Nursing student just got a DUI

[joecalifa]

HI, as we all do sometimes, I had three beers, and decided to drive my friend to her home, which I know it was a mistake, especially my car had an expired sticker(waiting for the DMV sticker) and is quite old, a bargain for the cops to pull me over. That was the reason, I got pulled over.) I understand and accept my mistake and want to fix, and will do it for sure.

I want to fix this problem , I have never had any problems with the law, this was my first offense having drunk 3 coronas, I think it was just bad luck. I am a good student, work hard to achieve my goals, and love nursing.

It sounds to me that okay, I will go to classes DUI program everything, but 3 beers and then suddenly from night to day , you are a criminal, it's very funny to me this situation and at the same time scary.

PLease if anyone knows about the consequences , could you let me know?

once again, thanks a lot for your help, the nurses here have always been so good, I love this website.

[begalli]

I'll repeat, no room for error.

I think this quote sums it up succinctly.

Your laspe in judgement is what's being questioned here. Not your right to drink beer.

[joecalifa]

It happened to a great friend of mine, and it's a big mistake. There should be ways to fix a problem, what about those nurses who are given many chances? especially, addicted nurses. They are treated with respect, get a chance to prove themselves that they can work as a RN. sometimes, of course some cannot make it, but at least there is a chance to fix things. All I hear is that a first offense DUI and you are done with your life. I admit my mistake , but at the same time want to do things right, and get it over with life. Since that day, I Cannot even drink a beer. For the ones, who like to judge and crucify, I won't even bother to read. For the clever ones who can advise, teach, guide, and help another fellow nurse , please drop a line. Thanks a lot for your consideration.

[begalli]

There is a way to "fix it." First step is acknowledging that is was wrong and realizing the relationship between this error and judgement in nursing. No excuses, no reasons. Just wrong.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

To the OP - I think you have received compassionate and honest answers to your original post. The commonality to all the posters is to take responsibility. I certainly wish you well as a nursing student.

[The Veridican]

The only people who have never drank and drove are those who never drink. I don't think you're a criminal for drinking and driving. There are those who have hit children or killed people while reaching for a map or talking on cell phones, or simply failing to see the stop sign or red light because they were somewhere else. 50% of all traffic deaths may be related to alcohol use, but then again, 50% of all traffic deaths come at us anyway for some other reason.

I don't think you should drink and drive. But I'll bet you feel that way right now even more than I do. You're not a bad person because you had three Corona's and drove.

But I'm a fatalist through and through. I don't believe in any kind of free will at all. Our fates are completely programed for us. So, find out right away from your board of nursing if you should switch your major. And if you have to, then the thing you switch to will be what you always should have done. It's going to suck for a while (fine, license, whatever). But it's going to get better, and everything is working out for you exactly as it was intended to from the start of the universe. Keep your chin up. God is still on your side. Good things will still happen for you, and always remember, you never hurt anyone--you just got caught /p drinking three coronas.

As for the jugemental among us: What if you settled in for the evening and had a couple glasses of wine and got an urgent call that a loved one was in the hospital? Would you really wait for a cab? What if the OP decides to stop drinking and driving as a result of this bust and just one time gives a ride to a drunk friend who otherwise would have ran a school bus off the road and off a cliff?

The Veridican

[Aneroo, LPN]

Yeah, it's easy to say oh yeah, you are criminal for drinking 3 coronas, bla, bla, bla, I completely know that I made a mistake and willing to pay the consequences, but once again I have never done anything wrong with the law, I believe a person deserves a chance. I know people have drunk and killed innocent people on the road and is terrible. I have been a great student , always took care of my patients, and passionate about this career. Yeah, it was a terrible mistake, but please people like to exaggerate a little bit, never drive again, prison. I never had an accident in my life, always paid an inexpensive car insurance, even tickets I never got. The way I see is easy to crucify those poor students that have to struggle day by day in order to survive for one mistake, great job. I am sure there should better ways to handle this situation.

I disagree totally. You're totally lucky you didn't have an accident. You will never again pay inexpensive car insurance. No need to worry about tickets anymore... no drivers license!

Better ways to handle this situation!?! Call a cab! Don't get behind the whell. Don't drink and drive! You're lucky you're not still in jail for vehicular manslaughter. I am a nursing student who struggles day by day. I had the option to go out Friday night. I didn't, because I didn't have a DD. I went out Saturday night, where I had three beers also, but I had a DD. Three beers was enough to knock me out almost. It all effects everyone differently. Regardless of how you "felt", obviously, enough people felt it was a high enough blood alcohol level for it to be a CRIMINAL OFFENSE!!!

