I just got a DUI...

Trauma Columnist · Jun 19, 2006

I live in IL - please contact the Ill Dept of Professional Regulation at http://www.il.gov

good luck...

NRSNFL · Jun 19, 2006

McArdle-

I read your thread and I am sure you are embarrased and ashamed of your actions. So easy to sleep at someone else's house or call a cab.....none of this pain is worth what you did (or didn't do). I am personally a strong believer in designated driver situations, my father got multiple DUI's when I was growing up and I saw what it did to our quality of life. I will say this, my hopes for you are that you learned from this and never do that again. You could have had an accident with a car with a baby in it, you could have done lots of things....my other hope for you is that you can sit for the boards. Someone who is spotless for 7 years is obviously not a recurring offender and just made one decision incorrectly. I think you will/have learned from this and will make you a better person/nurse. Good luck and keep us informed of what happens.

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jun 19, 2006

I am in KS. I was in class with a girl who had a DUI. When she first started nursing classes she had to get rides because her license to drive was suspended. She took boards in January. You will need to disclose this to your school and do your "time".

Bruce RN · Jun 20, 2006

McArdle-
I read your thread and I am sure you are embarrased and ashamed of your actions. So easy to sleep at someone else's house or call a cab.....none of this pain is worth what you did (or didn't do). I am personally a strong believer in designated driver situations, my father got multiple DUI's when I was growing up and I saw what it did to our quality of life. I will say this, my hopes for you are that you learned from this and never do that again. You could have had an accident with a car with a baby in it, you could have done lots of things....my other hope for you is that you can sit for the boards. Someone who is spotless for 7 years is obviously not a recurring offender and just made one decision incorrectly. I think you will/have learned from this and will make you a better person/nurse. Good luck and keep us informed of what happens.

I'd like to add that the OP doesn't need to be judged or shamed any further than what has already happened.

Telling her that she could have gotten into an accident with a car with a baby in it isn't helpful, IMHO. It just adds more shame and stress to an already bad situation.

A baby's life isn't any more valuable than if she were to have hit a 45 year old pedestrian while driving drunk.

Many, many nurses have had DUI's.

And many, many more have never had one but should have because they've driven drunk on plenty of occasions but were never caught.

I'm sorry, but I've read too many comments here that have a high brow tone to them and are literally shaming nurses for getting DUI's, yet so many nurses have had them. The number of threads started about the subject alone is evidence to that.

Instead of judging and shaming nurses who have gotten them, why are we not examining why so many nurses (or nursing students)are getting them in the first place?

I have a feeling that it goes much deeper than bachelorette parties and simple momentary lapses of judgement.

Princess74 · Jun 20, 2006

I'm sure that she feels bad but there is NO excuse for drinking and driving. EVER.

chrispicritah · Jun 20, 2006

I'd like to add that the OP doesn't need to be judged or shamed any further than what has already happened.
Telling her that she could have gotten into an accident with a car with a baby in it isn't helpful, IMHO. It just adds more shame and stress to an already bad situation.
A baby's life isn't any more valuable than if she were to have hit a 45 year old pedestrian while driving drunk.
Many, many nurses have had DUI's.
And many, many more have never had one but should have because they've driven drunk on plenty of occasions but were never caught.
I'm sorry, but I've read too many comments here that have a high brow tone to them and are literally shaming nurses for getting DUI's, yet so many nurses have had them. The number of threads started about the subject alone is evidence to that.
Instead of judging and shaming nurses who have gotten them, why are we not examining why so many nurses (or nursing students)are getting them in the first place?
I have a feeling that it goes much deeper than bachelorette parties and simple momentary lapses of judgement.

if you drive drunk, you need to be shamed.

after 22 years of nursing, i remember the worst thing i saw when i floated to the trauma unit was a multiple freeway accident caused by a drunk driver...he was drunk as cooter brown and ran into a woman who was 8 months pregnant. her baby could not be saved, apparently the placenta became separated from her and he died. she was injured but had not yet found out that her baby died. he was so drunk he didn't know what was up.

i remember we were all crying, it was so sad. the police wanted to beat him down and he had the nerve to be demanding!

so many people drive drunk and kill others, unfortuately they walk away without a scratch.

and you want to take care of me?

what part of spend the night don't you understand?

what happened to "can you give me a ride home" don't you understand?

