ct-rn

Interesting, thats the first I've heard of a letter of concern as being some type of action. Congratulations on obtaining your license, good luck!

Thank you for responding with a more matter of fact situation that you experienced first hand. I have also heard from others that law enforcement and courts can/will/might report you to the state agency in which you a hold a license if they find out you hold a state license. I did not tell the judge or the arresting officer. Although, I did have to disclose my place of employment and job title to my probation officer as part of the rules and regulations of probation, so he knows I am an RN. That was disclosed to him all the way back in August of last year though and I never heard anything from the board of nursing. Maybe he chose not to report me, or it's not mandated in CT? I'm sorry if I came off aggressive in my last post, it's just very important to me that people speak facts of what they know to be 100% true, and to me, hear say from other nurses stories, etc. leaves room for assumptions on how things operate between state agencies and other parties involved when it comes to the board finding out. Thank you for posting another response though about a first hand experience. Much appreciated and good info

I see. Good luck with everything. Sorry I could not help more. Keep us posted on the details of the outcome. From all the posts I have read pertaining to substance abuse/use, it seems like most people get put on a probationary period with monitoring and drug testing for a certain amount of time. Again, I don't know for certain at all what is going to happen. And in my opinion it would be ridiculous for that to happen to you for a weed charge that happened 10 years ago.

Needadvise24. I'm not sure what state you're in or if you reported this arrest or not on your initial application. I live in Connecticut and what I can do is tell you a little about my situation. I received a DUI before applying to nursing school. I did all the necessary requirements to have the case sealed and dismissed prior to being accepted into the nursing program. When I was filling out all of my applications for testing and licensure, I was not required to report any of what happened to the board on any of my applications because I was technically never convicted. I answered "no" to any questions pertaining to a criminal history or any arrest and was never questioned by the board. I received my license with zero issues after passing the NCLEX. Do you know for a fact the pending investigation is over the marijuana arrest? Based off my situation and story, I would find it hard to believe they would be questioning you over something you weren't even convicted of. But I am not a professional on any of this so don't take my word for it.

Tiffany Reed. While I appreciate you giving me an insight into what you have witnessed happened to your co-workers, etc. in the past, with all do respect it sounds like you are speaking more from speculation or hear say from your friends rather than fact. It sounds like all of your friends were reported to the board for issues that occurred at the work place. It sounds like the issues at the work place is what put them on the boards radar. How do you know for a fact that as soon as an employer sees a DUI on someone's background check they are required to notify the board? Where have you read this information before? Is this information your posting coming from a legitimate source such as the boards website, the board themselves, straight from a hiring manager, or a nursing attorney? Or is this what your friends have told you when they got into trouble? I'm not trying to come off aggressive, it's just when people speak from speculation instead of facts that have been obtained from a reliable legit source, it starts fear mongering and that is what this post was supposed to avoid. This post was supposed to be for readers to come and get clear concise information. If you have been told by the board themselves, or from hiring managers themselves, or from nursing attorneys themselves that upon submitting an application for a job they are mandated to report your DUI to the BON, that's one thing, then I take back what I say and I should thank you for the information. But when it sounds like you are coming to conclusion based off stories and hear say from other nurses, it's hard to take that as facts. How do you know for a fact the most the board will do is reach out for a copy of the police report? From what I have read on others posts submitting a police report is just the tip of the iceberg and not even close to the most the board will do.

Also Tiffany Reed. Thank you for some insight into how the board may find out. How did you come about learning that employers are mandated to report to the BON when things arise on a background check? Have you been in a management/hiring position before where this has happened? Or has a potential employer had to report you to the board? Just curious how you found out this type of communication occurs between employers and the board?

Tiffany Reed. Please read the above posts. I did self report on my license renewal. I am not in AA or do not have a sobriety date as I am sober and have spent most days of my life sober. I can count on 1 hand the number of times I've consumed alcohol in the last two years. It's not a substance abuse issue, it was me making a poor decision. I do not drink on a regular basis. It's been about 2 1/2 weeks since I submitted my license renewal, and in that renewal I typed up a small explanation explaining how I was convicted of a misdemeanor DUI. I renewed on January 22nd. Since then, my license has remained active and current with a new expiration date for next year on the DPH/BON portal, and I was emailed a new copy of my license via email. As stated in my last post, I do not know if this means I am in the clear or not. I will be waiting for the BON to take action until my next renewal at least.

