If you are drunk, don't drive!

Nurses General Nursing

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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 Brain injury,vent,peds ,geriatrics,home.
Mindy your friend is beautiful. That's so tragic.

I wonder if people would say to the one who killed her "it's ok, people make mistakes". Or would they say "off to jail with you for a long time".

Its not our place to judge.Sometimes its so hard not to.allantiques

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Specializes in SRNA.

Wow - I go off to class an miss so many posts. This is a pretty good discussion, for the most part. There were somequestions directed at me in that one post so I'll try to answer.

Do you really need a law to define word for word what is morally acceptable? You would think common sense would tell you that a professional (in ANY industry) should be held to a standard if they fail to do so themselves. Whether or not "good moral character" is plainly defined anywhere, in any state's nursing laws, is irrelevant.

Morality is completely subjective. For example, most agree on certain types of killing, but not others. Some call abortion murder, some do not. If I am to be punished for being "immoral" I certainly do want it to be spelled out. Otherwise the definition can change randomly, depending on who has the job at any given time. Perhaps jaywalking is immoral? This is the reason that morality is not defined by the law.

The courts CAN determine the morality of someone's actions. Murder, theft, arson...

The courts make no determinations on morality. It's simply law and order. The law really only goes after the easy stuff - like what you mentioned. What if I cheat on my spouse? Should the BON take my license away? What if I kick a cat or make fun of someone who is mentally handicapped?

Piper, I want to be sure I understand you. 'Cause I'm having a hard time. Do you think the BON should NEVER have the right to revoke your license after multiple DUI's?

What I am saying is that the BON should have a fair and well defined means to take action. It should not be arbitrary like it is today.

-S

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Mindy your friend is beautiful. That's so tragic.

I wonder if people would say to the one who killed her "it's ok, people make mistakes". Or would they say "off to jail with you for a long time".

They guy that hit her was trying to pass up the car that was behind her and her. Well, the cops tried to say that it was her fault because she failed to look behind her before turning left. The guy hit her going about 75 while she was barely moving. Her mom actually heard the accident and tried calling her cell phone. The priest had heard her cell phone ringing but couldn't find it. Her boyfriend actually went and woke his mom up because he said that something didn't feel right and he felt that Alicia was in pain. She had called her mom before she left at about 11:45 at night and told her she loved her and was on her way home. At 12:09 she died. The guy got out of his car was walking around asking people for cigarettes while Alicia was laying there dying. She died with the priest holding her hand and praying for her. They donated a buriel plot from the church because the priest knew the family and Alicia. Now her mom only has to walk to the end of her road to visit her daughter instead of getting to visit her in their home.

The guy didn't get much jail time at first because his grandfather owned one of the news paper companies back at home. He got bonded out. I haven't heard much on if he got sentenced or not but I hope to God that he has.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

That billboard truly makes me want to cry...and to kick the *%$# out of someone who tries to drive while intoxicated.:madface: This is one of the reasons I'm not a field medic any longer...I just couldn't handle taking care of the stupidest people on the planet. I never minded old, smelly, nasty people..but drunks?:madface: :madface: :madface: They bring out the best in me, let me tell you.

So should you get your license (as a nurse, doctor, personal trainer) taken away for a DUI? Hell yes. IMHO you should have your stupid face on a billboard,too. "Don't have kids with this idiot, he drinks and drives." "Don't let her babysit your children, she likes to drink and drive." "She's a doctor, and she's got a DUI." That'll straighten some people out. Others, well, there are stupid people everywhere. Let's just hope none of them come in contact with anyone we care about.

Oh, don't think I walk on water, I've driven when I shouldn't have a few times. But that was LONG before I started working as a medic. Once you get a grasp on what can happen...to anyone...it changes your perspective quite a bit.

Have a good night all.

vamedic4

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What I want to know, is why Doctors don't lose THEIR ability to practice if they get a DUI.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
What I want to know, is why Doctors don't lose THEIR ability to practice if they get a DUI.

Most nurses don't either. Most states have programs in place to address DUI's and alcohol abuse (yes, I know many people don't consider drinking and driving alcohol abuse), that doesn't involve revoking of a license. Obviously, according to the OP this isn't the case everywhere, but it is the case in a lot of states.

I agree, doctors should be held to a similar standard.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
Absolutely yes!! The term "moral" is wide open for interpretation and it is very dangerous when incorporated into law unless defined. Just who is it you think should define what is and is not moral? The legislature? The judiciary system? Society? A culture? God? The church?

On the job yes, but off the job it is nobody's damn business but my own.

OK, so in the case of a pedophile who just happens to be a "terrific nurse" but only abuses children when he is off duty - is he "nobody's damn business"? Are his morals only in question during certain hours? The BON is your governing body. I'm not saying you should not fight to change what you believe is wrong - just do not complain if you are not willing to work towards a better way.

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That billboard truly makes me want to cry...and to kick the *%$# out of someone who tries to drive while intoxicated.:madface: This is one of the reasons I'm not a field medic any longer...I just couldn't handle taking care of the stupidest people on the planet. I never minded old, smelly, nasty people..but drunks?:madface: :madface: :madface: They bring out the best in me, let me tell you.

So should you get your license (as a nurse, doctor, personal trainer) taken away for a DUI? Hell yes. IMHO you should have your stupid face on a billboard,too. "Don't have kids with this idiot, he drinks and drives." "Don't let her babysit your children, she likes to drink and drive." "She's a doctor, and she's got a DUI." That'll straighten some people out. Others, well, there are stupid people everywhere. Let's just hope none of them come in contact with anyone we care about.

Oh, don't think I walk on water, I've driven when I shouldn't have a few times. But that was LONG before I started working as a medic. Once you get a grasp on what can happen...to anyone...it changes your perspective quite a bit.

Have a good night all.

vamedic4

I don't walk on water either but I completely agree with you.

Those photos broke my heart.

My good friend Bill was killed by a drunk driver in 1981. Someone who had been convicted many times prior.

There just is no excuse for drinking and driving.

steph

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
i have read this whole thread .but unless the nurse is drunk going to work or at work it is not the BONS business if the nurse gets a dui .the BON only has the right to affect a nursing license if it is nursing related.ie related to the job as a nurse then the pt is at risk.i am not saying getting a DUI is good cuz its not .one should not drink and drive .but to say just because the nurse got a DUI she/he should not be a nurse is assinine.people 1st nurses 2nd.people make mistakes.

Oh, OK. So you had a bad day, go out for a few drinks, and kill someone on the way home. And if that someone were my loved one, you bet your patooty I do not think you should ever be a nurse again. I'd fight every which way I can to have your license taken away until the day after never.

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Ummm just a thought but last time I checked being overweight and smoking are NOT illegal.

Drunk driving besides being illegal usually affects the other victims much more harshly than the offender.

What it comes down to...is being responsible for your actions...both on and off the job. If that is too difficult for people to grasp perhaps being a professional of any sort is not for a person.

Have a great day!

Life is short....

I have yet to take care of a dying patient who says they wish they would have had fewer children or worked more.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Acute/Subacute Rehab.
What it comes down to...is being responsible for your actions...both on and off the job. If that is too difficult for people to grasp perhaps being a professional of any sort is not for a person.
:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat: :yeah:
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Specializes in SRNA.
Ummm just a thought but last time I checked being overweight and smoking are NOT illegal.

But they may be immoral - say goodbye to your license.

-S

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