Issues with the California BON.

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Hi, When I was in nursing school I made a terrible decision and got a misdemeanor DUI. After that mistake I got a job in a hospital as a CNA (to get my experience) and graduated nursing school. Now I am running into issues with licensure. I was told by many attorneys to not go to a formal hearing but to settle for terms of a probationary license. However, I was told this could take up to a year and they could still deny me a license. Has anyone had any experience with this? I am extremely upset at myself for doing what I did but the BON (now the registered nursing program) feels it necessary to run me through the ringers.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ Tele/ DOU.

Hey, sorry to hear your problem with getting your license. I also got a DUI my 1st semester in school and graduated in December 2010. Not sure if they changed the rules, but all I had to do to take the boards was write an explanation to the board of what happened, and state how I wouldn't do it again. It took a little longer to get the approval but it wasn't that difficult.

My DUI was in Marin County, I asked my lawyer if I could get probation ealry terminated and he said "no wayy in Marin County". I blew him off filled up the appropriate paperwork and represented myself to the judge. She had no problem whatsoever to grant it. That process took about 1-2 months after judge approved it, and I got the case expunged about a month later. Marin County was one of the more conservative courts.

DUI lawyers are a waste of money.

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Yeah I have completed all that the courts have asked of me, They initially denied my application and said I can do one of 2 things, either settle with them or go to a formal hearing. If I settle they said that I could be granted a probationary license. After talking with a family friend who sits on the medical board here in California he told me not to even go to a hearing because it could take a long time and the outcome could be the same (probationary license). I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience with how long I should expect to wait to get terms for my probationary license. Contacting people at the registered nursing program or the attorney generals office is a waste of time because they are so vague. I have no issue with a probationary license because I was already offered a job. However, I just want to speed up the process.

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Specializes in Psych.

I am in the same boat... please keep us updated!

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