[jeepgirl, LPN, NP]

The only people who have never drank and drove are those who never drink. I don't think you're a criminal for drinking and driving. There are those who have hit children or killed people while reaching for a map or talking on cell phones, or simply failing to see the stop sign or red light because they were somewhere else. 50% of all traffic deaths may be related to alcohol use, but then again, 50% of all traffic deaths come at us anyway for some other reason.

I don't think you should drink and drive. But I'll bet you feel that way right now even more than I do. You're not a bad person because you had three Corona's and drove.

But I'm a fatalist through and through. I don't believe in any kind of free will at all. Our fates are completely programed for us. So, find out right away from your board of nursing if you should switch your major. And if you have to, then the thing you switch to will be what you always should have done. It's going to suck for a while (fine, license, whatever). But it's going to get better, and everything is working out for you exactly as it was intended to from the start of the universe. Keep your chin up. God is still on your side. Good things will still happen for you, and always remember, you never hurt anyone--you just got caught /p drinking three coronas.

As for the jugemental among us: What if you settled in for the evening and had a couple glasses of wine and got an urgent call that a loved one was in the hospital? Would you really wait for a cab? What if the OP decides to stop drinking and driving as a result of this bust and just one time gives a ride to a drunk friend who otherwise would have ran a school bus off the road and off a cliff?

The Veridican

i have NEVER dranken and driven. EVER. So there!

And to the "sat down and had a couple of glasses of wine comment."

Yes, I would wait. For two reasons,

I don't drink alone... even at home one of us stays sober if the other decides to have "a few."

Cabs will come and get you free of charge if you are in severe need and are drunk.

[Aneroo, LPN]

Please avoid personal attacks.

However, I do feel that this was a wrong assumption.

[The Veridican]

I disagree totally. You're totally lucky you didn't have an accident. You will never again pay inexpensive car insurance. No need to worry about tickets anymore... no drivers license!

Better ways to handle this situation!?! Call a cab! Don't get behind the whell. Don't drink and drive! You're lucky you're not still in jail for vehicular manslaughter. I am a nursing student who struggles day by day. I had the option to go out Friday night. I didn't, because I didn't have a DD. I went out Saturday night, where I had three beers also, but I had a DD. Three beers was enough to knock me out almost. It all effects everyone differently. Regardless of how you "felt", obviously, enough people felt it was a high enough blood alcohol level for it to be a CRIMINAL OFFENSE!!!

I love your Tide box with the little saying on it. It means so much to me. I mean, I can really see where you are coming from.

The Veridican

[The Veridican]

YOU ARE THE FREAKIN QUEEN OF LUMPING EVERYONE IN TOGETHER!!! IT DRIVES ME INSANE!

i have NEVER dranken and driven. EVER. So there!

And to the "sat down and had a couple of glasses of wine comment."

Yes, I would wait. For two reasons,

I don't drink alone... even at home one of us stays sober if the other decides to have "a few."

Cabs will come and get you free of charge if you are in severe need and are drunk.

Perfection. I do wish I could attain it.

The Veridican

[Aneroo, LPN]

Again, please restrain yourself from the personal attacks. This is not the place for it.

As for my "tide box", yes, I love it too. -A

[Luciole]

I spent a few minutes searching the web and unfortunately couldn't find any articles about this, but...

A year or two ago we had an unusual case in our local headlines. I don't recall all of the specifics but it boiled down to an incident where a student nurse had been arrested for DUI after some type of driving accident. I can't remember exactly what all happened--no one died or was seriously hurt--but it was severe enough that the student was going to be sentenced to several months jail time. I think he might have driven his car into a house or something

What's odd, or what I found odd at least, was the hospital program that the student attended actually came to his aid. They supported him (emotionally) throughout the hearings and, during sentencing, several instructors vouched for him and pleaded to the court. They claimed he was a brilliant student, a nice kid, and had made a mistake. He was more than willing to accept his jail-time but they petitioned the court to delay the start of his sentence until after he graduated the program (he had a semester or so to go). The court actually ended up granting this and he was allowed to finish his nursing school before serving his jail time.

It really amazed me that the school stood by his side like that. Obviously you can't count on a similar reaction, but with all the negative things that could come out of your DUI charge, I definitely agree with the other replies that you should contact your school and BON ASAP and find out exactly what your situation is. With a little honesty and humility you may well be able to overcome this mistake.

Best of luck to you.