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

P.S....I'm a student PN right now. took care of a pt yesterday...s&s of dt's right away..was VERY aware of the pain meds she was on...if her meds were a minute late, she was on that call light.

Moral of this story?? She is an RN in another county around here...we've all heard of the stories about nurses being more suseptible (spelling?) to these kind of things. But I stress my point again of...only the person with the problem can say they have one. I've used illegal drugs. been there..done it...not for me. But..when I was there...I said "I'm fine, not an addict" only till I myself realised what I was doing did I start to make a change.

OK..really..I'm done...BIG S/E of me and a few beers...I get all thoughful...LMFAO

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the responses. The point of my post was to make you aware of the reasons behind the laws. I have the good fortune of knowing how and why these laws were put into place and none of those reasons are for YOURS or YOUR LOVED ONES SAFETY, they are for money and political action.

Repeat, the low BAC law was created for money, nothing more. More people are killed every year from drivers with no measurable amt of alcohol but who are speeding or committing other traffic violations, in fact when i say most i mean 91% of all MV fatalities. Those crimes are not punished at all. You get a moving violation and some points for committing them.

So people will continue to DIE every year because you all have been convinced of where the problem is, with low BAC drivers that statistically almost never cause a fatal MV accident.

How about getting tough on what is KILLING yours and my loved ones every day and going unpunished. Convicted violators of speeding, aggressive driving, etc... need to be dealt with on a much harsher level than the low BAC driver who does nothing more than get pulled over.

not everyone has your weaknesses, realize that , just because you are an alcoholic doesn't mean anyone else is. sure there might be commonalities, but just because you have gone through it does not mean you are in any position to see it in anyone else, you have no training in it and are not a counselor, you have only experienced it from your own personal alcoholic eyes not the eyes of a healthy person, leave that to the trained professionals. alcoholism is a life long disease, and your continued treatment is to be commended. i do not mean to be harsh just to speak the truth

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by ILobbyforRN

Thanks for the responses. The point of my post was to make you aware of the reasons behind the laws. I have the good fortune of knowing how and why these laws were put into place and none of those reasons are for YOURS or YOUR LOVED ONES SAFETY, they are for money and political action.

Repeat, the low BAC law was created for money, nothing more. More people are killed every year from drivers with no measurable amt of alcohol but who are speeding or committing other traffic violations, in fact when i say most i mean 91% of all MV fatalities. Those crimes are not punished at all. You get a moving violation and some points for committing them.

So people will continue to DIE every year because you all have been convinced of where the problem is, with low BAC drivers that statistically almost never cause a fatal MV accident.

How about getting tough on what is KILLING yours and my loved ones every day and going unpunished. Convicted violators of speeding, aggressive driving, etc... need to be dealt with on a much harsher level than the low BAC driver who does nothing more than get pulled over.

not everyone has your weaknesses, realize that , just because you are an alcoholic doesn't mean anyone else is. sure there might be commonalities, but just because you have gone through it does not mean you are in any position to see it in anyone else, you have no training in it and are not a counselor, you have only experienced it from your own personal alcoholic eyes not the eyes of a healthy person, leave that to the trained professionals. alcoholism is a life long disease, and your continued treatment is to be commended. i do not mean to be harsh just to speak the truth

This post is a little less inflamatory than the other post you made, and I appreciate it. Makes it easier to understand what you might be saying. You bring up some good points. Could it be possible that both yourself and the recoverying alcoholic have some valid points and are speaking truth??? I think it's good that you are challenging, opening minds.

Political or money making or not, MADD was started by a mother who watched her child die at the hands of a drunk driver. Again, I point out that studies show a person impaired with these levels. Oh sure, they don't statistically cause as many fatalities, but I still stay whatever the motivation lives were saved.

Now, about the other issue. I was dismayed that speeding levels were raised when it was proven the lower levels saved lives. Maybe there needs to be a grass roots movements "Mothers and Others Concerned About Speeders" or something like that for something to be done about speeders. I especially cringe when I see a helmutless speeder going 100 mph down an interstate weaving in and our of trafic.

Politicians are unlikely to deal with any issues, until it involves them winning votes, etc. But I applaud that it is politically incorrect to drink and drive, and I applaud the low levels. Makes it a no-brainer for us. Don't drink ANYTHING and drive and you're o.k.

Is it contradictory that we are more harsh on low level drinkers than speeders? Yes. You probably speak the truth there. I'm not aware of the statistics though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by ILobbyforRN

Thanks for the responses. The point of my post was to make you aware of the reasons behind the laws. I have the good fortune of knowing how and why these laws were put into place and none of those reasons are for YOURS or YOUR LOVED ONES SAFETY, they are for money and political action.

Repeat, the low BAC law was created for money, nothing more. More people are killed every year from drivers with no measurable amt of alcohol but who are speeding or committing other traffic violations, in fact when i say most i mean 91% of all MV fatalities. Those crimes are not punished at all. You get a moving violation and some points for committing them.