my father was an alcoholic, and one of the saddest things about an alcoholic is that they are so selfish. all they can think about is "i". they don't see the consequences of what they do. it is always about what they want, what they didn't get, or how can they fix it without paying the price for what they have done. and if you ever work with a nurse who has come to work drinking :clown: it ain't nothin' nice.

now before anyone calls me judgemental come and work at the job i am leaving for a week, then go back.

too many excuses, so little time.

cc

soon to retire from nursing after 22 years:roll

McArdle · Jun 20, 2006

Im feeling so much better today. My husbands best friend is a lawyer so he took my case. He told me he has already spoken with the prosecuting atrny and that since this is my first offence I will be put on probation for 6 months and at the end of the six months the case will be dismissed. I will not be convicted of anything. My record being as good as it was played a big part in me getting probation.

This event is not something that I would EVER repeat again. I feel horrible about the whole thing and have definatley learned from my mistake.

I will not be able to drive for the next 6 months and I have to attend a "victims impact panel" but that is a small price to pay.

Thank you to the people that were supportive of me. I know you are not supporting what I did, but the fact that I made a mistake and am learning from it.

As far as taking the NCLEX I emailed the BON and I got an email back saying that they do not look at any arrests thet were not followed by a conviction. The only thing they are looking for are actual convictions of either a misdomeaner or felony so I should be okay.

NRSNFL · Jun 20, 2006

Let me start off by saying, I am happy you interpreted my posting as I had intended it to sound. Clearly Bruce didn't. I am also happy you will have this second chance. Yes it was a pretty severe situation, but I truly believe people make mistakes in their lives and have opportunity to learn from them and grow as individuals. Repeat offenders, my opinion is different. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Bruce RN · Jun 22, 2006

if you drive drunk, you need to be shamed.
after 22 years of nursing, i remember the worst thing i saw when i floated to the trauma unit was a multiple freeway accident caused by a drunk driver...he was drunk as cooter brown and ran into a woman who was 8 months pregnant. her baby could not be saved, apparently the placenta became separated from her and he died. she was injured but had not yet found out that her baby died. he was so drunk he didn't know what was up.
i remember we were all crying, it was so sad. the police wanted to beat him down and he had the nerve to be demanding!
so many people drive drunk and kill others, unfortuately they walk away without a scratch.
and you want to take care of me?
what part of spend the night don't you understand?
what happened to "can you give me a ride home" don't you understand?
my father was an alcoholic, and one of the saddest things about an alcoholic is that they are so selfish. all they can think about is "i". they don't see the consequences of what they do. it is always about what they want, what they didn't get, or how can they fix it without paying the price for what they have done. and if you ever work with a nurse who has come to work drinking it ain't nothin' nice.
now before anyone calls me judgemental come and work at the job i am leaving for a week, then go back.
too many excuses, so little time.
cc
soon to retire from nursing after 22 years:roll

I have lived around alcoholics and fully agree about the selfish behavior and only thinking of "I". It irks me to no end!

I also noticed a couple of posts commenting about how they had relatives that are alcoholics. You can't let your own personal experiences cloud your judgement.

I just picture a board of nursing consisting of nurses who are bitter from having alcoholic parents or spouses and therefore, take it out on licensees in an effort to get back at some alcoholic who did them wrong in the past.

Shame them all you want people.

You're turning your back on a whole mess of nurses.

If you think that any of you aren't working with some impaired nurses right now at your place of employment, think again.

It took me a long time to forgive people who had substance abuse problems in my life.

But I learned that being angry and trying to punish any current substance abusers who cross my path is never going to make me feel any more whole or better. I was only fooling myself.

Taking a nurse's license away and putting them in jail isn't going to make someone's miserable childhood memories any better.

Again, I ask, why are so many nurses experiencing these problems?

Am I the only one disturbed that our fellow RN's and LPN's are getting DWI's in numbers?

NRSNFL · Jun 22, 2006

Bruce-

I can't help myself but think, did you read ANY of my threads. Yes, I admitted my father had a drinking problem and got messed up with DUI's....but I'm fairly sure the tone I had towards the OP (compared with some others) were hopeful and supportive. I wonder why you are so personally affected by this topic. Please go back and read mine and also read the OP's response to our overall concern. Seems she gets it and you don't.........again to the OP, time to move in a positive direction for yourself. Chin up and hit those books!