Nursing school with DUI?

IGotAccepted · Nov 17, 2020

Gotta keep faith ✨

chocolateocean, BSN · Nov 21, 2020

You can get into a nursing program and many people have with similar charges or convictions. However, the nursing program will obviously do a criminal history check and clinical sites can refuse to admit you over it. If you want to a be nurse, you should speak to the program directors or coordinators at the school you are seeking to apply to and ask them if it is likely to be an issue for admission to their program or clinical placement. You can use DUI school as evidence of rehabilitation but there's no guarantee the board of nursing will give you an unrestricted license even with that.

The Curious Murse, BSN · Nov 27, 2020

I became a member here because I had a DUI 10 years ago, although it wasn't a DUI Hit and Run. Getting into nursing school wasn't an issue or into clinicals, but getting my license after NCLEX was a major pain in the orifice. You need to contact your state's board and ask them what you need to do do before graduating. I had to go before the board and explain myself and what I have done since after the DUI.

Good luck

Ace Savanahh · Dec 19, 2020

On 10/29/2020 at 2:53 PM, WanabeeNurse said:

Hello Nurses

Aspiring nurse in California here.

Unfortunately, I recently got convicted of a DUI & Hit and Run. These are the only things on my record. This actually happened over a year and a half ago but due to covid, the courts have been very slow to process.

I will be on informal probation for 36 months and have to complete DUI school.

I understand the severity of what I did and this whole ordeal was so stressful I will never drink and drive again.

So I have a couple of questions for any nurses with experience in this situation.

1) Can I even get into a nursing program that will allow me to do clinical while on probation/DUI records?

2) If I can go to school would it be better to go through a private nursing program or a state school?

3) Should I just do something else? ( I really wanna be a nurse though)

Thanks for reading, I look forward to your replies.

If you’re in California, it’s not a big deal. Get it expunged. It won’t show up. Others with DUIs, 4 in my cohort got their RN licenses. Don’t believe the hype.

apnurse · Dec 19, 2020

I am honestly in the same boat, except mine was a 3 years ago. It's still going to take me 2 years to get into a program because I still need to take a few pre-reqs and I can only take one a semester because of my work.

It took me a long time to realize that my DUI shouldn't hold me back. After fighting with myself for 3 years to decide if it was worth it, I have finally made the plunge to go for nursing. So from my perspective, I say do your research, but go for it if it's truly what you want to do.

I am currently working on getting my DUI expunged and when I talked to a lawyer, I realized that within the last 3 years I didn't really do anything that provided hard evidence that I have changed (except for going to school).

Thus, my word of advice though is to go above and beyond in showing how this experience has changed you for the better. Even after you met the mandated requirements, keep going to AA meetings, keep volunteering, and make contacts that would be willing to write you a letter of character (works especially best if you have someone who knew you before the incident and can attest to your growth). Basically, find ways to gain hard evidence that you have changed. My regret right now is that I thought the bare minimum was enough.

You'll have to put in extra work, but if this is something you really want then do it. Luckily, the new AB 2138 law has gone into effect. Not sure on the full extent that it will help us, but here's to hoping.

Good luck!

Ace Savanahh · Dec 19, 2020

3 hours ago, apnurse said:

I am honestly in the same boat, except mine was a 3 years ago. It's still going to take me 2 years to get into a program because I still need to take a few pre-reqs and I can only take one a semester because of my work.

It took me a long time to realize that my DUI shouldn't hold me back. After fighting with myself for 3 years to decide if it was worth it, I have finally made the plunge to go for nursing. So from my perspective, I say do your research, but go for it if it's truly what you want to do.

I am currently working on getting my DUI expunged and when I talked to a lawyer, I realized that within the last 3 years I didn't really do anything that provided hard evidence that I have changed (except for going to school).

Thus, my word of advice though is to go above and beyond in showing how this experience has changed you for the better. Even after you met the mandated requirements, keep going to AA meetings, keep volunteering, and make contacts that would be willing to write you a letter of character (works especially best if you have someone who knew you before the incident and can attest to your growth). Basically, find ways to gain hard evidence that you have changed. My regret right now is that I thought the bare minimum was enough.