So people will continue to DIE every year because you all have been convinced of where the problem is, with low BAC drivers that statistically almost never cause a fatal MV accident.

How about getting tough on what is KILLING yours and my loved ones every day and going unpunished. Convicted violators of speeding, aggressive driving, etc... need to be dealt with on a much harsher level than the low BAC driver who does nothing more than get pulled over.

not everyone has your weaknesses, realize that , just because you are an alcoholic doesn't mean anyone else is. sure there might be commonalities, but just because you have gone through it does not mean you are in any position to see it in anyone else, you have no training in it and are not a counselor, you have only experienced it from your own personal alcoholic eyes not the eyes of a healthy person, leave that to the trained professionals. alcoholism is a life long disease, and your continued treatment is to be commended. i do not mean to be harsh just to speak the truth

Just curious to know where you get your statistics/info from. What is the source? What is your background?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So quick to defend oneself usually indicates a guilty person, eh? At least that's how we're determining alcoholism, right? To all the people who have 'never gotten a ticket'... that doesn't mean you haven't sped or violated a traffic law. You know you have. Nobody is perfect (and yes, I know that means me). Go ahead and deny it because we all know that the first sign of a guilty person is denial. You can't win this one.

As far as labeling everyone who has had a drink of alcohol an alcoholic, let's jump off that bandwagon. Find another way to make yourself feel better about your problems. Some of us actually CAN and DO drink responsibly and don't fit into your category.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by GTS

Some of us actually CAN and DO drink responsibly and don't fit into your category.

So maybe the person who gets the DUI is not an alcoholic, but they don't fall into the realm of drinking responsibly either. And we are talking about DUI's here are we not?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Tweety, you just hit the proverbial nail on the head. Thanks for cutting through all the BS and saying it simply.

As for me, I apologize to anyone who is or was offended by anything I've said on this particular subject. It's obvious that I, along with a few others, have struck a nerve with some folks and it's best if we just agree to disagree. There's no need for the vitriol and hostility some posters have demonstrated here, but that's not for me to deal with as I am not a moderator, and none of what's been written here is flagrantly inappropriate.

And that's all I have to say about THAT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by mjlrn97

Tweety, you just hit the proverbial nail on the head. Thanks for cutting through all the BS and saying it simply.

As for me, I apologize to anyone who is or was offended by anything I've said on this particular subject. It's obvious that I, along with a few others, have struck a nerve with some folks and it's best if we just agree to disagree. There's no need for the vitriol and hostility some posters have demonstrated here, but that's not for me to deal with as I am not a moderator, and none of what's been written here is flagrantly inappropriate.

And that's all I have to say about THAT.

Don't you know when you criticize or get real about someone's smoking, overeating, drinking of alcohol you're going to get flamed for being judgemental, critical, for being imperfect yourself? You handled it quite well and don't you ever change.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Thanks, Tweety.......you are a dear!:kiss

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

Don't you know when you criticize or get real about someone's smoking, overeating, drinking of alcohol you're going to get flamed for being judgemental, critical, for being imperfect yourself? You handled it quite well and don't you ever change.

:)

Ain't THAT the truth.....lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have to chime in here.....

I live in a town that serves alcohol 24/7...and what's worse....many ppl, locals and tourists alike... go out, stay up all night drinking and drive home.

I can't count the number of times I've been driving at 10am and have seen someone swerving. It scares the crap out of me!

There are also thoes ppl that stay out and drive home tired!! They are just as dangerous!

Like smiling says....Take a cab....I've known ppl around here who drink and drive...we have cabs everywhere!!!! Know what the excuse is....."it's too expensive" Well, a life is priceless!

just my 2 cents

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with posters who pointed out other dangerous driving situations...there are a number we can name.

Those who drive while allowing distractions, (kids, dogs, reading)cell phones, eating, aggressive driving, innattention...even the 90 yo granny driving 20 on the freeway.....all these things I have seen contribute to accidents YET we are going after .08 BAC...because we can apparently. It is easy to PROVE with the breathylyzer. Too bad we can't make it against the law for the other things too, eh? A woman on a cell phone and an innattentive man rammed into me on the road and injured my cervical spine.....but all I can do is take their insurance $$$...no punishment for them. Maybe I should have demanded the officer do a breathylyzer...if they used mouthwash that am they may have failed and been punished... ;)

Time for Whiplash Sufferers Against Cell Phones to form....

Some states have decided .10 is a better measure of impairment on the road. Probably a more fair number, IMO, although I see many here would disagree.

One who uses a cell phone or eats while driving is being just as careless as one who has a drink and drives, IMHO. But they guy who had the drink will get major punishment in the event of the accident, won't he?

So..the smartest thing we can do to protect OURSELVES is don't drink and drive. Regardless if we disagree with it, its the law today. We can try to change it but as mentioned, it is politically motivated.

JMHO as always.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment