up because of it, and I was never convicted!! It didn't even happen in this country. You have a long road ahead of you, Snoop, and not an easy one to travel. Own up to your mistake. Don't blame anyone else. You said it was your bad call so you've already started in the right direction. Continue to believe that and you should have it much easier than trying to find ways to beat it. There is a lot of good advice here. Contact the BON and do everything you have to do to show them you are taking responsibility for what happened. Things will not be pleasant for you, (that could be part of the "wake-up" process), but it will be a lot easier in the end and you will probably feel a lot better about yourself.

P.S.-- Get an experienced lawyer to go to court with you. Your honest intent to better yourself coupled with the truth shall not always set you free!!

GERINRS · Sep 9, 2003

I don't believe that just because a person gets a DUI, that it makes one an alcoholic. Afterall, it only takes two beers to get one! I don't think you should spend your time or money on an evaluation. You know if you have a problem or not. Sorry, about the unfortunate incident.

NursePru · Sep 9, 2003

I agree that 2 drinks does not constitute a drinking problem. Keep in mind that the BA level cutoff varies from state to state and keeps getting lower. I know in MD it is so low that even if you have 1 beer you run the risk of getting a DUI...even if you feel perfectly normal. I've known a few people who have DWIs and most of them are pretty unlikely candidates who just happen to make a wrong decision one night. Luckily none of them injured other people. Just the stories I hear prevent me from even sitting behind a wheel after one drink.

Just keep in mind that, yes, this happens to people all of the time who don't have drinking problems. Do not let this ruin your life and consume your energy. Yes it may cost you some money and you should be open about it with the BON, but don't let it ruin you or your career. Everyone around you will keep in mind what kind of employee/citizen you've been in the past. I don't know how it is in other states, but I can tell you that in MD there are people getting probation for a lot worse.

Keep your head up and you will get through this :)

Todd SPN · Sep 9, 2003

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