Just to update...I received an email yesterday containing the link to a copy of my updated renewed license. Just to keep a timeline going, this was three days between applying for renewal and getting my new license emailed to me. I have no clue if this means I'm in the clear or not, or if it just means the board still has not caught wind of it yet. Will keep posting updates as things unfold.

Well... I renewed 2 days ago and self reported on the renewal application. On the E-license look up my license is showing as active and current, and the expiration date has updated to January of next year. I have not received a copy of my license over email though. I read another post where someone didn't get their disciplinary board hearing notice in the mail for almost 18 days after self reporting on renewal. So... I have a feeling I'll be able to practice for the next couple weeks and then it will come to end and the disciplinary board will be coming down on me. Going to be so devastated to lose my job.. I'm finally in a position and a job that I would love working at until retirement and have no complaints. Well.. I did it to myself. Here's the start to a longggg few years. ill keep ya posted on what happened and that way future readers can find out what happens in CT with similar scenarios. thanks again for all the information

I am in the same exact situation. Please keep us posted on any updates. I will do the same. Just applied for renewal in Connecticut and had to self report a misdemeanor DUI. I am still active and unencumbered at moment with a new renewal date posted for next year. But... I have a feeling it takes a bit for them to catch wind of it, thus I feel like disciplinary action will be coming my way soon and I'm not getting my hopes up. looking forward to hearing back from you

Have you been through a similar situation? If you have can you tell me a bit about it or point me toward your post? I have a feeling I'm either going to be offered the HAVEN program or be put on license probation. The judge did ask me where I work and I refused to answer saying I didn't want to disclose that publicly. It was mandatory to tell my probation officer where I work though as part of the rules of probation, so maybe law enforcement does eventually tell other state departments? My job is fully aware of the situation and the VP of Meducal Services and Director of Nursung are both ready to go to bat for me in terms of telling the board there are zero issues at work. The only reason I am even debating not disclosing it is because if I get suspended I'm not sure how long they can hold my job position before having to fill it. It just seems ridiculous to me that I can be put on probation for up to 4 years (from what I've seen on the states disciplinary section on their website), or have to go through the HAVEN program for up to 5 years, when I do not have an alcohol problem. I can count on one hand the number of days I've consumed alcohol in the last 2 years. For sure I have clearly made a very stupid choice otherwise I wouldn't be writing this right now, but 4-5 years of drug testing and counseling for a one time temporary lapse in judgement (also there were huge extenuating circumstances, not making excuses at all but it plays into it) sorry for the rant. I'm just worried that it might be easier to find a new career before even going through this... I'm feeling I should just ride it out until the board finds out on their own about it. At least I would have XX amount of time to still make decent money before I am screwed. Drub testing, possible AA meetings, therapy sessions, who knows what else. How does one do this for 4-5 years straight while holding a full time job. I work 3rd shift so it will be especially difficult as all the stipulations would have to take place during the day when I should be sleeping.

Hi all, I posted a while back about how I am a licensed nurse in Connecticut and received a DUI last year but never heard any helpful information on that post. Embarrassing as it is, it is my second one. My first one was completely dismissed and I never had to disclose it to the DPH/BON. Unfortunately that is not he case with this one and I have been convicted of a misdemeanor. My license is set to be renewed in a couple weeks and I am beyond nervous. Judge me if you want but I have a serious question... has anyone ever just not reported being arrested or having a new conviction when completing your license renewal application and gotten away with it? How would the DPH/BON even find out about my DUI unless I told them about it? I'm sure I would be completely barred from ever having my license again if they found out I lied on my renewal, but I'm just weighting EVERY option right now.

Nurse001. I was recently convicted of a DUI as well. I hold a CT license and I am planning to self report upon my license renewal. I am hoping probation and random drug screens is all that will happen to me but am beyond scared I will wind up suspended and lose my job, or lose my license permanently. If you don't mind me asking, what state do you hold a license in where this happen to you? I have heard CT can be lenient but am unsure. Any info would be greatly appreciated

I did not disclose my first DUI on my CT license application. I was never in trouble before the first DUI, my record from the DUI was dismissed/sealed after I completed the diversionary program, and my lawyer advised me that I could legally answer "no I have never been convicted of a crime" after my case was dismissed. I answered no I have never been convicted of a crime on my CT license application and never got questioned by the BON or got my license application denied for any reason. To this day nothing has ever come of me not disclosing it. As far as my current situation, I will keep you posted. Nothing has come of it yet but I highly doubt it will stay that way in the near future. Hope this helps.

