Owi stupid mistake. Where to go from here?

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

Hospitals that you get placed in do not do background checks. Can you imagine how much that would cost each semester? The only people who will do background checks will be employment and your school. If you are convicted, you will need to do extra paperwork for when you are prepared to take the NCLEX.

Not when the facilities make the students pay for them. :cautious:

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

Not when the facilities make the students pay for them.

Wow. I think I would be pretty ticked off if I had to pay for my clinical placement, and especially more so if it turned out to be such a piss poor semester. I guess I have heard everything, lol.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

Wow. I think I would be pretty ticked off if I had to pay for my clinical placement, and especially more so if it turned out to be such a piss poor semester. I guess I have heard everything, lol.

You're paying for your tuition, aren't you? Well, then you're paying for your clinical placement. Through tuition and fees, you're paying your clinical sites for any insurance or checks they require to have you there.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

Made your life more difficult for no reason. My opinion..life and nursing are hard enough. You basically just gave everyone a hammer and said hit me over the head with this.

This stuff can have SERIOUS repercussions. In my state on your license they upload the entire court case to your license. So anyone looking it up has a PDF file of the entire case. That must look great when the person is applying for a job. And it is there PERMANENT.

Sarahlin · Mar 24, 2016

While I appreciate your response, I know a lot of nurses that this has happened to after they have their license or prior to nursing school and they are fine. It's just the predicament I'm in currently being in school. And as I also appreciate your harsh criticism... I am hard enough on myself as it is. So if you had no feedback on the matter just dropped by to kick someone when they are already down its unnecessary

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

Be thankful you live in the ONLY state in the nation that does not treat first offense drunk driving as a criminal offense. That said, I went to school with people who had MULTIPLE OWI convictions. Didn't affect them at all as far as school, licensing and employment is concerned.

I am in my first semester of nursing school in Wisconsin and three days ago received an OWI. I am a wreck. Emotional, and concerned about my future as a nurse. In the state of WI first offense OWI are not a criminal offense nor are they a misdemeanor. Does anyone have any insight if this will affect me for clinical placement?

Sarahlin · Mar 24, 2016

Trust me I am thankful. I am thankful no one got hurt in this whole ordeal and as I wish I could take my decision back I cannot. I can only move forward with my life and hope that I did not mess up my career with a stupid decision and because of alcohol. I can handle the legal repercussions they are expensive but they teach you a lesson. I will not make this decision again. The consequences and guilt have taken over my life. So I can only hope this does not affect my schooling. I meet with advisor because I do not want to keep this from them. I will own my mistake and take responsibility for it and pray that they can find it in them to keep me as a student. Thank you for your info!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

It's a civil offense in Wisconsin. Most drunk drivers of any state in the nation and we don't even consider it a crime for your first one! Come on over---high taxes, no crime drunk driving, Gov Walker! What more could you ask for?!

I read the application for RN license for WI. You'll be asked if you've ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. If a first offense OWI is considered neither, you should be able to answer 'no' to that question, and no red flags would be raised on your application.
As far as how this will affect your schooling, that is something that can only be answered by the Dean of your program. Your nursing student handbook will specify a code of conduct for students. It's entirely possible that receiving an OWI will place you on probation or result in dismissal from the program. Again, that's something only your school can answer. However, if the school allows you to stay on as a student, your classes and clinical placement should not be affected. If the clinical hospital does run a background check on student nurses, nothing should come up, since you have no criminal charges. I hope things work out for you.

emmjayy, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

I am in my first semester of nursing school in Wisconsin and three days ago received an OWI. I am a wreck. Emotional, and concerned about my future as a nurse. In the state of WI first offense OWI are not a criminal offense nor are they a misdemeanor. Does anyone have any insight if this will affect me for clinical placement?

Get a lawyer, yesterday. A good attorney can plea bargain your charge down to something less serious that will not appear on your record.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

No. Students pay for the BACKGROUND checks!

Wow. I think I would be pretty ticked off if I had to pay for my clinical placement, and especially more so if it turned out to be such a piss poor semester. I guess I have heard everything, lol.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Makes no difference to me if you think I am "harsh" when I emphasize how hard a state nursing board can hammer you for breaking the law..ESPECIALLY anything related to Drugs/Alcohol.

Anyone who says "don't worry about this stuff" is leading you down a dark hole.

I don't care what people do...just understand what you stand to lose.

Zyprexa_Ho · Mar 25, 2016

She will be convicted people. She just received the violation. So yes, you will have an issue. I just sat through the monthly BON meeting for a different state. And yes, people in your situation had to appear. I can't tell you the outcome as I am not a legal advisor. I would suggest consulting one.

No. OP stated that they are taking her to civil court, not criminal court.