Job options- Reckless Driving alcohol related

[orlandoRN44]

Hi all,

First off, I want to start by saying I am deeply ashamed with the events that have occurred in the last few months in my life. It has been a rollercoaster of trying to handle court proceedings, afford a lawyer, and try to get my DUI charge reduced.

In October of last year, I was backing out of my driveway and rear ended my neighbors car. I had drank some wine, not to the point in which I was inebriated, but enough to cause suspicion for a DUI (I refused the breathalyzer). I was subsequently arrested in my driveway, obtained a lawyer and got my charge reduced to Reckless Driving-Alcohol related ("Wet Reckless"). I am on 360 days of probation with the intention of completing it early in 6 months. I lost my RN job, my first one, that I had for a year.

In 2016, I received a DUI, which I successfully completed Pre-Trial diversion and got my charges dropped. This proved to be no issue in me obtaining my RN license and employment.

Now of course, it's proving an issue to get any kind of healthcare job given my *awful* record. I can resort to working at a fast food place, which to be honest is not my goal and won't be enough to pay my rent nor my bills.

Does anyone have experience with having a wet reckless charge or being on probation and finding an alternate job? Honestly, any advice would be appreciated. I already feel like a garbage human and a horrible nurse for being so impulsive and idiotic.

[Floor_Nurse]

I won't give all the details of my unpleasant past issues, but I will tell you that I finally landed a job in nursing where they didn't care about my previous jobs...just as long as my licence was good. When I was job hunting I noticed that most employers didn't dig too deep into my many prior jobs; just the last one.

[orlandoRN44]

8 minutes ago, Floor_Nurse said:

I won't give all the details of my unpleasant past issues, but I will tell you that I finally landed a job in nursing where they didn't care about my previous jobs...just as long as my licence was good. When I was job hunting I noticed that most employers didn't dig too deep into my many prior jobs; just the last one.

Were they legal issues? Any convictions? I'm worried I won't ever be able to find a healthcare job again.

[beekee]

As you know, employment opportunities are going to be limited. Do you have any restrictions on your license?

You are probably aware of the facilities in your area you’d never send your loved ones, i.e., the hell holes. That’s where you are going to need to apply, especially if employment opportunities are generally limited in your area. In my area, there are also a lot of openings in private duty nursing; you can try that area too, if your license allows. Also try the more non-traditional jobs, blood banks, plasma centers, dialysis, developmental disabilities, utilization review, etc. Whatever you do, just keep applying until you get someone to take a chance on you.

And, have you considered that you may have a problem with alcohol? Two alcohol related convictions in two years is going to raise an eyebrow for most. It will be a topic for inquiry once your employer/potential employer finds out. You will need to have a response that assures them that this is something you are aware of and are taking steps to address.

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

What about phone triage? I mean, you'd be stationery.

[orlandoRN44]

6 hours ago, beekee said:

As you know, employment opportunities are going to be limited. Do you have any restrictions on your license?

You are probably aware of the facilities in your area you’d never send your loved ones, i.e., the hell holes. That’s where you are going to need to apply, especially if employment opportunities are generally limited in your area. In my area, there are also a lot of openings in private duty nursing; you can try that area too, if your license allows. Also try the more non-traditional jobs, blood banks, plasma centers, dialysis, developmental disabilities, utilization review, etc. Whatever you do, just keep applying until you get someone to take a chance on you.

And, have you considered that you may have a problem with alcohol? Two alcohol related convictions in two years is going to raise an eyebrow for most. It will be a topic for inquiry once your employer/potential employer finds out. You will need to have a response that assures them that this is something you are aware of and are taking steps to address.

Thank you for your response!

My first alcohol related charge was dropped so no conviction. The second and most recent one I am currently on probation with Orange County and taking all the alcohol-related courses, monthly drug tests as well as community service and AA. I am also being seen by a psychiatrist. I hope this would prove to be a positive thing as far as my "rehabilitation".