*fully aware of the situation*

No worries you are not being harsh. I am glad that I am able to hear the straight forward answers from someone. I'm sure it depends on the individual case but in your experience how long was the investigation process and how long were you not allowed to practice? This is my biggest fear as I don't believe my employee would be willing to hold my position for me depending how long I would be out. They are fully awake if the situation and believe it will not affect my ability to work, but I am hearing otherwise on this forum. If you don't mind me asking, what was the nature of your case? Did your incident occur in the work place or outside of the work place?

Thanks for the reply nursynurse. After researching more on HAVEN and reading peoples reviews and stories I am concerned this might almost be a worse way to go than just reporting to DPH. Is the only benefit to HAVEN keeping my name anonymous to the public? In terms of punishment it sounds like HAVEN has more serious consequences and more hoops to jump through than if I were just to report to DPH. Anymore insight on this?

Hi all, hopefully someone is still watching this thread and can help answer a couple questions I have. Sorry to intrude, I hope I am not being disrespectful by posting these questions on someone else's thread, but I have not seen many other posts from nurses from Connecticut on here. I was recently arrested for a DUI and have not reported the arrest to the Department of Public Health yet. I am being told I have 30 days to do this or it looks like I am trying to hide this from the BON. I have also heard the consequences are not going to be any different whether I self report vs. waiting to renew my license vs. letting them find out on their own, and that I would just be telling on myself and opening Pandora's box before it is necessary. Does anyone have any info on this? The main reason I am asking on this thread is because I have heard of the HAVEN program but have limited knowledge on this. If I choose to work with HAVEN, does that mean I do not have to report this arrest to the Department of Public Health? If I choose to do the HAVEN program instead of reporting this to DPH and DPH finds out about the arrest eventually, will I still get in trouble with the Board of Nursing for not reporting this to them? Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all. I am a registered nurse in Connecticut and I have recently been arrested for a DUI. Shamefully, I will admit I do have a past DUI as well. It was dismissed after I completed a pre-trial alcohol diversionary program and to my knowledge is not on my record. If convicted of this one, it will technically be my first DUI in the eyes of the court system, but my second in regard to the department of motor vehicle. To say the least, I have never felt more guilty and have never been more worried sick about anything else in my life. There are no words to explain the amount of guilt, shame, and fear I am feeling inside. I have spoke to multiple attorneys and other nurses, and still cannot get a straight forward answer on what to expect from the BON. After days and days of reading information online and reading through the Department of Public Health's rules and regulations, it seems like in CT I am required to report any type of arrest within 30 days of it occurring, but this is also where I am stuck in the grey area. The professional license defense attorneys that I have spoke to all advised that I do not report anything to the BON until I absolutely have to and that I would be more or less telling on myself if I self report within 30 days, especially because there is a chance that although I was arrested for a DUI it does not necessarily mean that is what I will be convicted of in court. In other words, I would be telling the BON I got a DUI when really it might be considered a lesser charge such as a wet reckless or some other form of reckless, and if I were to hold off on reporting it I could tell the BON it was a reckless vs. a DUI. I was also told that in all of their years of legal experience they have never seen the consequences be any different whether I self report vs. letting them find out on their own. Does anyone know the level of truth behind this? With that being said, I am not trying to sweep anything under the rug, I am an honest person and I am prepared to be fully transparent about the situation...but at the same time not trying to open Pandora's box while I am dealing with the legal and DMV side of things. I know I will have to report this regardless when I renew my license next year, but am I setting myself up for failure if I wait until then? I feel that if the BON hears about this before I renew my license they will for sure get the feeling I am trying to hide this. Of note, my employer is fully aware of the situation and has assured me they will back me up if/when the BON reaches out to them and will let the BON know I am an exceptional employee and that in no way shape or form does substance use effect my work ethic or performance. I am hoping this counts for something in the eyes of the BON. I have reached out to BON directly only to be told I have to email someone to obtain further information which I do not feel comfortable doing at the moment. If anyone has ever been in a similar situation and could offer some information on this it would be greatly appreciated. Please, any information at all. I see a lot of DUI topics on here but none from Connecticut. I am hoping I can find someone on here to lend a hand. Thank you