You'll have to put in extra work, but if this is something you really want then do it. Luckily, the new AB 2138 law has gone into effect. Not sure on the full extent that it will help us, but here's to hoping.

Good luck!

A DUI won’t hold you back. Only people holding you back are the ones telling you that a DUI will hold you back.

Nurse_USA, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2021

Hi the problem is not really about getting into a nursing program. They will probably accept you because it's a business. The most important question is really if you can get your license. The licensure process is not governed by the school but by the BRN. Here is a link to some information from the BRN https://www.RN.ca.gov/enforcement/convictions.shtml#confaqs

Unfortunately you did exhibit poor judgment and made a terrible decision. But that's the past and you can move forward now. For nursing everything matters legally because you hold a great responsibility to care for patients. I would suggest trying to get into contact with someone from the BRN and to do more research to see what would put you in the best position. Unfortunately your DUI is very fresh and it may be harder to prove you have changed. You will definitely need to report this when you graduate and request approval from the Board to take the license exam. I would suggest you research to make sure you have a reasonable chance of being able to get your license and do everything you can in the meantime to prove your change. A classmate had an old DUI and was able to get his license, but that is just his experience. Good luck.

Ace Savanahh · Jan 26, 2021

On 1/24/2021 at 2:39 PM, Nurse Coach USA said:

Hi the problem is not really about getting into a nursing program. They will probably accept you because it's a business. The most important question is really if you can get your license. The licensure process is not governed by the school but by the BRN. Here is a link to some information from the BRN https://www.RN.ca.gov/enforcement/convictions.shtml#confaqs

Unfortunately you did exhibit poor judgment and made a terrible decision. But that's the past and you can move forward now. For nursing everything matters legally because you hold a great responsibility to care for patients. I would suggest trying to get into contact with someone from the BRN and to do more research to see what would put you in the best position. Unfortunately your DUI is very fresh and it may be harder to prove you have changed. You will definitely need to report this when you graduate and request approval from the Board to take the license exam. I would suggest you research to make sure you have a reasonable chance of being able to get your license and do everything you can in the meantime to prove your change. A classmate had an old DUI and was able to get his license, but that is just his experience. Good luck.

This is 100% wrong. A DUI that is dismissed and expunged will not be counted. Any misdemeanor older than 7 years that is not related to sex or domestic violence will not be checked. If you don't know, don't answer.

Main Poster, apply for your RN in CA. They have a video of this on Youtube. This started went into effect in July of 2020.

They made it difficult when they were saturated with applicants. They changed this because too many people have left the state and continue to leave.

FYI, going over 20 mph in AZ can get you a felony. A classmate who had this same, you made a poor decision attitude deal with the consequences, got caught going 96 on 65 and she was charged with a felony during school. She paid for an attorney to drop the charge to a misdemeanor.

People make mistakes, move on. Apply for your boards.

Tom122 · Dec 17, 2022

On 1/26/2021 at 9:40 AM, Ace Savanahh said:

This is 100% wrong. A DUI that is dismissed and expunged will not be counted. Any misdemeanor older than 7 years that is not related to sex or domestic violence will not be checked. If you don't know, don't answer.

Main Poster, apply for your RN in CA. They have a video of this on YouTube. This started went into effect in July of 2020.

They made it difficult when they were saturated with applicants. They changed this because too many people have left the state and continue to leave.

FYI, going over 20 mph in AZ can get you a felony. A classmate who had this same, you made a poor decision attitude deal with the consequences, got caught going 96 on 65 and she was charged with a felony during school. She paid for an attorney to drop the charge to a misdemeanor.

People make mistakes, move on. Apply for your boards.

Hello,

I just applied to West Coast University here in California and I brought up my expunged DUI from over 7 years ago and they told me they can’t guarantee the clinical sites will allow me in. Does anyone know if this is true or have experience with this?

Thank you.